1st Central Sussex Cricket League Returns

The 1st Central Sussex Cricket League returns in May with 370 teams across 39 divisions taking part in the world’s largest adult cricket league.

This season there will be 6 new clubs and 11 new teams joining the league.

The league season will conclude with the annual dinner on Friday 25th October at The Grand Hotel, Brighton, where team and individual performances will be celebrated.

In an exciting development, the league has established a ‘League Support Fund’, which provides financial support for the development of clubs across the county. 29 applications from clubs were approved by the League Executive Committee totaling £10,000, which has been invested in supporting the grass roots game.

Recreational players will once again get the chance to play at the 1st Central County Ground in Brighton, which will host the annual T20 Finals Day on Sunday 15th September. A total of 120 teams will compete in three T20 competitions this summer.

The Sussex Cricket Foundation is also delighted to announce it has extended its partnership with 1st Central for another year.

The agreement will see 1st Central continue as headline sponsors of the 1st Central Sussex Cricket League and as the Sussex Cricket Foundation’s official roadshow partner.

The Sussex Cricket Foundation committed to promoting equitable access to the sport. Everybody, including disadvantaged young people, people with disabilities, people from diverse backgrounds and girls and women who have not traditionally played the sport, is welcome and encouraged to participate.

Gary Wallis-Tayler, Community Cricket Director for the Sussex Cricket Foundation said: “1st Central’s financial support has enabled us to create the world’s largest adult cricket league, which continues to grow year on year, giving many people the opportunity to play and access the game. 

"As such, We will be continuing our relationship with 1st Central, a key partner of Sussex Cricket, for another year.

“We are looking forward to another successful season on and off the pitch and I would like to wish all of our clubs, players and volunteers well for the summer ahead.”

Jo McGowan, Chief People Officer at 1st Central, said: “As an organisation that is proud to put its people first, it’s important for us to support our local communities. 

"We believe that sport, like the workplace, should be accessible for all. The Foundation’s commitment to inclusivity and diversity resonates with our own values. 

"Sussex Cricket enables thousands of people across the county from a broad range of backgrounds to have fun and stay active each year, so we couldn’t be happier to extend our partnership with them for the coming season."

Gary Stanley, Chair of the 1st Central Sussex Cricket League, said: “As the league continues to go from strength to strength, we look forward to a great season. 

"Thousands of recreational cricketers, officials, and volunteers across the County can’t wait to put the rain behind them and get started!”

Glamorgan vs Sussex: Match Preview

Sussex are on the road again this week, following an emphatic win away at Derbyshire, Paul Farbrace takes his side to Sophia Gardens to face Glamorgan, naming a 14-player squad for the trip.

Team news

Ollie Robinson will not feature this week, after being made available for 5 of the opening 7 games by the ECB. Henry Crocombe and Sean Hunt come into the squad.

Squad

Alsop, Carson, Carter, Clark, Coles, Crocombe, Haines, Hudson-Prentice, Hunt, Karvelas, Lamb, Pujara,, Seales, Simpson* (wk)

How to Watch

As ever, every ball is available to watch, free of charge, on our livestream via our Match Centre. Action gets underway from 11am tomorrow. 

Images by Saud Ahmed

Members' Forum | 17th May | The Long Room

This is a note to advise you that Sussex Cricket will be holding a members' forum on Friday 17th May  at 9:30am, in the Long Room.

The panel will consist of Jon Filby (Chair), Pete Fitzboydon (Chief Executive) and Paul Farbrace (Head Coach).

Complimentary teas and coffees will be available from 9am. Members will also have the option to purchase breakfast rolls. 

The following Member's Forum will take place on Monday 9th September in Cow Corner after the day's play. 

Best Wishes,

Pete Fitzboydon

Charlie Tear and Brad Currie Selected for Scotland Men's 

ICC T20 World Cup Squad

Sussex duo Charlie Tear and Brad Currie have both been selected to represent Scotland at this year's ICC T20 World Cup in the West Indies & United States of America. 

The pair will potentially meet Sussex's Jofra Archer in the tournament opener, following the announcement last week that he has been selected for the England squad.

England meet Scotland in the first group game for both countries on 4th June. 

Congratulations Charlie and Brad! #GOSBTS

Derbyshire vs Sussex: Day Three Match Report

An electric spell of reverse swing bowling from Jayden Seales inspired Sussex to a crushing victory over Derbyshire inside three days in the Vitality County Championship match at Derby.

The 22-year old West Indian fast bowler took a career-best 5 for 29 and was twice on a hat-trick as Derbyshire crumbled to 109 for 9 to lose by an innings and 124 runs.

Danny Lamb opened the way for Seales’s devastating burst by taking 2-10 after he scored 37 in the morning before the visitors were bowled out for 479, a lead of 233.

Any chance Derbyshire had of avoiding an innings defeat vanished when they collapsed from 71 for 2 and the match ended with Derbyshire’s New Zealand fast bowler Blair Tickner unable to bat after he revealed on social media that his wife has been diagnosed with a serious illness.

