Sussex v Kent

Having suffered a humiliating 10-wicket defeat in their opening game of the season Kent can expect another tough time on Wednesday when they travel to Hove to take on reigning LV County Champions Sussex in their first away game of the campaign.

Poor bowling and indecisive batting led to the downfall of Rob Key’s side last week and they will need to sharpen up in all departments if they are to stretch a Sussex side fresh from a rain-affected draw at The Rose Bowl, where Murray Goodwin notched their first century of the summer.

Thankfully for Kent, their Pakistan and former Sussex all-rounder Yasir Arafat has shaken off his appendicitis scare and will play against his old county, while Simon Cook, fit again after hip flexor niggles, will also be pushing for a place.

In the corresponding game last year fixture last April, Sussex handed out an eight-wicket pasting to Kent who could only muster three half-centuries in the entire match through Min Patel, Matt Walker and Joe Denly.

It was Sussex opener Richard Montgomerie who played the match-defining innings with a 445-ball marathon knock worth 175. Thankfully for Kent he has since retired to become a school teacher.

Sussex pace bowlers Jason Lewry and James Kirtley, who missed their side’s opening game with Hampshire, both have chances of lining up against Key’s men. Lewry is hoping to shake off calf and knee problems and has a 50 per cent chance of playing, while Kirtley came through a 2nd XI game last week after pre-season shoulder surgery and is expected to start.

Once finished at Hove, Kent travel to Lord's for Sunday's second Friends Provident Trophy qualifier against Middlesex.

Kent from: Denly, Key, van Jaarsveld, Walker, Stevens, Jones, Mahmood, Arafat, McLaren, Tredwell, Saggers, Cook, Dexter, Joseph.