Sun greeted the opening day of the first-class season at Lord's

England hopeful Owais Shah was the only batsman to prosper on the opening day of the first-class season at Lord's.

Shah was 72 not out as the MCC reached 130-4 at stumps, replying to county champions Sussex's 171.

Gloucestershire seamer Steve Kirby claimed four wickets while Graham Onions (3-49) and James Treadwell (3-19) also chipped in for the MCC.

When MCC replied Australian Ryan Harris announced his arrival in England with 3-20 and a run out.

Harris, 28, one of 10 foreign cricketers to be cleared for county action in the past 24 hours, claimed 37 Pura Cup wickets for South Australia this past winter.

Harris's father was born in Leicester and technically he is now viewed as an Englishman himself, although he will take four years to qualify for international recognition.

"It is a big career move," said Harris, whose previous trips to Lord's, including the World Cup final in 1999, were as a spectator.

"My sole objective is to play here at Sussex this year and do really well. Who knows from there?

"I have not looked too far ahead; if I take enough wickets and score enough runs other things will take care of themselves.

"That has been my attitude in Australia and I am going to follow that over here."