Paul Farbrace to step down as Sussex Head Coach
Paul Farbrace to step down as Sussex Head Coach at end of 2026 season
Sussex Cricket can confirm that Head Coach Paul Farbrace has informed the Club of his decision to step down at the end of the 2026 season.
With the Club navigating a period of change off the field, Farbrace believes the end of this season represents the right time to step down.
“I felt it was important to give the Club clarity now as it plans for the future.
“My focus is entirely on the next six months. We have a fantastic opportunity this season and I will be giving everything, every day, to help this group be as successful as possible. I remain fully committed to leading the team throughout the campaign.”
Farbrace, who joined Sussex in December 2022, has overseen a period of significant progress. After narrowly missing out on promotion in 2023, Sussex secured a return to Division One of the County Championship in 2024 with a game to spare, before finishing fourth in their first season back in the top tier.
The Club also reached T20 Finals Day in 2024, while building a talented and competitive squad combining emerging young players with experienced professionals.
“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time at Sussex and it has been a privilege to work with such a talented group of players and staff.
“We’ve made significant progress together and built a squad that I believe is capable of achieving something special. That makes this a difficult decision, but it is one I feel is right all round.”
On behalf of the Board, Club President Sir Rod Aldridge said:
“While we are naturally disappointed that Paul has decided to step down, we fully respect his decision. He remains fully committed to the season ahead, and we look forward to working together to build on the progress that has been made.”
Paul has made a significant contribution during his time at Sussex, both in terms of results on the field and in developing a strong and competitive squad. He has been a valued figure at the Club and we are grateful for his commitment.”
Mark West, Interim Chief Executive Officer, said:
“Paul has been a great support to me since day one and we have always been aligned in how we’ve approached things.
“He has led the team through a period of real progress, both in terms of results and in developing a squad that supporters can be proud of. His professionalism, honesty and commitment to the Club have been clear throughout.
Farbrace will continue to lead Sussex throughout the 2026 season, with the team beginning their County Championship campaign on Friday, away at Leicestershire.
Daniel Hughes returns to Sussex
It's been touched upon on our social media and in a few web articles over the winter, but it has come to our attention that there was no official announcement that Dan Hughes would be returning to Sussex this summer.
Well, he's back! Following a fruitful winter that saw him play plenty of cricket over in Australia - including opening in the Big Bash League - Hughes arrived yesterday afternoon and is available for selection for the season opener with Leicestershire.
This is his third season as a Sussex overseas player. Last year he couldn’t quite match his performances in 2024 – the highlight finishing as the leading run scorer in the Vitality Blast – but he still made 815 Championship runs and will no doubt be looking to build on this for the forthcoming season.
Welcome back, Hughesy!
Sussex players shortlisted for T20 Hall of Fame
We are thrilled to announce that legendary Sharks, Luke Wright, Danny Briggs and Ravi Bopara have been shortlisted to become the first-ever inductees into the T20 Hall of Fame. Briggs, who rejoins Sussex this summer for the Blast, is the competitions leading wicket taker of the domestic men’s T20 with an outstanding 268 wickets. Imperious with the ball in hand, similarly ruthless with the bat is Luke Wright. The powerful batter has the fourth most runs in the history of the men’s domestic T20 competition with 5,026 at 32.8, and of course was a part of the famous 2009 title win with the Sharks. Ravi Bopara, one of only two players to feature inside the all-time top-10 for both wicket-takers and runscorers in the men’s competition, has also made the six-man shortlist. He made 51 T20 appearances for the Sharks, scoring over 1,000 runs and taking 29 wickets. We congratulate all three players on their deserved nominations, with the ECB's press release available to read below. PRESS RELEASE
|
| Twelve players on shortlist for T20 Hall of Fame presented by Vitality |
The ECB has today launched the T20 Hall of Fame presented by Vitality to celebrate the icons of domestic T20 cricket in England and Wales. The T20 Hall of Fame presented by Vitality will recognise the men and women whose performances and impact in ECB domestic T20 cricket competitions have been exceptional both on and off the field. As part of the launch, six men and six women, have today been shortlisted to become the first-ever inductees.
