Moores goes back to Hove

Paul Horton returns to the Lancashire ranks following a groin strain for their opening championship game against Sussex

Lancashire's Paul Horton has recovered from a groin problem in time to open the batting in the LV= County Championship match that sees coach Peter Moores return to former club Sussex.

Horton, 26, scored a century in the county’s warm-up win over Durham UCCE, but missed Sunday’s Friends Provident Trophy victory over Glamorgan with the injury.

Moores’ 13-man squad for the Division One encounter at Hove features the same XI that beat the Dragons, with the additions of Horton and paceman Oliver Newby.

Tom Smith, who made 66 in an unfamiliar role at the top of the order yesterday, may open alongside Horton as veteran Mal Loye remains sidelined with a torn calf.

James Anderson has been cleared to play, after a surprise extra appearance for his county at Old Trafford. Anderson took 1-19 from six overs.

Captain Glen Chapple and spinner Gary Keedy have also been given the all-clear after successful returns from hamstring and hand injuries.

Moores, Sussex wicketkeeper from 1985 to 1998 and coach from 1998 to 2005, has fond feelings for his old club ahead of his return.

“Personally, I’m looking forward to our trip to Sussex," he said. "It’s a fantastic club and I have many good friends in the area.

“But I’m excited about what this Lancashire side can achieve, and if everyone performs to their best, there is no reason why we can’t come away with the win and set the foundations for a successful season.

“We’ve only played the one first-class fixture during pre-season at Durham University, but we showed enough during that match to suggest that we go to Hove in good shape.

Peter Moores, now Lancashire coach, keeps wicket for Sussex during his playing days at Hove

“Having Jimmy available is a big bonus for us, and also Glen Chapple, who pulled up fine after Sunday having bowled eight overs following his return from injury."

Moores was also encouraged by the manner of the Lightning's opening Trophy win.

“It’s always good to win, but it was the way we went about our business that was more pleasing,” he added.

“Every member of the squad contributed whether with bat, ball or in the field. The entire squad, not just the 11 who played on Sunday, are working very hard and challenging each other.”

Sussex look set to hand Hove debuts to winter signing Ed Joyce and overseas player Damien Wright in their first championship match of the season.

Joyce, the England left-hander, and Wright, the Australian all-rounder, are named in a 14-man squad, along with opening batsman Chris Nash, who did not play in the Sharks’ Friends Provident Trophy defeat to Gloucestershire.

Leg-spinner Will Beer is dropped from the Trophy side, so Rory Hamilton-Brown and Ollie Rayner are likely to fight it out for the spin bowling berth.

Veteran seamer Jason Lewry is expected to start bowling this week after glandular fever, whilst new Kolpak signing Pepler Sandri (calf) is not named in the squad.

England wicketkeeper Matt Prior was handed clearance to play in the first Trophy match, and he is also included in the championship squad.

All-rounder Luke Wright has urged his team-mates not to focus purely on the shorter form of the game this season, despite last season’s dramatic NatWest Pro40 success.

“As always we want to win every trophy we go into,” he told ecb.co.uk.

“I don’t think it’s the case that we just aim for one-day cricket this year and see if we can do okay in the championship - we go for everything.

“I think we’ve got a strong one-day side this year. That’s not saying that we haven’t in the championship but I just look at the lads and it looks quite a young squad so we should be quite an exciting side in one-day cricket.”

Wright has identified defending champions Durham as the biggest threat to Sussex in the championship, but admits the title race is set to be another wide-open affair.

“You can’t look further than the team that won it last year in Durham,” he added.

“They did really well last year, it’s hard to pinpoint one because there’s so many good sides and I think any side can win it in the championship as we saw last year. I think it was five sides all going in to the last week who could win it.

“It’s not always one side but you’ve got to back the team that won it last year.”