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.
Sussex Cricket Annual General Meeting 2026
Lacuna Sports Festival returns to Hove
Lacuna Sports Festival returns to Hove
We’re excited to announce the return of the Lacuna Sports Festival, celebrating women’s participation in Soft Ball Cricket at The County Ground, Hove, on Sunday 31st May.
Cricket clubs are invited to apply for team entry, with a focus on bringing along players who are new to cricket or have only played a little. The festival offers a friendly and supportive environment for beginners.
The festival will start at approximately 9:30am (to be confirmed) ahead of the Sussex Sharks Women’s T20 Blast match vs. Glamorgan, beginning at 14:30. Players and club coaches/umpires will be invited to stay and watch the T20 free of charge, with discounted tickets available for guests.
This event is once again proudly sponsored by Lacuna Sports, a company specialising in high‑quality cricket teamwear designed specifically for women and girls, tailored to female body shapes to improve comfort, confidence and performance.
A huge thank you to them for supporting Women’s Cricket and helping make this festival possible.
Find out more about Lacuna Sports: https://lacunasports.co.uk
To have a chance of taking part, please complete the following Expression of Interest Form. Please note that submitting the form is an application, not a guaranteed place. A limited number of clubs will be selected based on the applications received.
Join us for what promises to be another fantastic celebration of Women’s Soft Ball Cricket!
Sussex vs Kent | Pre-Season | Match Preview
With the return of the sunshine, cricket is back at Hove as we welcome Kent tomorrow (Thursday, 19 March) for our opening pre-season friendly.
The first of four friendlies lined up - the rest of which can be viewed here - this two-day friendly will provide an excellent test against a Kent side who have unquestionably strengthened following last year's disappointing red ball campaign with Matt Milnes and Sam Northeast both returning to the county.
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:
- Session One: 12:00pm – 2:00pm
- Session Two: 2:40pm – 4:40pm
- Session Three: 5:00pm – 7:00pm (light permitting)
Day 2:
- Session One: 11:00pm – 1:00pm
- Session Two: 1:40pm – 3:40pm
- Session Three: 4:00pm – 6:00pm
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 Thursday morning.
You will need to register for a free account to access the replays and live scorecard.
Team News
Paul Farbrace has announced a 14-player squad for this opening friendly, led by new County Championship captain, Ollie Robinson.
Jack Leaning and Tom Price both feature for Sussex for the first time, with opening batter Dan Hughes soon to join up with his Sussex teammates as he soon arrives from Australia.
Squad
Alsop, Carson, Clark, Coles, Crocombe, Haines, Hudson-Prentice, Hunt, Lamb, Leaning, Price, Robinson, Simpson, Tear.
Kevin Keegan OBE to Headline Fundraising Lunch for the Foundation
Kevin Keegan OBE to Headline Fundraising Lunch for the Foundation
The Sussex Cricket Foundation is delighted to share that English footballing legend Kevin Keegan OBE will headline this year’s Best of British Gatwick Lunch – World Cup Special, taking place on Friday 3 July 2026 at the London Gatwick Hilton Hotel.
As the event’s beneficiary charity, we are thrilled to be part of one of the region’s most popular corporate occasions, known for combining first-class hospitality with inspiring sporting personalities.
Kevin Keegan is one of the most recognisable figures in British sport: a two‑time Ballon d’Or / European Player of the Year winner, European Cup champion, former England international, and England manager whose influence shaped football through the 70s, 80s and 90s. His recent cancer battle, shared publicly by his family, has been met with huge public support and we know guests will be eager to welcome him with the same warmth this summer. Widely regarded as one of the most engaging speakers in sport and joining us during the height of the 2026 World Cup Finals; Kevin promises to make this a truly memorable afternoon.
This year’s lunch is supported by outstanding partners including Headline Sponsor IT Document Solutions, Co‑Sponsors Bennett Oakley, Webtrends Optimize and Handelsbanken, and Media Partner Platinum Business Magazine. We also extend our thanks to Best of British Events for their continued support of the Foundation. Their support ensures that the funds raised on the day can make a real and lasting difference to communities across Sussex.
Gary Wallis-Tayler, Director of the Sussex Cricket Foundation said;
“We are thrilled to be chosen as the beneficiary charity by Best of British Events and thank Ryan and the team for their continued support of the Foundation. I am sure it will be a fantastic event, hearing stories from one of the most iconic footballers in the game. This event will help raise vital funds to enable the Foundation to continue running impactful programmes & initiatives across Sussex to grow the game, make it accessible and help fulfil people’s ambitions.
