2024 Sussex Disability Cricket Round-Up

It has been yet another ground-breaking year for Disability Cricket in Sussex, with so many highlights, initiatives and performances to be proud of. Read all about the successes of the players, volunteers and staff who make it all possible, from Sussex Cricket's Disability Cricket Manager, Tom Belcher. 

It has been another excellent year for Disability Cricket at Sussex Cricket; we thank all staff, volunteers and clubs, who support the development and delivery of our programmes and wider performance pathways. 

We would also like to thank Webtrends Optimize for their continued commitment and sponsorship of the Sussex Disability Pathway and DIScoverABILITY event. 

Their support has provided players with increased training opportunities, matchday support and team kit. Their continued commitment to this year’s DIScoverABILITY Day, saw record breaking numbers of Children Young People (CYP) and Adults with SEND - a wonderful day of cricket and sporting opportunities.

SEND Schools Cricket continued to grow this year, reaching over forty schools - a twenty one percent increase. With over one hundred and seventy places for table cricket competition, in our regional table cricket festival, held at The 1st Central County Ground, over three days in February 2024. 

Another excellent year across our Super1s Hubs. With over one hundred and twenty, CYP, accessing our county wide offer, with the further development of a newly formed Visually Impaired (VI) Hub and welcomed partnership with Arundel Castle Cricket Club, housing our ‘Arundel’ Super1s Hub, commencing October 2024.

We saw a growth across our network of ‘Disability Champion Clubs’ with eight confirmed hubs, providing opportunities to train, play and socialise within a club environment, supporting the development of players accessing our Sussex Disability Pathway, across the recreational cricket leagues. 

This is well above the national average of three and a half clubs per county across the country.

A wonderful start to pre-season in January; Tom Alsop supporting the Disability Pathway teams, with specialist group and one-to-one coaching sessions, throughout the winter.

We expanded our D40 offer this season, with the entry to both the ECB Quest and Pursuit leagues, welcoming over seventy players this season with a further increase of over eighty players, as we enter 2025. An increase of twenty five percent.

The D40 Quest team had a great season – sadly, several games were abandoned due to weather. We played four, won two, and went on to secure 4th place in the table. Playing games at Arundel Castle, The Oval and the 1st Central County Ground, this season.

The D40 Pursuit team entered the Pursuit League for the first time this season, and although faced with some tough challenges, the team played exceptionally well against some excellent and highly experienced teams and players. 

The Super9s Challenge Squad played at several competitive pairs cricket festivals across the South of England - Sussex, Surrey, Kent and Hampshire. Providing opportunities for both our established pathway and Super1s Development Players.

2024 has been another excellent year for the VI Sharks, after an early win in the league, the Sharks played Northants at the 1st Central County Ground, on the 11th May, in the final of the oldest disability sport competition in the world – the Heindrich Swanepoel Cup. 

The Sharks re-wrote the history books scoring 362 for 3 in 30 overs, with Skipper Dan fields scoring 154 off 73, the highest ever individual score. Northants were skittled for 93.

The Sharks run in the T20, saw the team stroll to finals day, then it went horribly wrong to a west country side, in the semi-final.

The Sharks made the 2024 final against Northants but sadly an injury ravaged side, came up short this time. However, the team went on to win National League Division 1 by just a single point - Sussex VI Sharks are the best in the country!

Sussex Cricket’s  ‘End of Season Awards Night’ welcomed the wider club, ‘Disability’ and ‘Women and Girls’ squads. A truly momentous occasion and a first in the club’s history.

A huge celebration for our award winners and wider successes of our Disability Pathway.  Sussex Cricket ‘first’ Women & Girls DPL player – Meg Loveland. 

The wider successes of our Male DPL players – Alfie Pyle, Owen Piper, Fred Bridges, Liam O’Brian and Daniel Gee. Further celebrating the successes of our international players, Alfie Pyle (LD), Fred Bridges (PD), Liam O’Brian (PD) and Jake Vosloo (PD) – who has been invited to train with the England PD squad.

Discoverability Weekend saw three days of disability cricket brought to the County Ground, starting with DIScoverABILITY Day on the 10th May 2024. We say over 750 CYP and adults attend a superb day of cricket activation, alongside golf, football and wheelchair rugby. Thanks to Jolf, Brighton & Hove Albion Foundation and Brighton Buccaneers, for attending. 

