Sussex are relieved to have Mushtaq Ahmed but are determined to prove they are not a one-man team.

There had been fears the county champions in three of the past five seasons could have lost his services to retirement, Warwickshire or the politics of Pakistani cricket relating to his involvement in the 'rebel' Indian Cricket League.

Mushtaq, the leading wicket taker in the championship every year from 2003, will naturally play a major role in the county's attempt to retain their title.

But captain Chris Adams said: "There will be the uneducated view that says without Mushtaq we are nothing.

"However, I would like to think that if he went to another team that wouldn't necessarily mean they'd win the championship.

"The team get as much out of Mushtaq as he gets out of them. But there's no doubt it would be a hell of a lot more difficult without Mushtaq than with him."

So can Sussex make it a championship hat-trick? "We are back at base camp with Everest to scale again," said Adams.

"Returning to the top is our goal but it will take a lot of hard work along the way. I can't wait to get started."