U13-16 Pathway Assessment Nominations Now Open

Please find details below to enable you to nominate young players (for boys U13-U16 only)  for the 2025/2026 Sussex Cricket Junior Pathway Assessments. 

Please note that if selected for assessments the dates below are the only dates we have available. We appreciate some players have commitments with other sports which is why we have given everyone plenty of notice.

 To enable us to observe the boys in outdoor conditions Phase 1 assessments will take place at the Blackstone Academy Ground in August & September (Blackstone Lane, BN5 9TA)

Dates and times for the age groups will be:

 U16 – Sunday 17th August    10.00 am – 1.00 pm

U15 – Sunday 17th August    2.00 – 5.00 pm 

U14 – Sunday 24th August   10.00 am – 1.00 pm or 2.00 – 5.00 pm

U13 – Tuesday 19th August 10.00 am – 1.00 pm or 2.00 – 5.00 pm

 For those players selected from Phase 1 the next phase of assessments will also take place at the Blackstone Academy Ground. 

Dates and times for the age groups will be:

 U16 – Sunday 28th August    10.00 am – 1.00 pm

U15 – Sunday 7th September 10.00 am – 1.00 pm 

U14 – Sunday 14th September 10.00 am – 1.00 pm

U13 – Sunday 7th September 2.00 – 5.00 pm

Players invited to attend Phase 2 will then be assessed against current county players at the relevant age group.  

 Please note these are which age groups players will be in for the 2025/2026 season by their date of birth:

We ask everyone to be aware of the following criteria when nominating players for assessments.

1.        Only players who were not on the 2024/2025 Pathway to be nominated

2.        Only players regarded as being as good or better than current county age group cricketers (U13 plus who were selected into the final county age group squads)

3.        Players who have contributed to SJCF and club/school matches with regular outstanding performances (4+ wicket hauls and 50+ scores on 3 occasions)

4.        Players of quality who will be fully committed to the programme.

5.        Please note that all players must be available for at least 80% of training sessions and games during the season (dates/times will be advised once selections have been made) For       example training may be every Sunday for 2 hours at Hove from November 2025 until March 2026 followed by a summer match training programme.

 If you have players whom you feel meet the criteria above please complete the following form:

 https://forms.gle/2Ks1SPxRRo18UhzSA

 Please note this form is for parents to complete.

All nominations to be received by Friday 8th August please. 

The Dean Wilson Sussex Cricket League: July Review 

The Dean Wilson Sussex Cricket League (SCL) has delivered an exhilarating June and July, as the summer sun continues to (mostly) shine on club cricket.

Throughout the 39 divisions we are seeing some intense competition and lots of finely poised divisions, with promotion and relegation on the line, as we go into the business end of the season.

Alongside the regular league season, the T20 Cup competitions are also getting to the nitty gritty with finalists and semi-finalists now confirmed.

In the Daniel Oliver T20 Cup, Three Bridges 1st XI & Cuckfield 1st XI will battle it out. The former looking to defend their title from 2024.

With the final due to be played at The 1st Central County Ground on Sunday 31 August as part of the league’s annual showpiece T20 Finals Day.

The Paul Baker T20 Trophy Semi-Finalists - Hailsham 2nd XI vs Three Bridges 2nd XI and Brighton & Hove 2nd XI vs Chichester Priory Park 2nd XI 

T20 Plate Semi-Finalists - Haywards Heath 3rd XI vs Ifield 3rd XI and Petworth Park 1st XI vs Sidley 1st XI

With all four Trophy & Plate matches coming up at Preston Nomads CC on Sunday 10th August - why not come along for what promises to be a great day of cricket, the first matches begin at 11:30am.

SCL Division Standings

Horsham 1st XI [320pts] have maintained their impressive unbeaten record at the top of the ECB Premier Division, overcoming some tough challenges to create the current 57-point gap to second. Preston Nomads 1st XI [263pts], Three Bridges 1st XI [262pts], Haywards Heath 1st XI [242pts] and Middleton 1st XI [242pts], are the closest challengers but none of them can afford to drop any points if they are to catch Horsham.

