Sussex head coach Mark Robinson has conceded that he does not know when Matt Prior will be fit enough to return to action.
Having been dropped by England last year, the 33-year-old underwent surgery to correct an Achilles injury.
There had been suggestions that the wicketkeeper would be available for the start of the new County Championship season, but Robinson has revealed that Prior is out "indefinitely".
"He's out pretty much indefinitely at the moment. He's still recovering from an Achilles injury which he did playing for England," he told Sky Sports News
"It's a blow for him and a blow for us. He's working hard on his rehab. He's in most days of the week. Sometimes it's a bit soul destroying. As everybody knows, it's been a long injury.
"We feel for him as a cricketer. He's just itching to get playing again, and for the club too, because to have your wicketkeeper batting in the top five would have been such a bonus for us."
Prior has been replaced in the England side by Jos Buttler.
