Celebrating a Successful First Summer with Ardingly College

Sussex Cricket is celebrating a successful first summer in partnership with Ardingly College, following the announcement of the new collaboration ahead of the 2026 season.

The partnership was designed to widen access to outstanding cricket facilities and opportunities for young people across the County, and the first few months have already delivered a number of highlights.

Ardingly College played host to the Sussex Cricket Foundation’s Early Engagement Programme Finals Day, as well as hosting a number of other matches throughout the summer.

Back in June, members of the Sussex Men’s squad, including T20 Captain Tymal Mills, visited the College to run a training session. Mills later bowled in the nets against some of Ardingly’s young cricketers, giving them an experience they will never forget.

Pupils at the College have also been hard at work this summer, helping to renovate two of the changing rooms at the Sussex Cricket Foundation’s Blackstone Academy facility.

Another highlight has been the involvement of Ari Karvelas, who spent much of his summer coaching at Ardingly College before returning to play for Sussex in the final round of Rothesay County Championship matches. In the final match of the summer at Hove, Ari claimed his maiden first-class five-wicket haul for Sussex, putting the finishing touch on a fantastic spell back with the team.

Gary Wallis-Tayler, Community Director for the Sussex Cricket Foundation, commented:

“It has been a very successful first year of our partnership with Ardingly College and we are looking forward to further success in the future. As the partnership grows and develops, it will see the Sussex Cricket Foundation being able to access their outstanding facilities to host our programmes and it will also see Sussex Cricket supporting students at Ardingly College with player/staff visits and/or talks to help inspire the next generation of cricketers or employees within cricket in the future.”

Matthew King, Assistant Head of Co-Curricular at Ardingly College, added:

“It has been a genuine pleasure to work with Sussex County Cricket Club over the past six months and we are excited to build on this relationship over the next year. The highlight for our pupils has been facing former England bowler and Sussex T20 captain Tymal Mills in the nets. It has also been wonderful to work closely with Sussex refurbishing Blackstone, hosting the Junior Pathway finals day and seeing Sussex players train. We have some excellent opportunities over the winter months and look forward to the relationship developing.”