At the bottom of the table an intriguing 4-way battle is developing between Cuckfield [199pts], East Grinstead 1st XI [172pts], Ifield 1st XI [155pts] and Bognor Regis 1st XI [143pts]. With the bottom two places being relegated after 18 games, all of these sides’ season remain on a knife edge.

In Division 2, things have changed since the last review with Eastbourne 1st XI [224pts] falling to 5th place since the introduction of the ‘Declaration’ format. West Chiltington & Thakeham 1st XI [279pts] now lead, with three challengers queuing up behind. Hastings & St Leonards Priory 1st XI [266pts], St James's Montefiore 1st XI [247pts] and Brighton & Hove 1st XI [237pts].

The relegation battle is also hotting up as four teams; Buxted Park 1st XI [169pts], Preston Nomads 2nd XI [168pts], Mayfield 1st XI [164pts] & Roffey 2nd XI [139pts] all fight to remain in the second tier of competition in Sussex.

Pagham 1st XI [272pts] lead the way in Division 3 West by just 2-points. The run-in will be extremely intriguing to watch, as just 35-points separate the top five teams.

Finally, Bolney 1st XI [318pts] remain in poll position in Division 3 East having lost only game all season. Little Common Ramblers 1st XI [295pts] and Lindfield 1st XI [284pts] remain in the hunt though and will hope to keep the high-flyers honest!

Selection of current division leaders and their points leads;

Division 4 West - Slinfold 1st XI by 96 points

Division 4 East - St Peters 1st XI by 15 points

Division 5 West - West Chiltington & Thakeham 2nd XI by 55 points

Division 5 Central - St Matthias 1st XI by 19 points

Division 5 East - Isfield 1st XI by 23 points

Division 6 West - Bosham 1st XI by 13 points

Division 6 Central - Brighton & Hove 3rd XI by 16 points

Division 6 East - Tunbridge Wells 3rd XI by 29 points

For full standings in all divisions, visit The Dean Wilson Sussex Cricket League official website.

SCL Individual Performances

Last time, we reported some truly impressive performances after just 4 weeks of cricket, but many of these performances have been knocked from the top!

Here are the 5 standouts leading the way after 12 weeks:

Best Batting Performances

Sreevalsan Gangadharan, 251* - Kerala Strikers Sports Club 1st XI in Division 8 East

Renai Gransult, 228 - Worthing 2nd XI in Division 5 West

Nimanda Subasinghe, 213* - St Peters 1st XI in Division 4 East

Tom Marchant, 210 - Eastbourne 2nd XI in Division 5 East

Sandeep Satheesh, 208 - Bexhill Strikers 1st XI in Division 10 East

Best Bowling Performances

Kimani Mbugua, 8/30 - Copthorne 1st XI in Division 8 Central

Olly Manns, 8/39 - Ansty 2nd XI in Division 7 Central

Jake Vosloo, 8/71 - Mayfield 1st XI in Division 2

Carl Cooper, 7/3 - Bognor Regis 4th XI in Division 12 West (South West)

Mohamed Roshan Ashif Abdul Cader, 7/14 - Steyning 4th XI in Division 12 West (North West)

Each week on the Sussex Cricket Foundation social media channels the best 20 performances with bat and ball are featured (from across competitive recreational cricket in Sussex), thanks to the ECB’s Play-Cricket Honours Boards. Give them a follow on - X, Instagram, Facebook & TikTok and connect with the cricket community!

As we head into August and the final third of the season, comprehensive fixtures, scorecards and up-to-date standings can be found on The Dean Wilson Sussex Cricket League official website.

Free Entry for Members to the One Day Cup

The Metro Bank One Day Cup returns to the 1st Central County Cup this weekend, with the Sussex Sharks Women first up on Saturday and entry is free for all Sussex Members. 

Alexia Walker's side began life in this competition back in April and will be looking to pick up from a positive end to the Blast campaign on Saturday 2nd August when they welcome Gloucestershire to Hove.

