Nottinghamshire return to LV= County Championship action this Sunday, facing an in-form Sussex side challenging for the title.

Andre Adams has returned to the side, and has been at the forefront of the county’s fortunes in recent years, but is well aware of the challenge on the south coast.

“It's always a challenge at Hove,” said Adams.

“The last time we won down there was the first time for 20 years or so. 

“They’re a good side, playing very well and we have to down there and impose ourselves.” 

Nottinghamshire will make the journey to Hove following a last-gasp defeat to Durham Jets in the NatWest T20 Blast. As a player familiar with the conditions across the country, Adams is hoping for something slightly different to the norm on the county’s arrival. 

“Normally it’s a very good batting wicket, with a little bit of bounce in it,” he said.

“There has been a bit of weather around, so for the first time in my career I might see a wicket that seams.

“We don’t know what the weather so we have to go down there and play as well as we can, we can’t change the wicket so it’s up to us to perform on it.”

“It was a shame to miss out on a result against Durham, it was a really frustrating couple of days. Especially when there are bonus points to play for.

“We just have to go into this game and try and bat as well as we did in the last game.” 

Adams has had a steady integration back into the Nottinghamshire side in recent weeks, after missing the campaigns opening fixtures through injury. Now back in the eleven, he has set his targets on finishing the campaign with a clean bill of health. 

“Touch wood, it has depended on what my body wants to do,” said Adams.

“I’m looking to be fit for every four-day game for the rest of the season now. You can’t guarantee that, but that’s my way of thinking.”

Sussex have been in fine form at the start of the season, with many touting the south-coast side as title contenders. They will be boosted by the fitness of Matt Prior, who will be looking to regain his position in the England team after missing out due to an Achilles problem. 

“He’s a fine player, he has probably been England’s number one keeper-batsman foe the past six years, and one of the best in the world,” said Adams. 

“We go down there knowing how much of a challenge it’ll be, but we have a decent bowling line up, and its up to us to bowl in the right areas. 

“Its always good to have batsmen in form, you cant win games without scoring runs. 

“You have to take twenty wickets, but you need pressure to force them. James Taylor and Samit have a habit of scoring runs at hove too, so hopefully they can regain that magic and perform again.”

Among the rain breaks and stoppages for the match against Durham, the Trent Bridge faithful were treated to a display of aggressive batting from Adams. Scoring quickly as ever, he brought a little life into the innings’ tail end.

“I guess no one apart from me really knows what I’m going to do. By now everyone should know that I don’t play many defensive strokes,” he said.

“The crowd love, it it’s exciting. Championship Cricket is pretty mundane for the most part, and people like to see someone come in and have a swipe.”

Nottinghamshire squad to face Sussex from: Steven Mullaney, Phil Jaques, Michael Lumb, James Taylor, Samit Patel, Alex Hales, Riki Wessels, Chris Read, Peter Siddle, Ajmal Shahzad, Stuart Broad, Andre Adams, Luke Fletcher