Jonathan Trott: Warwickshire batsman hits century at Sussex

Trott has scored 14,348 first-class runs in his career, including 34 centuries, at an average of 45.11

Jonathan Trott took a major step forward in his recovery from a stress-related illness by completing a County Championship century for Warwickshire.

He reached three figures from 224 balls with a boundary off Sussex paceman Chris Jordan, the 14th of his innings, on the third morning at Horsham

But Trott was then caught behind for 106 from the last ball before lunch.

Warwickshire were eventually bowled out for 333 and Sussex reached 204-4 at the close, a lead of 284.

Trott told BBC Sport: "It was important to spend time in the middle and continue to work on my game.

"I feel comfortable adjusting to playing almost every day, as you do in county cricket. I've learned a lot over the past couple of months which I'm putting into practice now."

Trott had to return from England's tour to Australia last winter because of the illness and the current match is only the 33-year-old's fourth at first-class level since then.

He made 138 not out for the county's second XI last month, but the century against Sussex was his first major innings since scoring an unbeaten 109 in a one-day international against New Zealand last summer.

His last Test century for England came against the Kiwis at Wellington in March 2013, and his last for Warwickshire was an innings of 178, also against Sussex, at Hove in April 2012.

Trott said that despite his century he was not yet targeting a return to England duty.

He added: "It is important to take one step at a time and currently I'm concentrating on Warwickshire."

The South Afircan-born batsman was 62 not out overnight, having been dropped on 58, but saw partners Sam Hain and Tim Ambrose dismissed in the first eight overs of play.

But Rikki Clarke kept him company in a sixth-wicket stand of 54, enabling Trott to reach his hundred before Australian paceman Steve Magoffin had him caught behind with the new ball.

Clarke (24) and Keith Barker departed soon after lunch, but Chris Woakes (39 not out) and Jeetan Patel (32) added 60 for the ninth wicket to earn Warwickshire an extra batting point.

Magoffin (4-74) eventually removed Patel and last man Boyd Rankin fell to Lewis Hatchett (3-70) with wicketkeeper Ben Brown taking his sixth catch of the innings.

Sussex's second innings began inauspiciously with Chris Nash edging Woakes to Tim Ambrose, but skipper Ed Joyce (72) and Craig Cachopa (54) added 109 for the third wicket.

Luke Wright (11) and Jordan (10) were not out at the close, with the prospect of a declaration by Joyce ahead on the final morning.

Sussex skipper Ed Joyce:

"Our position in the table means we have got to be looking upwards so we will be playing positively and trying to get a win.

"We are trying to go up the table and drawing won't really do that for us so I think we have got to dangle a bit of a carrot.

"I think 284 is quite a lot of runs already, but if we can get another 100 in 14 overs that would be fantastic and put them out of the game."