Robinson salutes Mushtaq

Mushtaq Ahmed sparked the Kent collapse

Sussex coach Mark Robinson hailed the impact of Mushtaq Ahmed after he put Liverpool Victoria County Championship leaders Sussex in control on day one against Kent at Canterbury.

The Pakistani took 5-58 - all of his wickets came in one spell at the cost of just 16 runs - as Kent collapsed from 215 for three to 241 all out on a good batting pitch.

Sussex replied with 102 for two by stumps, leaving Robinson to reflect on the irresistible performance of Mushtaq which kept his team in position to go clear of their inactive championship rivals Lancashire this week.

The wrist-spinner was absent with a neck injury when Sussex played Kent at Hove earlier this season and was still compromised by the same problem on his return to the fray.

But after going toe-to-toe with Hampshire’s master leg-spinner Shane Warne on home ground last week, this time he destroyed the good work of Martin van Jaarsveld (116) as Kent wasted a very promising position.

“The difference between Mushy now and a month ago is that he feels he can bowl any delivery he wants,” said Robinson, who watched his team struggle either side of lunch during a third-wicket stand of 149 between van Jaarsveld and Matthew Walker.

“He has shown unbelievable desire to get himself fully fit.

“On the Monday after the C&G final (10 days ago) he was in the gym all day with our fitness consultant Ben Haining - but that is the sort of dedication you expect from world-class performers.

“Our seamers are bowling well, and Mushtaq is as good as he has been all season at the moment.

“That was a great thing to know going into the Kent game and for the rest of the run-in.”