An independent expert panel – comprising former players, commentators and journalists – will select the first two men, and two women, from the shortlisted names to be inducted. Fans will also get the opportunity to have their say via a Public Vote, which will be hosted on ECB channels, and which will form a weighted element of the final decision‑making process. The inaugural inductees will be revealed on 15 May, ahead of the opening night of the 2026 Vitality Blast on Friday 22 May. Samit Patel, who has played in every season of the Vitality Blast men's competition since its inception in 2003, said: “To be shortlisted for the T20 Hall of Fame is something that I’m hugely proud of especially alongside some great names. It means a lot to be recognised for what I’ve tried to give to the domestic game over so many years. To be one of the first players inducted would be an incredible honour and something I’d feel very privileged to be part of.” Danni Wyatt-Hodge, who is a three-time domestic T20 winner and the leading runscorer since the KSL began in 2016, said: "I was absolutely delighted when I found out and I told my family straight away. To be shortlisted alongside great players is an honour and it would be amazing to be inducted into the Hall of Fame - it's a big deal! It's the first time I have been nominated for anything like this so hopefully I can be one of the inducted players. I'm incredibly proud." The T20 Hall of Fame presented by Vitality will become an annual celebration, recognising those people whose performances, leadership and influence have left a lasting legacy on the domestic game. Players, coaches and administrators from across the major domestic T20 competitions in England and Wales are eligible for consideration. 2026 short-listed player bios: Women
Men
|
Sussex vs Hampshire | Pre-Season | Match Preview
Our fourth and final pre-season fixture takes place this weekend as Hampshire make the short trip along the coast for a two-day friendly at Hove.
The sides last faced off in the County Championship in September, with the rain-interrupted match ending in a draw at Hove. Sussex won the reverse fixture in Southampton last season, with Club Captain John Simpson's magnificent century helping Sussex to a 9-wicket victory.
Entry is FREE for all of our pre-season matches, with no ticket purchase required.
Also, the North East Gate will not be open during pre-season. Access to The County Ground, Hove is via the Main Entrance, situated on Eaton Road.
Hours of Play
Day 1 and 2:
- Session One: 11:00am – 1:00pm
- Session Two: 1:40pm – 3:40pm
- Session Three: 4:00pm – 6:00pm (light permitting)
Gates will open an hour and a half before each day commences.
How to Watch
We are not live streaming our pre-season friendlies, with light updates on social media. You can follow the action via our online scorecard in our Match Centre - which will be live on Saturday morning.
You will need to register for a free account to access the replays and live scorecard.
Team News
Paul Farbrace has named a 12-player squad for the upcoming friendly against Hampshire. Academy players Louie Lawrence and Ramsay Trainer both feature.
Squad
Tear, Carter (wk), Ibrahim, Thomas, Leaning, Hudson-Prentice, Lawrence, Carson (C), Lamb, Trainer, Henry, Oosthuizen.
'This Girl Can - Be Inspired' Comes to Hove
'This Girl Can - Be Inspired' Comes to Hove
On Friday 20th March, the Sussex Cricket Foundation (SCF) supported and hosted Brighton & Hove City Council at The County Ground, for the third year running of ‘This Girl Can – Be Inspired'. The event was attended by almost 80 year 8 & 9 girls from 7 local Brighton Secondary Schools, and built on the success of previous years, proving a positive and impactful event once again.
The event, run in partnership with the Brighton & Hove City Council – School Games Organiser, SCF and Active Sussex, provides girls with the opportunity to come and take part in workshops around health & wellbeing in sport & physical activity, as well as hearing from inspirational female speakers in sport.
This year Ayscha Woods supported the event in its planning and delivery, and organised a fantastic collaboration between SCF and Sussex Cricket, in a joined-up approach, inviting along Sussex Women’s Head Coach – Alexia Walker, Captain – Chiara Green, and Physio – Alex Myall to attend and deliver an inspirational speech. The three women shared their journey into sport, what it means to them and highlighted the different ways to be involved in sport.
The students also took part in workshops around how to measure and find the correct sports bra led by Team PeBe and EmPower Health led a workshop on being active and menstrual cycles.
The girls also took part in student voice activities with their PE teachers to discuss barriers that still impact girls’ participation in sport and physical activity both in and out of school. We know that in Brighton & Hove from our SAWSS survey 2024 that only 15% of secondary age girls said they got 1 hour of physical activity every day in the past 7 days, compared to 27% of boys.
From these student voice activities we will be working with the cities secondary schools to create ‘This Girl Can Brighton and Hove School Pledges’ to break down these barriers and give girls more opportunities to be active.
On the event, Emma Greenough School Games Organiser said;
These events are so important to give girls the opportunity and space to learn more about how to choose the right sports bra and the effects the menstrual cycle has when you're being active.
"It’s a really positive space for girls to have conversations and ask questions to experts in their fields. Having inspirational speakers from the world of sport, also gives the girls the opportunity to see what they could do after school and why being physically active is so important for your health and wellbeing."
Ayscha Woods, Women & Girls / Diverse Communities Manager for the Foundation said;
It was a delight to support this event in partnership with B&HCC and Active Sussex, and we welcomed the opportunity to host the event again this year at the inspirational venue here at The County Ground, Hove.