Guests attending the event will enjoy a drinks reception at 12:00pm followed by a three-course lunch at 12:45pm and charity prize draw. Tables of 10 are available now at £850 + VAT and with past years regularly selling out, early booking is strongly advised.
To secure your place at this unmissable event, email by return - gatwick@bestofbritish.org.uk.
As the beneficiary charity, the Sussex Cricket Foundation will receive vital support from the funds raised, directly helping us deliver programmes that use the power of cricket to inspire education, improve health and wellbeing, and create opportunities for people across the county.
To find out more about the impact that the Foundation has across the county and how you can help us to continue #MakingADifference, please view the recent 2025 Impact Report and Support Us website page.
We look forward to welcoming guests, partners and supporters in July for what promises to be a memorable afternoon with Kevin Keegan OBE.
Sussex Players Selected in Hundred Draft
£390,000: that's the value of James Coles as London Spirit continued to wave their bat in the air at yesterday's The Hundred auction until they finally fought off the competition of SunRisers Leeds to secure their man.
Andy Flower, Head Coach of Spirit and brother to Sussex Batting Coach, Grant Flower, expressed his desire at securing Coles' services this summer following the auction, that also saw five other Sussex representatives go under the hammer and find their respective franchises.
Jofra Archer was retained by Southern Brave so, although he will feature in this year's edition, his name, like many other notable names, were not in the spotlight for yesterday's draft. And what this means is that Coles didn't just steal the show, he was the show. £90k more expensive than the second most pricey in Jordan Cox, a fabulous winter with Sunrisers Eastern Cape - as well as a stellar summer with the Sharks last season - bolstered his price tag to a whopping amount.
A day previous, though, and there was another success story. At just 17 years of age Eve O'Neill revelled in a fabulous debut season with Alexia Walker's Sharks, consistently in the wicket column. Much to her surprise having learned at late notice, Birmingham Phoenix chose O'Neill in the draft for £15k - another fantastic achievement for our women's side.
It's an already strong and yet still increasing list of players who either began their careers or made their careers with Sussex Women. Linsey Smith joins O'Neill at Birmingham Phoenix for this year's competition, whilst Freya Kemp and Ella McCaughan head to Welsh Fire. Paige Scholfield will feature for Manchester Super Giants with Tara Norris and Dani Wyatt-Hodge teaming up to play for MI London. Other notable Sussex names in Georgia Adams, Georgia Elwiss and Millie Taylor were selected by Trent Rockets, with Cassidy McCarthy picked up by Sunrisers Leeds. An extensive catalogue of talent, all coming through the Sussex pathway.
And back to the men's side to cap off this year's Hundred roundup, starting with Tymal Mills who swaps Southern Brave colours for that of London Spirit, joining up with Coles. Brad Currie is on his way to Trent Rockets, so too returning spinner Danny Briggs. For Tom Alsop, he'll be back in The Hundred, this time featuring for Sunrisers Leeds.
We wish all Sussex representatives the very best at this year's instalment of The Hundred.
Additional Pre-Season Friendly Confirmed
Sussex Cricket can confirm that a friendly against Worcestershire has been added to their pre-season schedule ahead of the 2026 season.
The two-day friendly against the Pears will take place on Sunday, 22 and Monday 23 March, with play starting at 11am both days.
This additional fixture will be the second of four friendlies at Hove, with fixtures against Kent, Durham and Hampshire already confirmed.
Entry to all these friendlies will be free, with no tickets required.
Sussex's Martin Burgess wins Silver Ashes and World Cup with England 70s
Sussex's Martin Burgess, wicketkeeper and captain of the Sussex 70+ 1st XI, was a member of the England 70s Cricket Team who have recently returned from a successful tour Down Under.
They won both the Silver Ashes and the Over-70s World Cup.
Congratulations, Martin!
Full press release:
England Cricket 70s retain their Silver Ashes and World Cup titles in a memorable tour.
Last Thursday (5th March), the England 70s beat Australia 70s by 15 runs in the International Masters Cricket Over-70s World Cup Final to be crowned back-to-back world champions.
The success on the world stage came just weeks after securing a 3-0 whitewash over the same opponents in the Silver Ashes.