The Women will also play against Leicestershire on 9th August at Arundel Castle, as part of the Rathbones Arundel Festival of Cricket, which starts on the 6th. 

Their final home game in the competition takes place on Monday 25th August against Middlesex.

Please note: All Women's One Day Cup matches begin at 1030am, with the Men's starting at 11am. 

For the Men, the first home game takes place on the 7th August against Kent, at Arundel. This is followed by a day-nighter under the lights against Lancashire on the 15th, starting at 2pm.

They then play two more home games against Somerset (Thursday 21st) and Yorkshire (Sunday 25th August) at Hove.

Tickets for both the Men's and Women's games are included in your Sussex Membership, including the games at Arundel Castle.

Not a Member?

Well, pick yourself up a bargain, as tickets start at just £5 for Women's games and £10 for Men's games. Click here to purchase match tickets.

Fancy Something Extra?

Whether you’re entertaining clients, treating your team, or planning a fun family experience, our hospitality packages for the 2025 Metro Bank One Day Cup have something for everyone – including packages tailored for children, starting at just £55 + VAT per person. 

What’s included in an adult package?
- Entry to the match
- Complimentary scorecard
- A full English breakfast + two-course buffet lunch
- Afternoon tea + scones 
- A memorable day at The 1st Central County Ground

Click here to explore our One Day Cup Hospitality Packages. Plus, if you book before August 8th, you'll save an extra 10%!

Adam Lyth’s fifth Rothesay County Championship career century on his home ground at Scarborough helped take him beyond 1,000 runs for the summer and put Yorkshire in charge of their clash with Sussex at its halfway stage.  

Lyth, aged 37, learnt his trade on this ground as a junior and still lives in neighbouring Whitby. He just loves this place, and it showed with 115 off 233 balls, including 16 fours.

Day two was almost the perfect day for the ex-England Test opener, who ensured the White Rose county replied strongly to Sussex’s first-innings 222 all out with 292 for four from 90 overs. 

Lyth and third-wicket partner James Wharton, who contributed 85 off 130 balls, shared 168 either side of tea after Sussex had started the day advancing from 210 for nine. Danny Lamb top-scored with 48, Jack White finished with three wickets.  

While Sussex, placed fifth before this 11th round Division One fixture, will still be looking over their shoulders, this is a far more important game for ninth-placed Yorkshire, inside the bottom two in the top-flight table.

Matt Milnes wrapped up the Sussex innings in the day’s fourth over when he had Lamb caught behind tentatively playing forwards two runs short of his first fifty of the season.

Both sides then had success through until lunch, at the start of Yorkshire’s reply.

Fin Bean, who made 21 whipped a six over midwicket which was caught by a youngster in the crowd.

Lyth, meanwhile, continued his excellent form against the red ball this season and Pakistani debutant Imam-Ul-Haq started brightly. His first three scoring shots in 19 were all boundaries.

But Sussex chipped away late in the morning. 

Lamb’s seam accounted for Bean, caught behind off a top-edged pull, before Jack Carson’s off-spin had Imam caught at slip pushing forwards in the last over of the session, leaving Yorkshire 80 for two.

Lyth went to 50 for the eighth time this season in the heart of the afternoon session, off 117 balls. 

An impressively watchful effort on a pitch with some juice in it, which has not been easy to score runs on, Lyth and third-wicket partner quietly put their county into a very strong position.

Wharton claimed a stunning outfield catch at deep square-leg to help White claim the first wicket of the match early on day one. But, as good a fielder as he is, run-scoring is his main suit.

And he did it well on day two.

He was more aggressive than Lyth, highlighted by successive sixes off Carson to move into the forties and take his side to 161 for two. The first was pulled, the second lofted handsomely over long-on.

Wharton reached his seventh fifty of the season shortly afterwards, off 79 balls, and by this stage him and Lyth were upping the ante.

Lyth reached the 1,000 mark just before tea where Yorkshire got to in rude health at 199 for two from 58 overs. 

This is the third successive season he has achieved the feat.

Lyth’s third Championship century came up in 200 balls just after tea, with Yorkshire taking the lead moments later.