Saturday 11th May welcomed the ‘2023’ VI Heindrich Swanepoel VI Cup Final. 

Sunday 12th May welcomed the D40 Quest fixture ‘Sussex vs Lancashire’ Sussex winning by nine wickets. 

This coincided with our national leading campaign #disabilitycricketmonth, celebrating the success of our community programmes and county disability pathway players and teams, including captains’ interviews with ex-international blind cricketers – Dan Field and Mark Bond and D40 Quest Captain – James Bunday.

Looking ahead

2025 will see a continued growth in Disability Cricket across the country and Sussex will continue to lead the way and ‘Inspire and Generation’ of players, developing opportunities for CYP and adults, to again equal opportunity and access to the game. 

With increased funding for both our Lord’s Taverners SEND and Super1s programmes, our SEND programme will continue to provide softball and table cricket to over fifty schools, with an increase in schools competition across both formats. 

The Super1s programme will see the provision of ten Super1s Hubs across Sussex, whilst continuing to provide a direct pathway into our VI Sharks team, through our Super1s VI Hub. 

We will continue to support the development of our Super1s participants through life skills and employability workshops, work experience opportunities and Super1s cricket festivals, for all participants. 

Finally, as players continue their development in disability cricket, our team of coaches will be working hard across the county to provide both opportunities to play cricket and signpost players to the appropriate pathway for development. 

This will include the development of our D40 Under 25s (hardball)squad, Super9s (softball) regional team entry and the development of a Women & Girls D40 (hardball) squad.

Sussex Cricket Society Christmas Lunch

The Sussex Cricket Society's Christmas Lunch will take place on Wednesday December 11th in the Cow Corner hospitality units of The 1st Central County Ground, Hove. 

We are fortunate to have Graham Gooch OBE as our guest speaker, so it promises to be an interesting and entertaining afternoon.

Gooch, arguably one of the finest batters in the last 50 years or so, played 118 Tests for England in a period from July 1975 to February 1995 with both his first and last Tests against the “old enemy” Australia. 

In his Test career he amassed 8,900 runs at 42.58 with a top score of 333 versus India at Lord's.

Members have already been sent details of how to book with the latest newsletter and if you are not yet a member you can join immediately for just £20 annually (£25 joint membership) at www.sussexcricketsociety.org and you will be sent booking details and prices for the lunch. 

Please don't delay, bookings for the lunch can only be taken until December 1st.

Sussex Announces Festival of Cricket at Arundel in 2025

Sussex Cricket is delighted to announce that both the Men’s and Women’s teams will play Metro Bank One Day Cup fixtures at Arundel in 2025, as part of a 4-day Festival of Cricket, sponsored by Rathbones.

The ECB today announced the remaining fixtures for the 2025 domestic cricket calendar, which includes the Sussex Sharks Men playing against Kent on August 7th in the Metro Bank One Day, with the Sussex Sharks Women also playing in the same competition at Arundel on Saturday 9th August. 

These fixtures will be part of a 4-day Festival of Cricket at Arundel, running from 6th-9th August 2025. 

Further details on the events taking place across the four days will follow in due course. 

James Rufey, Director of Cricket and Chief Operating Officer at Arundel Castle Cricket Club said: “Arundel Castle Cricket are delighted to be hosting the Rathbones Festival of Cricket alongside Sussex Cricket, showcasing all areas of the game. 

Not only are we delighted to have both the Sussex Sharks Men’s and Women’s teams playing competitive matches at Arundel, but we will also be hosting two further fixtures including a disability cricket match.”

Steven Haines, Investment Director for Rathbones said: “Rathbones are delighted to once again sponsor the Arundel Festival of Cricket. We look forward to being part of this unique occasion in a spectacular setting, demonstrating the exceptional talent across all forms of Sussex Cricket.”

Jon Filby, Sussex Cricket Chair, added: “I am absolutely delighted that 2025 will see the return of the Arundel Cricket Festival. 

“So many people have worked hard to make this happen, but I am particularly grateful to James Rufey and Alistair Subba Row at Arundel Castle Cricket Club and to Steve Haines of Rathbones who are sponsoring the festival. 

