Kent captain Rob Key missed the county's second LV Championship match of the summer in Hove after picking up a mystery virus.

The start to the game against Sussex was delayed until 1.15pm by overnight rain, but Key was too weak to travel down with the team on Tuesday evening and will take no part in the four-day clash against the reigning champions.

Kent's director of cricket Graham Ford confirmed that Key underwent blood tests yesterday (Tuesday), but that they had produced no positive results.

He said: "At this point in time we have little idea what's struck him down other than it must be some sort of virus.

"His joints all ache and he has lost strength in his arms, he's just feeling very weak, so much so, that he couldn't even make it down here last night."

Key's problem follows on from last Friday's mystery illness that hit Yasir Arafat and left the Pakistan pace bowler in hospital.

Both Martin Saggers and Darren Stevens have also been struck down by viruses during pre-season, so the fear is that the condition maybe running through the Kent camp.