Sussex complete signing of Keith Dudgeon

Sussex Cricket are delighted to announce the signing of bowler Keith Dudgeon on a two-year contract from Kent. 

The 30-year-old South African right-arm seamer joins Sussex following a two-year stay in Kent, and claimed 42 First Class wickets for the neighbouring county this year on their way to a return to Division One.

Debuting for the county in the opening match of last year's campaign, Dudgeon claimed incredible figures of 7-36 at Northamptonshire before suffering a knee injury in training, which cut short his time as a Kent player.

But, returning this year, the seamer featured in 13 County Championship matches, taking 42 wickets at an average of 32.09 with best figures of 6/21. He was Kent's second-leading wicket-taker behind Matt Milnes, and now makes the move across to Sussex on a two-year deal.

Dudgeon has played a lot of cricket in his native South Africa, and has taken 281 First Class career wickets at an average of 26.96.

Sussex’s Director of Cricket Paul Farbrace said: “We are delighted Keith [Dudgeon] has committed the next two years to joining us at Hove. 

He is just the quality of player and person we have been looking for to help us to continue to grow and compete in Division One of the County Championship, and aim for the knock-out stages of the Blast.

Keith’s high level of skill, experience and winning nature is exactly what this team needs right now.

We are very much looking forward to welcoming Keith and his family to Hove and helping to continue to drive the club forward." 

Keith Dudgeon expressed his excitement about the move: "Really pleased to share that I’ll be joining Sussex for the next couple of seasons.

Long term county cricket has been the goal for a while now and I am grateful for the backing in that given to me by Sussex.

From everything I’ve been told, there’s a great group of lads in the dressing room, and I’m looking forward to joining them, bringing good energy and contributing to the team in whatever way I can.

I’d like to thank Paul Farbrace and Matt Walker, as well as the captains, for making this happen.

A huge thank you to everyone at Kent for the past two seasons. I’m incredibly grateful for the memories, the people and the experiences I’ve had along the way. Kent will always hold a special place for me. It’s a great club with great people and I have no doubt it will, too, go from strength to strength.

Now it’s time for a new challenge, and I’m really looking forward to what’s ahead at Sussex."

Dudgeon's arrival will be the second new addition to the squad ahead of the 2027 campaign, following the signature of Joey Evison, also from Kent.