Former Sussex wicketkeeper Andrew Hodd says he owes his improvement as a cricketer since joining Yorkshire to the difference in environments between Headingley and Hove.

Hodd returns to Hove to face his ex-county for the first time today since leaving towards the end of 2012, with the two meeting in the LV= County Championship.

The 31-year-old started his career with Sussex and spent nine seasons there in two spells from 2002.

He played his part in two Championship title successes in 2006 and 2007, Pro40 League victories in 2008 and 2009 as well as a Twenty20 Cup win in 2009.

Although Hodd has been far from a first-team regular at Yorkshire, he currently finds himself enjoying an extended run of cricket due to Jonny Bairstow’s absence with England.

And he is viewed as one of the best glovemen in county cricket by White Rose coach Jason Gillespie.

“I do feel like I have improved,” said Sussex-born Hodd.

“I’ll never use it as an excuse to say I was held back because that’s not the case, but the mindset, attitude and ethos around both places are totally different. I feel I’ve kind of thrived in this environment much more than I did there.

“Here, because it’s such a big club and Yorkshire generally is such a big and proud county, it’s sink or swim.

“You either find a way or someone will take your place. It’s ruthless like that, but as a cricketer you’ve got to think on your feet because if you don’t then someone else will.

“Whereas, down there, a lot was done for you. It wasn’t player driven, and you were told what to do, how to act.

“It works for some people as they need that structure. But other people like myself can find that quite hard when you’re 30-years-old and are being told how to eat and prepare.

“You’re given responsibility (at Yorkshire), and if you don’t perform, it’s your neck on the line. You don’t want any excuses.”

Adil Rashid and Liam Plunkett are available today, while Bairstow and Adam Lyth are also expected to be released by England for Thursday’s Royal London one-day Cup quarter-final against Essex at Chelmsford (2pm).