"It was brilliant to have Alexia, Chiara and Alex from the Sussex Women’s setup attending and delivering inspirational speeches – speaking so eloquently, naturally and positively about sport, equality and mental health. They are tremendous role models at the club and it was a joy to see the girls attending the event asking questions and getting involved."
"The workshops delivered by Team PeBe and EmPower were highly engaging and I can honestly say that the feedback from the girls was incredible. At the end of the day responses on how the girls were feeling were collected and from 52 responses, 49 reported that they felt ‘positive’ (45) and ‘relieved’ (4). This event aims to make a real, meaningful difference and impact in our local community and I can wholeheartedly say that this event continues to achieve its aim and inspire girls to feel confident in being physically active. We look forward to continuing to collaborate with B&HCC and Active Sussex in the future.”
To find out more about the partners involved in the event, please visit their websites below:
Active Sussex - This Girl Can Sussex network | Team PeBe | EmPower Health
If you would like to find out more about the opportunities on offer for women & girls across Sussex through the network of cricket clubs, please contact Ayscha Woods: ayscha.woods@sussexcricket.co.uk.
Annual General Meeting 2026
The 10th Sussex Cricket Limited Annual General Meeting took place on Tuesday 24 March 2026 at the County Ground, Hove.
The meeting was chaired by President and Interim Chair Sir Rod Aldridge and led by Interim Chief Executive Mark West and Board Director Fiona Richards, presenting on behalf of the Audit and Risk Committee, alongside representatives from the Club’s auditors.
Accounts and financial overview
Members received the Club’s accounts for the year ending 31 October 2025. The accounts were formally received, with members raising questions and concerns regarding the financial position and the circumstances that led to it.
The full report and accounts can be viewed here
The Club outlined the actions being taken to address these challenges, including strengthening governance, improving financial controls and enhancing financial oversight. Further detail on recent Board and Director appointments can be found here
Board and leadership updates
- Angela Arnold - Elected Board Director
- Chris Goodman and Jayne Haines MBE - Appointed Directors (ratified at the AGM)
- Russell Wood - Co-opted Board Director (ratified at the AGM)
- Alex Paterson - Chair, Audit and Risk Committee
- Paul Cooke - Interim Chief Finance Officer
Other AGM outcomes
- Sir Rod Aldridge reappointed as President until the 2027 AGM
- Four new Vice Presidents ratified:
- Sarah-Jane Cook
- Ish Jalal
- Martin Richards
- Nigel Russell
Members’ forum
Following the formal AGM, members took part in an open forum during which Mark West presented the ECB Exceptional Funding Framework before taking questions.
Head Coach Paul Farbrace then addressed cricketing matters.
The discussions reflected both the strength of feeling among members and the Club’s commitment to engaging openly and transparently.
Speaking after the AGM, Sir Rod Aldridge said:
“It was important that members had the opportunity to hear openly about the Club’s position and to ask questions. There is no doubt this has been a difficult period, and it is right that members have engaged so fully in the discussion.
“What matters now is that we continue to respond with clarity, accountability and a shared commitment to putting the organisation on a stronger footing for the future.
“With that in mind, we begin the process of recruiting our new Chair on Monday. This is a key appointment and an important opportunity to bring in someone who can unite the Club and help drive it forward to realise its full potential.”
Mark West added:
“Thank you to all members who attended and contributed to what was an important and, at times, challenging evening.
“We are focused on addressing the issues that have been raised. The steps we are taking to strengthen governance, improve financial control and bring in additional expertise are already underway.
“I would also like to recognise the support and professionalism of Paul Farbrace, our players and all Sussex Cricket colleagues during this period. They have remained fully committed throughout, and that gives us real confidence as we look ahead.
“With the new season getting underway next week, there is a great deal to look forward to on the pitch, and we remain fully committed to building a more stable and sustainable future in the months ahead.”
Members will be notified when the full minutes from the Annual General Meeting are available.
Worthing Businesses Join Forces to Support the Sussex Cricket Foundation
Worthing Businesses Join Forces to Support the Sussex Cricket Foundation
A newly created business networking club in Worthing has teamed up with the Sussex Cricket Foundation to help raise vital funds to support their programmes.
Spearheaded by Sam Hart from Ian Hart Funeral Service and Tim Ransley from local law firm Bennett Griffin, the duo have run two successful events with more planned throughout the year, stay tuned for future updates!
Events with international cricketers such as Monty Panasar, Ollie Robinson and ex-England & current Sussex Director of Cricket, Paul Farbrace, have come together to share stories of their careers to guests from businesses across the local community.