“2025 is an important season in the history of Sussex Cricket with our Women’s team playing a full fixture list at Hove for the first time and our men returning to Division One of the County Championship, as well as the return to Arundel which gives us even more to look forward to.”

2025 Sussex Men's and Women's Fixtures Announced

The ECB have today announced the remaining domestic fixtures for the 2025 cricket season for both the Sussex Men's and Women's teams. This year will see the Sussex Women's team, playing under the Sussex Sharks name, playing alongside the Men's team on a number of occasions at The 1st Central County Ground.

• Sussex Women will play nine fixtures at The 1st Central County Ground in 2025, including three double-headers
• Sussex Sharks Men and Women to play Metro One Day cup matches at Arundel in August
• Sussex Men begin life in Division One of the County Championship at Edgbaston 
• Surrey Men visit Hove in first month of the season 

Sussex Sharks Women

After being awarded Tier 2 status the Sussex Women's team will now play under the Sussex Sharks name and will play at The 1st Central County Ground nine times in 2025. 

This includes three double-headers at Hove, where the Men's and Women's teams will play on the same day. 

The Sharks will play in three white-ball competitions in 2025, the T20 Vitality Blast League 2, the Metro Bank One Day Cup League 2 and the Vitality T20 Women's County Cup. 

Men's County Championship

The Sussex Men will begin their Division One campaign with a trip to Edgbaston on Friday 4th April to take on Warwickshire, before returning to The 1st Central County Ground for back-to-back games, firstly against Somerset, before welcoming local rivals Surrey on Friday 18th April. 

The season will end with an away game for the first time in a number of years, with Sussex visiting New Road to take on Worcestershire to conclude the campaign. 

Men and Women to Play at Arundel 

Both the Sussex Men's and Women's team will play competitive Metro Bank One Day Cup fixtures at Arundel in 2025. 

First the Men's team take on Kent Spitfires on Thursday 7th August, with the Women following on Saturday 9th August against Leicestershire Women. 

Men's T20 Vitality Blast

After a sensational campaign last year which saw the Sharks reach Finals Day in 2024, Sharks fans will be penciling Saturday 13th September 2025 into their diaries. Finals Day will once again be played at Edgbaston on this date.

The South Group starts on Thursday 29th May, with the Sharks travelling to the home of cricket to take on Middlesex, on the same day that the Sussex Sharks Women Blast Off, also against Middlesex at Lord's.

The group stages come to an end with a standout fixture. Surrey the visitors to The 1st Central County Ground on Friday 18th July. 

You can download all of the Men's and Women's fixtures, by clicking the button at the bottom of this article. 

2025 Sussex Memberships 

Now that you've seen the fixtures you can start planning your summer. A Sussex 2025 Membership is your ticket to every home County Championship and Metro Bank One Day Cup game next season.

Plus, you'll have access to a whole host of benefits, such as discount on food & drink, free guest tickets, discount on Blast Passes, plus so much more.

To purchase your Membership today, please click here. 

2025 Blast Passes

Those who held Blast Passes in 2024 will are now able to renew their Passes for 2025 before they go on general sale on Monday 2nd December at 10am.

To renew yours today, please click here.

We are delighted to confirm that Carols at the County Ground will return this year on Wednesday 4th December 2024 in the Long Room at The 1st Central County Ground between 6pm and 8pm. 

Organised by SCF Trustees a team of excellent professional singers (with SCF Trustee Katy Cooper at the helm) will be leading us in some carols to kickstart the Christmas cheer.

This year we are requesting attendees pay £25 pp, which include a £10 donation to SCF.  We hope that you will understand that we would like to ensure that all funds raised will go directly to the good causes supported by the Foundation.  

All payments should be made either in cash on the night or by BACS to:

 Sussex Cricket Foundation account at 

Barclays Bank PLC, 139/142 North Street, Brighton BN1 1RU -   

Sorting Code: 20-12-98 - 

Account Number: 83772454 with your name and Carols as a reference

 As numbers are restricted, we’d appreciate you letting me know as soon as possible (ideally by return email to elizabeth.ager@sussexcricket.co.uk) if you and your partner, and any personal guests would like to attend & confirming how payment will be made. 

 Places will be allocated on a first come first serve basis and we will confirm your secured places via email.  Places are limited so please get in touch soon.

