THE SCHEDULING is such that Sussex and Surrey, champions of the past two years, play each other in the first and last rounds of county fixtures this season. One meeting to set a marker, the other, perhaps, to determine the destiny of the pennant. If Chris Adams, a century-maker in his first innings of the season, and Ian Ward continue to bat as they did here, it will be Hove.

As befitting champions, there were contributions down the Sussex order. Nothing seemed more certain than that Ward, who had made 44 overnight, would reach a century, as he so clearly wished to do against his old county. His 82 was notable for whipped drives and a chance to gully that should have been taken when he was on 74.

Given that Ward is only 31, there is evidently much cricket still left in him. Somerset, as well as Sussex, thought as much when trying to sign him at the end of last season. Cricketers eased out of their clubs before their time has come, as occurred with Ward, often excel on their return.

“The chief executive and the chairman of the cricket committee wanted me out of The Oval,” said Ward. Still, the members continue to have an affection for him. He, in return, was so miffed at losing his wicket to Tim Murtagh that he failed to acknowledge their applause.

His strokeplay was matched only by Adams, who realises how imperative it is that this changed Surrey side does not assert itself in the cocky manner of years gone by.

For the most part, though, Adams was thoroughly watchful at the crease and wasn’t tempted into hitting Ian Salisbury over the in-field. Of the 17 fours in his century, two in succession — one driven through cover and the other struck straight off James Benning’s medium pace — were perhaps the pick. Adams put on 104 with Tim Ambrose in 34 overs before the latter, slashing at Murtagh, was held at first slip. How fortunate Sussex are to have two wicketkeepers who can bat as Ambrose and Matt Prior do, even if both were born just about as far away from Hove as is possible.

Prior also made runs yesterday, and the fact that Murray Goodwin had managed just one scoring shot in 35 minutes at the crease in the morning was soon forgotten. Adams reached his century and Sussex gained a first-innings lead at much the same time after tea. The worry for them, quite apart from the pitch continuing to play as well as ever at The Oval, is the rain forecast for today.

Adams’s performance would have had many in the crowd wondering whether he should play for England again, be it in Test cricket or one-day internationals. His batting, as well as his leadership, has certainly enabled Sussex to make the progression from a county that seemingly did not have the will to win the championship to one that looks capable of replicating their success of last year.

This was the 38th century of his career and his fifth, be it for Derbyshire or Sussex, against Surrey. He likes nothing better than to do battle with the best. Having achieved the latest of his centuries, struck off 183 balls, he was leg-before to Jimmy Ormond the very next ball. No matter: Sussex were leading by then. At the gala lunch in Brighton to celebrate their championship win, an event attended by many famous names, from their former England captain, Lord (David) Sheppard, to Mushtaq Ahmed, Adams criticised the England selectors for not having given him additional one-day caps to add to those he won four years ago. He has signed an extension to his existing contract with Sussex that means he will see out his career with them.

Sussex extended their lead to 141 by the close, Jason Lewry stroking an unbeaten 44 off 45 balls. All this against a constant din from the construction work at the Vauxhall End, off-putting to spectators as well as players.