Blast from the past: Ben Brown & Joe Gatting

Tickets for all seven of our Vitality Blast home T20 matches at The 1st Central County Ground are on sale now. Don't forget that, until the end of March, adult tickets for the match against Surrey on Friday 13th July are available for just £18, the same price as when we won the twenty20 Cup in 2009. To accompany this special offer, we've been looking back at the contributions of the players that played in that victorious campaign. Today, it's the turn of two youngsters...

BEN BROWN

Appearances: 8

Runs: 13

Average: 4.33

Highest: 7

Catches: 3

Ben Brown has now become one of the first names on the Sussex team sheet, but went into the 2009 twenty20 Cup as a 20-year-old with just one T20 appearance to his name. With both Matt Prior and Andy Hodd unavailable, Ben was handed the wicketkeeping gloves for the Sharks’ first eight group games.

Ben bats against Kent. Limited opportunities meant the 'keeper only made it to the crease on four occasions.

You’re more likely to find Ben in the top four nowadays, but back then he was asked to bat at eight or nine. This limited his opportunities and thanks to the performances of Sussex’s top order he only made it to the crease on four occasions during the campaign.

Despite being Sussex’s third choice ‘keeper, Ben provided a safe pair of hands behind the stumps, conceding very few byes and taking three catches. Two of those grabs came away at Kent, when he held onto chances to get rid of the home team’s two highest scorers, Martin van Jaarsfeld and Geraint Jones.

JOE GATTING

Appearances: 5

Runs: 22

Average: 11.00

Highest: 17

In his debut season for Sussex’s first team, Academy graduate Joe Gatting was called into the T20 side for five group games.

The right-handed batsman’s best performance came in the win against Essex at Hove. Opening the batting, Joe’s 17 off 11 balls helped get the Sharks’ successful chase off to a flying start. After one more innings at number two at home against Hampshire, a move down to the middle order left Joe unused during wins versus Middlesex, Essex and Kent.  

Joe was on twelfth-man duties at Finals Day, giving him the opportunity to both carry and enjoy the drinks as Sussex romped to victory!

Joe running the drinks at Finals Day, before enjoying them later!

Tickets for all seven of Sussex Sharks’ Vitality Blast group matches at The 1st Central County Ground, Hove are ON SALE NOW and can be purchased online or by phone on 0844 264 0202.

The Blast from the past promotion offering adult tickets for the match against Surrey on Friday 13th July at 2009 prices will then be available until the end of March.

An even better value way to catch that match and the rest of Sussex’s home group games is the T20 Blast Pass, which provides adult entry for the equivalent of £14.14 per match. For more details click here.