Luke Wells went to Australia to remind myself how good a batsman he can be.

He achieved that during a run-laden season as coach and captain of Casey South Melbourne.

Back at Sussex, they had never lost sight of how good a run-maker he has been and remains.

And the elegant left-hander might also have jogged a few memories in the North East of England over the last few days.

If Sussex are to meet the lofty expectations for them many people seem to have, his 98 not out at Chester-le-Street might be viewed as the launchpad of their season.

He was there again in the second innings with 41 precious runs to help in a six-wicket win which was secured by Stiaan van Zyl’s 101 not out.

Sussex, who were 71-7 in their first innings before Wells took over, have a first win to their name as the Specsavers County Championship season makes way for 50-overs action.

Wells kick-started his sensational 2017, after an early-season knee injury, with a career-best 258 against Durham at Hove.

But he failed to reach those same heights last season before going off for a winter of club cricket.

He told The Argus: “It was a fantastic winter for me personally in Australia. It probably could not have gone much better.

“It went really well on the pitch. I ended up breaking the club record (for run-scoring).

“And it went really well off the pitch. My missus and the little one really loved their time out there.

“After not my best season last year, I think it was just about going out there and reminding myself how good a player I am, reminding myself how to go about scoring runs and compiling innings.

“Conditions out there are far more in the batsman’s favour than in England but it was still great to put runs in the bank.

“It can only be a good thing for my confidence this year.”

Wells scored those runs under a weight of expectation from locals as to what the highly-rated Pom could do.

He said: “I think it turned a few noses when an English bloke goes over there and does really well.

“There was a bit of sledging here and there, which I have een used to most of my career.

“Being captain and coach gave me that responsibility. I couldn’t just turn up and play.

“I have been guilty in the past, and I think other players have, of going over there and you are more worried about your own game. I was taken out of that sort of thing.

“I wasn’t really worried about my technique. I was just worried about doing well for the team.

“They took me out there as captain so you feel your responsibility is to perform for them.”

Asked about the standard of cricket he played, he said: “The best teams would be better than a lot of second teams we play here and the worst would be a good Premier League team here in England.

“It’s probably the best standard of amateur cricket you can play anywhere in the world.”