Sussex’s attack, missing the likes of Jofra Archer because of England and Ollie Robinson through injury, came under increasing pressure.

But credit to them, they hit back midway through the evening to get rid of Lyth and Wharton inside three overs, leaving Yorkshire 250 for four in the 74th. 

Lyth was stumped by John Simpson off Carson - two for 70 from 28 overs - and Wharton bowled by the left-arm spin of James Coles.

Matthew Revis and Harry Duke then saw the day out for Yorkshire with 22 and 20 respectively.

By Graham Hardcastle, ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay

Sussex Seniors 50+ 1st XI reach ECB 50+ County Championship Quarter-Finals

Sussex won the toss and decided to bat on what seemed a good Preston Nomads wicket. Martin Barry was out early on, but Jason Finch and Jason Oates then batted beautifully for the next 13 overs, until Jason Finch was bowled having scored a run-a-ball 37. 

Jason Oates was then well partnered by Tim Van Noort (24) to take the score onto 128-3 with 20 overs to go. As the ball softened and Dorset took the pace off the ball, scoring became more difficult; though Jason Oates reached a brilliant century with two consecutive sixes.

He was eventually caught for 106 from 108 balls; a fantastic innings, which showed his outstanding temperament and skill, as well as his wonderful ability to still hit a long ball. Brad Smith (39) and the Sussex lower order then accelerated the scoring to reach a total of 265-7 from 45 overs.

Sussex were keen to keep things tight early on in the Dorset reply; the aim being to get the required rate upwards of six as early as possible. However, Dorset started fluently, with the openers batting positively and Sussex not quite exerting the control they would have hoped for, and which had been a hallmark of their success in defending totals previously.

However, a combination of each of the team raising their game, and a strong belief in each other as a team, along with some excellent decisions from Jason Finch, allowed Sussex to exert increasing pressure on Dorset; scoring became difficult, particularly as the ball softened. 

Of particular note in the exertion of this pressure were Imran Khan (9-0-29-1) and Jason Oates (9-0-28-1), who both expertly judged the required pace to bowl on the Nomads’ track. Jason Finch (6-0-28-1), Tim Van Noort (6-0-25-0) and Mike Murray (9-0-36-1) all continued the good work, to maintain the squeeze and raise the required run rate to more than 10 runs per over.

Then, a resurgent Harry Chetwood (6-0-30-4) spinning the ball prodigiously, took four wickets in his final three overs to end the game, with Sussex winning by 81 runs. Though Jason Oates should rightly take the man of the match plaudits for his brilliant all-round display, it was a fantastic team performance and another example of the way that Sussex have been able to raise their levels and respond successfully to changing game situations.

It is an exciting run for Sussex this year, who are unbeaten in the competition this season. 

Under the excellent captaincy of Jason Finch, there is a belief in the side which has allowed team members to express their skill sets when required, and has also seen the whole team finding ways to dig deep and work hard for each other under pressure. Sussex have been seeded 4 in the knockouts after winning the South-East Group 5 and now await Leicestershire in a home tie in the quarter-finals.

Report written by Cheg Abraham.

For a full review of their season so far, please see the document below. The remaining fixtures & results for all Sussex Seniors teams can be found here.

Sussex Pathway Teams Experience the Joy of Playing at Lord's 

On Wednesday 23rd July players on the girls Under 13 Pathway had the exciting opportunity to play at Lord's against an MCC U13 team.

The Sussex girls played 2 x T20 games and the first game was a chance for the girls to settle their nerves. The second game showed some great skills from the girls under pressure to be able to recover from 15-5 to get up to 101 and claim a valuable draw.

On Sunday 27th July it was the turn of our boys Under 13 State School Pathway Players to visit and play at Lord's.

Again, Sussex played two back-to-back Twenty20s which ended one win apiece, with Sussex comfortably chasing 83 in the first game.

Sussex were chasing it off 14-overs with 2 wickets down with two of our players being not out at the end. 

The MCC returned the favour in game two, with Sussex setting 104-9. MCC reached the target in the 18th over, despite the best efforts of the Sussex opening bowlers.