The Down Under Tour, sponsored by Assured Data Protection, ran from 28th January to 5th March after starting in Adelaide and finishing at the Hagley Oval in New Zealand.
The England team embarked on the tour as the current holders of the Silver Ashes, which were won in 2023, and the inaugural World Cup winners after doing so on home soil in 2024.
The current group of players and staff, led by captain John Evans and manager Chris Lowe, only lost one One-Day International across the whole tour as the team underlined England’s status as the leading team in Over-70s cricket.
After a series of warm-up games, the Silver Ashes kicked off at the Karen Rolton Oval, where an all-round performance from Jim Phillips (1/5 off nine overs and 59) secured a seven-wicket win.
The second ODI proved to be a much closer affair, with England getting over the line by a single run in an energy-sapping encounter that saw a heat break during the Australian run chase of 229. Leg-spinner Stuart Nye successfully defended 13 off the final over.
Temperatures returned to normal for the final ODI with Derek Towe’s 87 and Phillips’ 3/26 guiding England to a 26-run win and a 3-0 series victory.
The team then headed across the Tasman Sea to New Zealand and kicked off their World Cup campaign with routine victories over India and Canada.
Then came a setback, as they lost by six wickets to Australia despite Towe (86*) and Neil Calvert’s (85) best efforts.
A response came with a six-wicket win of their own over Sri Lanka and a 112-run win over the USA before the weather, which had been a constant annoyance throughout the tournament, saw England’s meeting with New Zealand abandoned with the hosts reeling at 51/5.
Despite several injuries, a dominant display over the Emerging Nations booked a spot in the final at the prestigious Hagley Oval against Australia, and Phillips wrote his name into the history books with a magnificent 118 in the first innings.
He shared a 183-run opening stand with Chris Evans (79) as England posted 288/3, which proved to be 15 runs too many for Australia.
After the World Cup Final, England 70s manager Chris Lowe said: For an England cricket team to travel to Australia and win an Ashes series 3-0, then travel to New Zealand and win a World Cup tournament, to retain the trophy they won two years ago, is a great achievement. For a squad of 70-year-olds to do that over a five-week period is simply immense and a testament to the character, skills and fitness of each player in the squad.”
Squad
John Evans (Captain, Gloucestershire), Nick Andrews (Cambridgeshire/Hunts), Martin Burgess (Sussex), Neil Calvert (Lincolnshire/Ridings), Terry Edwards (Kent), Chris Evans (Surrey), Peter Hayes (Worcestershire), Andy Mackle (Lincolnshire/Ridings), Stuart Nye MBE (Cornwall), Jim Phillips (Kent), David Robinson (Hertfordshire), Steve Sheppard (Somerset), Chris Swadkin MBE (Kent), Chris Tarrant (Kent), David Tee (Staffordshire/Derbyshire), Derek Towe (Vice-Captain, Kent), Marcus Young (Essex).
Chris Lowe (Manager), Charles Bury (Assistant Manager), John Eyre (Silver Ashes Umpire), Mike Walton (Scorer).
Silver Ashes Results
1st February – South Australia @ Park 25, Adelaide – Won by 108 runs
3rd February – Australia Over 65s @ Park 25, Adelaide – Lost by 28 runs
5th February – Invitational XI @ Adelaide University – Lost by 7 wickets
7th February – First ODI @ Karen Rolton Oval – Won by 7 wickets
9th February – New South Wales @ Howell Oval – Lost by 4 wickets
11th February – Second ODI @ Howell Oval – Won by 1 run
13th February – Third ODI @ Joe McAleer Oval – Won by 26 runs
World Cup Results
20th February – India @ St Bede’s College – Won by 10 wickets
22nd February – Canada @ Ashburton Domain – Won by 120 runs
24th February – Australia @ Bert Sutcliffe Oval – Lost by 6 wickets
26th February – Sri Lanka @ Main Power Oval – Won by 6 wickets
27th February – USA @ Sydenham Park – Won by 112 runs
1st March – New Zealand @ Ashburton Domain - Abandoned
4th March – Emerging Nations @ Mandeville – Won by 168 runs
5th March – Australia (Final) @ Hagley Oval – Won by 15 runs
International Women’s Day: Celebrating Three Inspiring Cricket Journeys
International Women’s Day: Celebrating Three Inspiring Cricket Journeys
This International Women’s Day, we’re celebrating some of the incredible women and girls who make cricket in Sussex a vibrant, welcoming community. Whether through leading on the field, scoring behind the scenes or coaching the next generation, their stories show that cricket is a game for everyone.
