2023: Capped Players

Five Sussex players were awarded their County Caps last season, an honour that goes to players who have made significant contributions to the game, or to the club. We’ve looked back at the five who donned the infamous Martlets in 2023.

Steve Smith #153

Who could forget the arrival of Steve Smith? Undoubtedly one of the greatest to ever have played the game arrived in May to play three games in the County Championship for Sussex.

His third and final game of his brief stint began with him being awarded his County Cap prior to taking on Glamorgan, the county of his best friend and fellow Australian Test batter, Marnus Labuschagne.

S.P.D. Smith became the 153rd player to be awarded his Martlets on 17th May 2023.

Tom Alsop #154

Tom Alsop joined Sussex in March 2022 initially on a loan deal from Hampshire, before making the move permanent in June 2022.

In his first season at Sussex, Tom averaged 42.27, making four centuries and four half-centuries, with a career-best of 150. This year, he went one better beating his previous career-best against the same opponent Leicestershire, making 182 not-out at Grace Road.

In 2023 Tom was made vice-captain of the red-ball side and went on to make 2 centuries, 4 half-centuries and averaged 39.04 with the bat.

T.P. Alsop became the 154th player to be awarded his Martlets on 17th May 2023.

Tymal Mills #155

Tymal Mills and Ravi Bopara broke the mould when they received their County Caps, as the awards are generally reserved for red-ball players. However, due to the significant impact he has had at Sussex, the club felt strongly that Tymal deserved the honour.

After winning the ICC T20 World Cup, Tymal returned to Hove to make history again when he surpassed Will Beer to become the leading wicket-taker in T20 cricket for the Sussex Sharks with 114 wickets.

Having joined the club in 2015, Tymal has now agreed another contract extension to take him to 10 years of service at Sussex!

T.S. Mills became the 155th player to be awarded his Martlets on 4th June 2023.

Ravi Bopara #156

After making his debut for Essex in 2023, Bopara has since gone on to become one of the great white-ball players of his generation. Ravi has played over 450 times in T20 cricket, around the world for various clubs and franchises, amassing over 8000 runs and taking over 250 wickets.

He joined Sussex from Essex in 2020 and was named T20 captain in 2022. He was awarded his County Cap alongside Tymal Mills prior to the T20 Blast match against Glamorgan at The 1st Central County Ground this summer.

On his final appearance for Sussex Sharks, Ravi smashed his way to his first ever T20 century, making 108 from 53 balls to help the Sharks to an 11-run victory over the Kent Spitfires.

R.S. Bopara became the 156th player to be awarded his Martlets on 4th June 2023.

Fynn Hudson-Prentice #157

Born in Haywards Heath, local all-rounder Fynn Hudson-Prentice had a season to remember in 2023.

In the County Championship this season, Fynn accumulated 879 runs, making 9 half-centuries and averaging 48.83. He also contributed vital wickets with the red ball, taking 20 wickets helping Sussex to a third-place finish in Division 2.

As well as being awarded his County Cap, Fynn won Men’s Championship Player of the Year at the end of season awards.

F.J. Hudson-Prentice became the 157th player to be awarded his Martlets on 26th September 2023.