To have the chance to play on the Nursery Ground at Lord's is usually only ever a once in a lifetime opportunity for anyone, and to have that chance at Under 13 is amazing. 

The players not only had that inspirational chance to play, but were able to walk round the pavilion, changing rooms and media centre creating memories they'll never forget.

It was a testing opening day for Sussex in their their Rothesay County Championship clash with Yorkshire at Scarborough, a day lit up by a stunning James Wharton catch in the deep.

Sussex, inserted on a green-tinged pitch, were limited to 210 for nine from 96 overs. James Coles top-scored for them with 47 off 54 balls.

New-ball seamer Jack White impressed with three for 21 from 17 overs, with the first of his wickets coming courtesy of what was labelled in some quarters as one of the all-time great catches by Wharton running back towards deep square-leg.

Yorkshire came into this fixture second-bottom after 10 of 14 matches. They were seven points away from third-bottom and eighth-placed Durham, with Sussex only 21 ahead of the White Rose in fifth.

These two counties were promoted from Division Two last summer. Yorkshire beat Sussex here last August.

In fact, Sussex have never won a first-class match at North Marine Road. This is their 11th attempt. If Yorkshire’s start is anything to go by, that run may extend.

Quite where Wharton’s catch stands on the list of all-time great grabs is difficult to say with certainty. 

What can be said with certainty, however, is that was a truly outstanding catch. You will struggle to see better at any county venue this season.

Tom Haines looked to whip White over the leg-side but skied a chance off a top-edge. Wharton, positioned at a short midwicket, raced back towards deep square-leg and took the catch mid-air having dived full length.

That left Sussex at 19 for one in the ninth over.

From there, Yorkshire took wickets at regular intervals. Sussex reached lunch at 92 for three in the 29th over.

Australian left-hander Daniel Hughes was the second wicket to fall when bowled by a beauty from White which angled in from around the wicket, straightened and hit the top of off-stump. The score was on 26 at that time.

Coles and Tom Alsop steadied the ship, the former actually counter-attacking, including a six over long-on against the off-spin of Yorkshire’s stand-in captain Dom Bess.

Incidentally, Bess is leading Yorkshire this week with Jonny Bairstow on paternity leave. 

Coles fell just before lunch when caught behind against George Hill, leaving Sussex three down on 92.

A feature of the White Rose bowling performance was how miserly they were. For example, Sussex only scored 57 runs in an afternoon session which saw three more wickets fall - 149 for six at the tea break - and then 61 more after tea.

White got wicket number four when he had Danial Ibrahim caught at first slip pushing forwards before visiting captain John Simpson feathered behind a drive at Matt Milnes, leaving Sussex at 113 for five in the 44th over.

Alsop, twice a fifty-maker in last year’s clash, was then the second Sussex batter to fall in the forties after Coles. The left-hander had exactly 40 when he was bowled through the gate by one angled in from Revis with 129 on the board in the 53rd.

More damage was done shortly after tea as Sussex lost three wickets for the addition of run one in eight balls, slipping to 150 for nine.

The three wickets fell courtesy of catches at first, second and third slip.

Two of them went to Will Sutherland’s seam in the 66th over - Fynn Hudson-Prentice for 23 and Jack Carson for a duck. Henry Crocombe also fell without scoring in the next over to Hill.

Sussex were then boosted late on by an impressively watchful 10th-wicket partnership of 60 unbroken between Danny Lamb and Gurinder Sandhu.

Both men pulled sixes off seam, Lamb finishing on 40 and Australian Sandhu 24.

By Graham Hardcastle, ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay

Aldridge@BACA Sussex Women’s Cricket League: July Review 

As the summer sun blazed across Sussex, July brought a thrilling chapter to the Aldridge@BACA Sussex Women's Cricket League. From some nail-biting finishes to record-breaking innings, teams across the divisions have showcased their skill and passion.

Here’s a roundup of the key highlights, and top performers that defined an action-packed couple of months in women’s cricket across Sussex.