The Sussex Cricket Foundation undertake a wide range of community projects and your support is greatly appreciated.  Obviously, the more money SCF has the more we can deliver.  

Some information on SCF can be seen athttps://sussexcricket.co.uk/sussex-cricket-foundation.  The passion for cricket is spreading far and wide around Sussex and we are committed to continuing our inclusive introduction to cricket to as many as we can reach.

 I’m looking forward to receiving your requests for places to this fabulous seasonal event.

All the best 

Libby Ager

SCF Trustee and Patron

Sussex Grounds Team Commended at Grounds Manager Awards

Last night the Sussex Grounds team were commended for their efforts in the 2024 season, with special recognition given to the team for the pitches they produced for one-day games.

Congratulations to our amazing Grounds team! #GOSBTS

Full ECB Release

Surrey's Lee Fortis claims top Grounds Manager award for third consecutive year

Surrey’s Head of Ground Staff, Lee Fortis has claimed the award for the best multi-day pitches for the third consecutive year at the 2024 Grounds Manager of the Year Awards held at Trent Bridge.

Fortis and his team at the Kia Oval earned consistently outstanding marks for their County Championship and Rothesay Test pitches during the 2024 domestic and international season to win the Bernard Flack Memorial Trophy. This is also the fourth time in total that Fortis has scooped the prize since starting his role since 2012.

The event celebrated the successes and efforts of all the ground staff involved in producing surfaces for professional cricket in England and Wales and was attended by 104 people in total, with all First-Class Counties represented.

The One Day Cup for the best one day pitches was scooped by Adrian Llong (Kent CCC) with perfect marks in all but one match at the Spitfire St Lawrence Ground.

Kent’s Josh Marden also won the Outground pitches trophy for his efforts at Beckenham, while the Head Grounds Managers collectively recognised the efforts of: Stuart Kerrison (Essex CCC), Andy Ward (Leicestershire CCC), Paul Collett (Gloucestershire CCC) and Andy Noyes (Glamorgan CCC) who have all given 40 years or more continuous service to their respective counties.

Recognition was given to Tom Cowley (Hampshire CCC) as an Outstanding Contributor and a round of applause was also given to Stephen Manfield (Worcestershire CCC) for so comprehensively recovering the ground following an unprecedented eight floods that completely devastated the cricket square over the winter following the 2023 season.

It was the event’s pleasure to also present Jasmine Nicholls (Yorkshire CCC) with the Rising Star Award she won at last week's Business Of Cricket Awards. Nicholls became the first woman to prepare a pitch at Headingley earlier this year when she led the team at the stadium to cultivate conditions for the England v Pakistan Women’s Vitality IT20 game.

ECB Pitch and Grounds Advisor, Andy Mackay, said: “The amount of effort, dedication and sacrifice required from the grounds teams should never be underestimated, but 2024 was an especially difficult year for most due to the consistently poor weather for much of the cricket season. It’s fantastic that we can get together to celebrate and recognise this group and the contribution they make to the game, without whom our players could not provide such a thrilling spectacle.

"The standard of pitches in white and red-ball cricket continues to be very high overall and as ever, the competition for the top spots is exceedingly tough. The award winners deserve this recognition for the consistently outstanding pitches they have produced during the summer.”

Full list of awards winners:
Bernard Flack Memorial Trophy (Multi-Day pitches)
Winner: Lee Fortis (Kia Oval)
Runner-up: Richard Robinson (Headingley)
Commendation: Karl McDermott (Lord’s)

One-Day pitches:
Winner: Adrian Llong (The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence, Canterbury)
Runner-up: Gary Barwell (Edgbaston)
Commendations: Andy Ward (Uptonsteel County Ground, Grace Road), Ben Gibson (The 1st Central County Ground, Hove)

Outground Pitches Award:
Winner: Josh Marden (Beckenham)
Runner-up: Christian Brain (Cheltenham College)
Commendations: Nick Johnson (Blackpool CC), Brad Jeffries (Kidderminster CC)

Outstanding Contributor: Tom Cowley (Hampshire County Cricket Club)
Business Of Cricket Awards, Rising Star: Jasmine Nicholls (Yorkshire County Cricket Club)
ends

Sussex Men's and Women's T20 Vitality Blast 

Fixtures for 2025 Announced

The ECB today has announced the T20 Vitality Blast fixtures for 2025 for both the Men's and Women's teams. 