Today, we’re spotlighting three amazing females involved in cricket, each sharing their journey in full on the Sussex Cricket Foundation social channels, so you can hear their stories in their own words.
Chiara Green: Sussex Women’s Captain
In her International Women’s Day video, Chiara reflects on what wearing the Sussex badge means to her - representing her county, her teammates and the journey that began at her local state school. She also shares how she never expected to play at this level and how opportunities helped shape her pathway.
Chiara speaks passionately about why now is such an exciting time for Women’s Cricket. With the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in England & Wales ahead, she believes the momentum is only just beginning and the game can thrive off the kind of support that the Women’s Football and Rugby teams have received in recent years.
Watch Chiara’s full story on our socials here.
Watch the Sussex Sharks Women & England Women in action this summer: Sussex Women's Fixtures & ICC Women's T20 World Cup Fixtures
Ellen Camp: Young Scorer at Slinfold CC
Ellen’s feature highlights a different but equally vital pathway into cricket: scoring. In her video, she shares how stepping behind the scorebook has helped her find confidence and belonging, plus a new perspective on the sport.
As a young scorer at Slinfold CC, she discovered that cricket isn’t just about batting or bowling, there are countless roles that make the game possible. Ellen wants more women and girls to experience how rewarding volunteering can be, even if they’ve never played before.
Watch Ellen’s journey into scoring on our socials here.
Explore scoring & umpiring with the brand-new free ECB Online Courses here.
Cherry Taylor: A Lifelong Love of Cricket
Cherry’s story is a heartfelt reminder of how early experiences can shape a lifelong love of the game.
Her journey began in childhood at Mountfield Village Cricket Ground, where her dad captained the local team. She spent countless hours helping him mow the square, roll the wicket and prepare the ground. She was the only girl eager to join the coaching sessions he arranged, but that didn’t stop her.
At secondary school, despite cricket not being offered to girls, her teachers encouraged her to train with the boys, selected her for school teams and supported her all the way to Sussex trials. That support also led her to join an after‑school cricket club run by former England Women’s wicketkeeper Shirley Hodges, a key figure in her development.
By 15, Cherry was selected for the Sussex Under 19 Women's team and later played for Brighton & Hove Women - at the time, the only women’s team in East Sussex.
After stepping back from the sport to raise her family, Cherry returned with a renewed passion for coaching. She completed her first coaching qualification in the 1980s but found new inspiration years later when Robertsbridge Cricket Club approached her. Women at the club wanted to develop their skills and create more opportunities to play and Cherry stepped in to help.
From winter coaching sessions in 2021 to entering the Sussex Women’s Soft Ball League, achieving division wins and reaching county finals, Cherry has become central to a growing community of women and girls discovering cricket for the first time.
She completed her Level 1 coaching qualification in 2023, her Level 2 in 2025 and now plays a key role in delivering All Stars Cricket sessions, supporting the thriving women’s & girls’ section, and organising new indoor fixtures for local teams.
Her passion is simple and inspiring:
“I love being able to help promote the great game of cricket to women and girls. It is very rewarding to see them develop their skills, have fun, and enjoyment of the game.”
Discover Cherry’s story on our socials here.
Want to get involved in coaching? We have an ECB Female-Only Foundation Course coming up later this summer: Express Your Interest
Your Turn: Start Your Cricket Journey
Feeling inspired? Whether you want to play, coach, score or simply get involved, there’s a place for everyone in cricket.
For more information or to find your local opportunities, please get in touch with our Women & Girls / Diverse Communities Manager: ayscha.woods@sussexcricket.co.uk
Don't forget to follow us on social media to stay up-to-date with everything Recreational Cricket in Sussex.
Derek Semmence: A Life in Cricket
The Sussex Cricket Museum is proud to be jointly publishing this new book on the life and cricketing times of former Sussex player, Derek Semmence.
The book, priced at £12, will be on sale at The Martlets dinner today (Friday, 6th March). Copies will also be available to purchase in the Museum.
For more of our publications, and to learn more about the Sussex Cricket Museum, visit their website here: https://sussexcricketmuseum.org.uk/
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