An emphasis on pace bowling has swept through the recruitment policy at Sussex during the close season, with the engagement of Steve Magoffin as overseas player having been supplemented by the additions of Ajmal Shahzad from Nottinghamshire and Tymal Mills from Essex.

Magoffin enjoyed previous spells in county cricket with Worcestershire and Surrey prior to being picked up by Sussex in 2012 and going on to record seasonal first-class wicket tallies of 57, 65 and 72.

The 35-year-old, who last played Sheffield Shield cricket in 2011-12 and now focuses solely on his county career, boasted match figures of 8-123 in his previous appearance against Nottinghamshire back in September.

Mick Newell admitted after that game that the 2014 season had seen his his side "out-bowled by Durham, out-bowled by Yorkshire and out-bowled by Steve Magoffin." 

With Chris Jordan likely to spend much of the season on duty with England, the close-season challenge for Sussex was to surround their overseas star with additional wicket-taking seamers.

In attracting the specialist swing of Shahzad alongside the out-and-out pace of Mills, coach Mark Robinson will hope Sussex now have an attack that will provide a stern examination of opposition batsmen.

Shahzad took 46 wickets in 21 first-class game for Nottinghamshire averaging 40.58. His fourth county will be hoping for a return to the form that saw the 29-year-old garner 125 victims in 45 matches earlier in his career for Yorkshire, a spell during which he earned Test selection for England.

Mills, meanwhile, never played more than eight matches in a season for his former county, Essex, but has been described by his coach and captain as bowling "rockets" in the nets during the build-up to the current campaign.

Behind the stumps, Ben Brown is likely to retain the gloves with South African born former New Zealand under 19 international Craig Cachopa playing as a batsman in the middle-order.

Luke Wright, who will captain the side in white ball cricket, is also a likely mainstay of the batting line-up in the four day arena, alongside the vastly experienced former England duo of Ed Joyce and Michael Yardy.

At the top of the order, Chris Nash, although never selected for England, has performed with every bit as much consistency since making his debut in 2002 as his internationally recognised teammates. 

Luke Wells will continue his development at the top of the order after a maiden 1000 run campaign in 2014.

Nottinghamshire's sixth fixture of the LV= County Championship season is against Hampshire at Trent Bridge, starting on Monday 1 June.

 

The excitement of the NatWest T20 Blast returns to Trent Bridge in May as Notts Outlaws hope to break the 10,000 barrier for the arrival of reigning champions Birmingham Bears on Friday 15 May.

Adult tickets are available at a special price of £10 and further discounts in place for under 16s (£5), under21s (£7) and senior citizens (£7) when buying in advance. Make Trent Bridge a firm fixture for your Friday nights and secure your seats now.