After being awarded Tier 2 status, the Sussex Women's team will now play under the Sussex Sharks title and will compete in the T20 Vitality Blast League 2 competition and will play at least four of their T20 Blast matches at The 1st Central County Ground in 2025, three of which will be double-headers, playing on the same day as the Men's team.

In total the Sussex Sharks Women will play eight fixtures in the Blast, with their campaign starting alongside the Men's team at Lord's on Thursday 29th May in a Blast Off double-header.

You can view all of the Men's and Women's T20 Blast fixtures by clicking here. 

Please note: Match start times are subject to change.

2025 T20 Blast Pass Information

Now that the T20 Blast fixtures have been released, we are delighted to announce that Blast Passes for the 2025 season will be open for renewals from 10am Monday 25th November for 7 days.

Those fans who held Blast Passes will be emailed directly with instructions on how to renew. 

After that renewal period, fans will be able to purchase Blast Passes on general sale, from 10am on Monday 2nd December. 

This year the Blast Passes represent even more value for money, as they now include the additional four Sussex Sharks Women's group games, as well as the 7 group games for the Men's team!

2025 Blast Pass Prices 

The Blast Pass is the most cost-effective way to watch both the Men's and Women's teams in action in 2025. Sussex Members are also entitled to an additional discount. 

To view prices, frequently asked questions and to find out more, please visit our 2025 T20 Blast Pass page. 

Sussex Sharks to Meet Buckinghamshire in Inaugural 

T20 Women's County Cup

The Sussex Women's First Team, Sussex Sharks, will meet Buckinghamshire in the inaugural T20 Women's County Cup in 2025. 

The ECB today unveiled the draw for the competition which will start in May 2025, which sees Sussex Sharks take on Buckinghamshire on 5th may 2025. 

Full ECB Release

The draw for the inaugural Vitality T20 Women’s County Cup has been unveiled.

Thirty-seven teams from across the three tiers of the women’s domestic structure will enter the knock-out competition, with the Tier 1 teams entering at Round Three.

The knock-out nature of the Vitality T20 Women’s County Cup will give Counties in Tier 2 and Tier 3 the chance to pull off a giant-killing against fully professional Tier 1 sides, and today’s draw offers potentially intriguing routes to Finals Day for a number of teams.

Two all Tier 1 ties in Round Three means the competition will be guaranteed at least two teams from Tiers 2 or 3 in the quarter-finals.

It’s the first time the Vitality T20 Women’s County Cup will be competed for, in what is the first year of a revamped women’s domestic game structure.

The competition will take place across May, utilising Bank Holidays at the beginning and end of the month, and will signal the first domestic silverware of 2025.

ROUND ONE (Ties to be played Monday 5 May)

Match 1: Lincolnshire v Cheshire

Match 2: Staffordshire v Cumbria

Match 3: Northumberland – BYE

Match 4: Yorkshire v Derbyshire

Match 5: Leicestershire – BYE

Match 6: Shropshire v Norfolk

Match 7: Cambridgeshire v Herefordshire

Match 8: Northamptonshire v Worcestershire

Match 9: Sussex v Buckinghamshire

Match 10: Suffolk – BYE

Match 11: Hertfordshire v Bedfordshire & Huntingdonshire

Match 12: Middlesex v Kent

Match 13: Cornwall v Berkshire

Match 14: Wiltshire v Oxfordshire

Match 15: Dorset v Devon

Match 16: Glamorgan v Gloucestershire

ROUND TWO (Ties to play Saturday 10 May)

Match 17: Yorkshire or Derbyshire v Staffordshire or Cumbria

Match 18: Leicestershire v Lincolnshire or Cheshire

Match 19: Shropshire or Norfolk v Northamptonshire or Worcestershire

Match 20: Northumberland v Cambridgeshire or Herefordshire

Match 21: Glamorgan or Gloucestershire v Sussex or Buckinghamshire

Match 22: Cornwall or Berkshire v Middlesex or Kent

Match 23: Wiltshire or Oxfordshire v Hertfordshire or Bedfordshire & Huntingdonshire