The most recent event ‘The Afternoon Session’ with Paul Farbrace and Ollie Robinson took place at Tavola Di Famiglia in Worthing in front of 40 guests, with a 3-course meal, stories from our guest speakers, followed by a raffle to raise funds for the Foundation.
Sam & Tim said; “Whilst combining funerals with the law and professional sport all sounds rather novel, we wanted to get local businesses talking, but in a way that we could add a bit of interest. As fans of the old leather on willow, what better way to do that than hear from some of the legends of the game all whilst raising money for the Foundation. We want to say a huge thanks to Ian Hart Funeral Services and Bennett Griffin for supporting us with this. We have some great ideas for the future so watch this space!”
Gary Wallis-Tayler added; “We are extremely grateful to Sam, Tim and the local Worthing business community for supporting the Foundation. These events not only raise vital funds but also enables us to raise awareness and the profile of the Foundation, across a town that has strong cricketing tradition and whose recreational clubs continue to provide opportunities for people of all ages, abilities and genders to access the game.”
Both events have raised £1,500 for the Foundation to help their mission of actively changing lives through the power of cricket. The Foundation recently released their latest Impact Report to showcase its work – read more
Anyone interested in supporting or to find out more is encouraged to contact Director of the Sussex Cricket Foundation, Gary Wallis-Tayler on gary.wallis-tayler@sussexcricket.co.uk
Sussex vs Durham | Pre-Season | Match Preview
It's a breezy pre-season with another fixture already looming as Durham make the long journey down for our third friendly of the campaign.
Suffering the same fate as our most recent visitors in Worcestershire, Durham similarly dropped down to Division Two last season with that confirmed dramatically on the final day of the season. They've strengthened their squad in the winter, with Kemar Roach the standout addition.
Entry is FREE for all of our pre-season matches, with no ticket purchase required.
Also, the North East Gate will not be open during pre-season. Access to The County Ground, Hove is via the Main Entrance, situated on Eaton Road.
Hours of Play
Day 1 and 2:
- Session One: 11:00pm – 1:00pm
- Session Two: 1:40pm – 3:40pm
- Session Three: 4:00pm – 6:00pm (light permitting)
Gates will open an hour and a half before each day commences.
How to Watch
We are not live streaming our pre-season friendlies, with light updates on social media. You can follow the action via our online scorecard in our Match Centre - which will be live on Thursday morning.
You will need to register for a free account to access the replays and live scorecard.
Team News
Paul Farbrace has named a 13-player squad for the upcoming friendly against Durham, with Charlie Tear taking the gloves. Academy youngster, Louie Lawrence, earns a first call-up to the men's squad.
Squad
Haines, Carter, Alsop, Hudson-Prentice, Price, Clark, Lamb, Ibrahim, Thomas, Tear (wk), Carson, Lawrence, Henry.
North East Gate Information
NORTH EAST GATE CLOSURE
The North East Gate will be closed on Days 3 and 4 of County Championship matches with entrance to the County Ground via the Main Entrance, situated on Eaton Road.
Thank you for your attention.
Sussex vs Worcestershire | Pre-Season | Match Preview
Following on from a competitive two-day friendly against Kent, Paul Farbrace's Sussex are swiftly back in action on Sunday with the arrival of Worcestershire for another breezy two-dayer as the preparations for the forthcoming campaign escalate.
Worcestershire were the last side Sussex faced competitively, with the teams meeting in the final match of last season in a frenetic affair at New Road. Despite dropping to Division Two, they've strengthened their bowling attack with the additions of Usama Mir and South African all-rounder, Beyers Swanepoel.
Entry is FREE for all of our pre-season matches, with no ticket purchase required.
Also, the North East Gate will not be open during pre-season. Access to The County Ground, Hove is via the Main Entrance, situated on Eaton Road.
Hours of Play
Day 1 and 2:
- Session One: 11:00pm – 1:00pm
- Session Two: 1:40pm – 3:40pm
- Session Three: 4:00pm – 6:00pm (light permitting)
Gates will open an hour and a half before each day commences.
How to Watch
We will not be live streaming our pre-season friendlies this campaign, with light updates on social media. You can follow the action via our online scorecard in our Match Centre - which will be live on Sunday morning.
You will need to register for a free account to access the replays and live scorecard.
Team News
Paul Farbrace has named a 13-player squad for the upcoming friendly against the Pears, making five changes from the 14-player squad that faced Kent over the past two days. Oli Carter, Dan Ibrahim, George Thomas and Troy Henry are all included as new additions.
Squad
Alsop, Tear, Clark, Coles, Leaning, Simpson, Carter, Hudson-Prentice, Ibrahim, Thomas, Crocombe, Robinson, Henry.
Major Partners
Premium Partners
Community Partners
Corporate Partners
