One of the reasons Ed Joyce joined Sussex was to revive an England career which has stalled since he played in the 2007 World Cup and the evidence at Hove yesterday was that it is too early to regard him as a former international just yet.

Sussex signed him to give some ballast to a top order which lacked consistency last season and how they needed him to offer evidence of those adhesive qualities when Lancashire’s heavy-duty seam attack, led by the impeccable James Anderson, were threatening to take control on the opening day of the Championship season.

Anderson took 3-47 in 25 overs as the ball swung consistently before Joyce and Robin Martin-Jenkins ensured parity with an unbroken stand of 87 for the sixth wicket to take Sussex to 247-5.

After several years facing less vaunted second-division attacks Joyce got a taste of top-flight bowling yesterday and admitted Lancashire’s attack was the toughest he had faced in county cricket.

He said: “That is the hardest I have ever had to face to get 89 runs. It was proper, intense first division cricket which I haven’t experienced for a while.

“Chapple and Anderson are quality bowlers and the back-up isn’t bad either but I’m really happy I stuck to my game plan. The ball was swinging so I was just trying to guard my stumps and wait for leg-stump balls to get away.

“It got a bit easier towards the end when Tucker came in and hit a few boundaries but it was still hard work. We’re pretty happy with 247-5 because it's a good cricket wicket and the ball swung all day.”

Joyce came in after 17 overs when Chris Nash was athletically caught behind by Luke Sutton off an inside edge which appeared to hit Nash on the top of the leg rather than the pad.

Skipper Mike Yardy had won the toss and together the two left-handers built a solid platform in a second-wicket stand of 73 in 31 overs.

Joyce had a let-off on 32 when he edged Anderson to slip where the ball deflected off Paul Horton’s hands into his face, hitting him above the left eye.

When the bad ball came along Joyce dispatched it efficiently with the drive off Tom Smith hit on the up through the covers which brought up his 50 the shot of the day.

The trouble for Sussex was that there were not too many easy pickings. Until the inevitable England call-ups, Lancashire have a seam attack as good as champions Durham and in what is likely to be his only Championship appearance of the season Anderson was outstanding in his control of line and length.

Yardy had faced 130 balls for his 35 before Anderson swung one back into his pads and Glen Chapple quickly took two wickets in successive overs to tilt the balance their way.

Murray Goodwin was well held at third slip before Matt Prior aimed an expansive drive outside off stump and Horton, back on the pitch after running repairs, took a stinging slip catch.

When Anderson caught an inside edge off Luke Wright in his follow through after tea, Sussex were 160-5 but Martin- Jenkins proved to be the ideal foil for Joyce.

He reached an aggressive unbeaten half-century in the last over before the close, which contained seven fours, while Joyce has so far faced 218 deliveries with five boundaries.

Joyce was one of three players making his Championship debut for Sussex. The surprise selection was left-arm spinner Tom Smith who started to bowl well again after a poor start to his pre-season.

The slow left-armer from Eastbourne replaced off-spinner Ollie Rayner, who will spend the next two days in hospital having treatment for a poisoned elbow.

Yardy opted for an extra bowler because of lingering fitness concerns over Damien Wright and Ragheb Aga but by selecting six bowlers Sussex have at least given themselves every opportunity of taking 20 wickets.

First, though, they must survive what is bound to a testing first hour tomorrow.