Match 24: Devon or Dorset v Suffolk

ROUND THREE (Ties to be played Saturday 17 May)

Match 25: Surrey v Hampshire Hawks

Match 26: Winner of Match 24 v Bears

Match 27: Winner of Match 19 v Winner of Match 18

Match 28: Winner of Match 21 v Lancashire Thunder

Match 29: Winner of Match 17 v Essex

Match 30: Winner of Match 23 v The Blaze

Match 31: Winner of Match 20 v Winner of Match 22

Match 32: Somerset v Durham

QUARTER-FINALS (Ties to be played Saturday 24 May)

Match 33: Winner of Match 25 v Winner of Match 32

Match 34: Winner of Match 31 v Winner of Match 30

Match 35: Winner of Match 27 v Winner of Match 28

Match 36: Winner of Match 29 v Winner of Match 26

FINALS DAY (Monday 26 May, The Cooper Associate County Ground, Taunton)

Match 37: Semi-Final 1: Winner of Match 35 v Winner of Match 34

Match 38: Semi-Final 2: Winner of Match 36 v Winner of Match 33

Match 39: Vitality T20 Women’s County Cup Final

The semi-finals and final will be played as a three-match Finals Day, with the two semi-finals preceding the final, at The Cooper Associate County Ground, Taunton, on Monday 26 May.

The fixtures for the Vitality Blast men’s competition, Vitality Blast women’s competition and Vitality Blast Women’s League 2 will be unveiled tomorrow.

Sussex Clubs Come Together at 

The 1st Central Sussex Cricket League Awards Dinner

Earlier this month the Sussex Cricket Foundation held the annual 1st Central Sussex Cricket League Awards Dinner, with special guest speaker, ex-England International Mark Ramprakash joining players, coaches and volunteers from across the County to celebrate another successful recreational cricket league season. 

Over 360 people from 41 clubs across the County were in attendance for the special evening and were treated to stories from Ramprakash’s glittering playing career, as well as his experiences when starring on hit reality tv show, Strictly Come Dancing. 

A minute’s applause was also held, as attendees came together to pay tribute to both Daniel Oliver and Mike Newcombe, two key members of the League Executive Committee, who passed away recently. 

Another momentous season saw league winners and individual performances celebrated from across the 39 divisions of the league structure. 

A total of 148 clubs and 370 teams competed in this year’s competitions, further highlighting the fantastic participation levels across adult league cricket in Sussex. 

In the Premier League this year, Preston Nomads CC were crowned winners, with Three Bridges CC pushing them all the way before being pipped to the runners-up spot by Horsham CC.

Both Ifield CC and Haywards Heath CC gained promotion to the Premier League for 2025. 

The Young Player of the Year award was won by Adam Trees from West Chiltington & Thakeham CC, whilst Pagham CC won the Ground of the Year award for a third consecutive year.

The annual T20 Finals Day saw Three Bridges CC defeat Preston Nomads CC in the T20 Cup under the lights at The 1st Central County Ground.

Hailsham 2nd XI ran out winners against St Matthias in the Paul Baker T20 Trophy, while Goring-by-Sea 2nd XI lifted the T20 Plate after defeating Preston Nomads 4th XI. 

The 2024 season was also the first year of the League Support Fund, which had successful applicants from 26 different clubs.

The Fund saw the league distributing over £10,000 to directly support the development of league cricket in Sussex. 

Successful applicants received contributions of up to £500 towards improvements to the changing room and social spaces, sightscreens, covers and ground equipment. 

Speaking on another successful league season, Gary Stanley said: “I am very proud of the League and its constant ability to grow and develop. The season has, once again, been filled with close divisions and memorable moments. We have had a very difficult time over the last couple of months, having lost two such incredible cricket people. The dinner was, however, a timely reminder of what they helped build and we will move onward and upward for 2025”.

Community Cricket Director, Gary Wallis-Tayler, added: “It’s great to see the continued growth of the league, which shows the strength of recreational cricket in Sussex. It has been another wonderful season, and it was great to see all our clubs come together to celebrate team and individual success. I would like to pay special tribute to our League Executive Committee, who are all volunteers, for their continued hard work and commitment to the running of the league.”

You can view all the pictures from the evening, by clicking here.