The league now comprises of 17 clubs and 23 teams, growing year-on-year since the inaugural season in 2023. Which is in no small part down to the generous support of Sir Rod Aldridge OBE and the Aldridge Foundation, who sponsor the league and are committed to the growth of Women’s and Girls’ Cricket.

SWCL Division Standings 

With the opening block of T20 cricket a distant memory, Horsham Women’s 1st XI [214pts] have cemented their dominate lead at the top of the ECB Premier Division, needing one more 40-over format win to clinch the title. Burgess Hill Women’s 1st XI [148pts] and Hailsham Women’s 1st XI [145pts] sit in second and third respectively, with Brighton & Hove Women’s 1st XI [125pts] not far behind, in the battle for second.

The leaders in Division 2 are; West - Chichester Priory Park Women’s 1st XI [152pts] | Central - Horsham Women’s 2nd XI [216pts] | East - Cuckfield Women’s 1st XI [190pts].

To follow the standings across the 4 divisions, visit the Aldridge@BACA Sussex Women’s Cricket League official website. 

After the first month of season, there were no hundreds from batters across the league, but it’s fair to say that has changed! Here’s a look at the top five performances with a handful of matches left to play:

Best Batting Performances 

Sophie Beck, 148* – Hailsham Women’s 1st XI in Premier Division

Amanda Sturmer, 132* – Brighton & Hove Women’s 1st XI in Premier Division

Hannah Phelps, 123* – Horsham Women’s 1st XI in Premier Division

Becky Landy, 123 – Bognor Regis Women’s 1st XI in Division 2 (West) 

Emma Patel, 120 – Eastbourne Women’s 1st XI in Premier Division

Best Bowling Performances 

Arwyn James, 5/7 – Lewes Priory Women’s 1st XI in Division 2 (East) 

Magda Phillips, 5/13 – West Wittering Women’s 1st XI in Division 2 (West)

Tillie Tomlinson, 5/15 – Bognor Regis Women’s 1st XI in Division 2 (West) 

Lily Hobbs, 5/28 – Aldwick Women’s 2nd XI in Division 2 (West)

Eliza Steeles, 5/32 – Brighton & Hove Women’s 1st XI in Premier Division

Each week on the Sussex Cricket Foundation social media channels the best 20 performances with bat and ball are featured (from across competitive recreational cricket in Sussex), thanks to the ECB’s Play-Cricket Honours Boards. Give them a follow on - X, Instagram, Facebook & TikTok and connect with the cricket community! 

Want to keep tabs on all things Aldridge@BACA Sussex Women’s Cricket League? Remember to visit the official website for comprehensive fixtures, results, statistics, standings and resources for clubs competing in the league. 

Sussex VI Sharks Storm into T20 Finals Day!

On Saturday 26th July Sussex VI Sharks made the long trip to Wakefield to face Yorkshire in the David Townley Memorial T20 Cup.

T20 skipper Ian 'Tiny' Morris called correctly and asked Yorkshire to have a bat. Their innings started brightly and after 2 overs it was 21 without loss. By the end of the 4th over the score stood on 24-2 as Phil Daniels (4 overs, 1 maiden, 1 wicket for 8 runs) and Marcus Kipling (4 overs, 2 wickets for 20 runs) had applied the brakes and put the pressure back on Yorkshire. The Sussex attack remained tight and when Dom James' battling innings of 49 ended when he was run out by Joe Harrison in the 15th over, any hope of a challenging total slipped away and two late wickets from Mark Bond saw Yorkshire close on 90-8.

The Sussex innings began with a bang as 16 came off the first over but the Sharks' innings did not let up. Mark Bond 28 not out and Si Ledwith 36 not out brought the game home in the 9th over. Yorkshire battled hard throughout both of their innings but the difference between the first and second division was clearly evident.

Sussex will face local rivals London Metro in the Semi-Final on Saturday 20th September, at T20 Finals Day. In the other half of the draw Lancashire eased past Northants and will face either Somerset or Kent in the other Semi-Final, it looks to be an excellent end to the season.