Sussex already had a healthy lead of 111 going into what became the last day  and although Cheteshwar Pujara added only nine runs to his overnight 104, the lower order ensured they secured maximum batting points.

Derbyshire at least had the incentive of a new ball that was only three overs old and Daryn Dupavillon made full use of it by removing the overnight pair.

Jack Carson was tempted into cutting at a wide ball and was caught behind before Pujara was lured into an indecisive shot by a ball that moved away enough to take the edge.

But Finn Hudson Prentice and Lamb added 49 to stretch the lead towards 200 before Lamb gave Morley the charge and was stumped.

After Ollie Robinson drove Morley for six, he chipped the spinner to short midwicket and when Hudson-Prentice holed out to long on, Derbyshire had five overs to negotiate before lunch.

David Lloyd and Luis Reece survived with few alarms but it was a different story after the interval once Seales made the first breakthrough.

Lloyd tried to pull a ball which struck him on the thigh pad and was lbw before Reece aimed a big drive at Hudson- Prentice and played on.

The collapse gathered momentum with Wayne Madsen lbw to Lamb aiming to work through midwicket and Brooke Guest edging a drive into his stumps.

Seales then returned at the City End to make the ball reverse at pace and keep low which was too much for a team already sliding towards defeat.

His first ball bowled Aneurin Donald and the next pinned Anuj Dal in front. Zak Chappell survived the hat-trick ball but more mayhem followed in his next over.

Matt Lamb was beaten by rapid swing and Jack Morley yorked although Seales was denied another chance of a hat-trick when Sussex turned to spin to improve their over rate.

Chappell struck a few defiant blows before he was caught at wide long on and with Tickner, who chose to play in the game, absent the match was over.

It was Sussex’s second win of the season but they were deducted a point from their haul of 24 for a slow over rate while Derbyshire finished with three bowling points.

Report provided by ECB Reporters' Network

Reaction from Paul Farbrace after an emphatic win on day three

Derbyshire vs Sussex: Day Two Match Report

A century from Cheteshwar Pujara led a dominant Sussex batting display on the second day of the Vitality County Championship Division Two match against Derbyshire at Derby.

The Indian maestro scored an unbeaten 104 with Tom Haines, Tom Alsop and James Coles all making half centuries as Sussex closed on 357 for 5, a lead of 111. 

Sussex’s position would have been even better but for two late wickets for Luis Reece to keep Derbyshire in the game.

The home side had earlier taken their first innings to 246 thanks to a career-best 47 from Blair Tickner who shared a ninth wicket stand of 68 with Jack Morley before Coles took 2 for 6 with his left-arm spin to finish off the innings.

The cloud cover of the first day was replaced by patches of blue sky, making batting a more comfortable proposition and Tickner and Morley took advantage.

The pair completed a 50 stand from 75 balls and Tickner was in sight of a maiden first-class half century when he made room to force Coles and was bowled by a quicker ball.

Morley had played the supporting role, displaying sound defence, but with Tickner gone, he became more expansive and came down the pitch to dispatch Jack Carson over long on for six.

Derbyshire were closing in on a batting point when Morley used his feet again to try and force Coles through the offside but missed the ball and was stumped.

Although their score was higher than had looked likely when the eighth wicket went down at 163, early wickets were needed to put Sussex under pressure and Daryn Dupavillon obliged in his second over.

The South African fast bowler moved one back in from outside off to bowl Clark but the bowling was too inconsistent and Haines pounced on anything that was slightly offline.

He reached his 50 which came from only 38 balls in the first over after lunch and the stand with Alsop was worth 90 when he played on aiming to cut a ball that was too close to him for the stroke.

The sight of Pujara walking out to bat on a ground where he made a double century two years ago  was an ominous one from a Derbyshire point of view and he was soon working the ball around with a quiet assurance.

Alsop reached his 50 with consecutive fours off Luis Reece but two overs before tea, he aimed to work Anuj Dal through midwicket and was pinned lbw.

At the interval, Sussex were trailing by 50 and with Coles playing positively from the start, they began to take a grip on the match in the evening session.

Coles launched Morley over long on for six before Pujara reached 50 from 74 balls, the same number Coles needed to complete his when he pulled Zak Chappell to the fine leg boundary.

The partnership was worth 141 when Coles drove Reece low to mid off and after Pujara punched David Lloyd to the cover boundary for his 10th four to complete a century off 158 balls, Reece bowled John Simpson with one that straightened.

Derbyshire claimed the new ball before the close but Pujara and Jack Carson stood firm to ensure it was the visitors day.

Report provided by the ECB Reporters' Network

Reaction from Tom Alsop as stumps on day two 

Derbyshire vs Sussex: Day One Match Report

England fast bowler Ollie Robinson took two wickets as Sussex had the better of a gloomy first day against Derbyshire in the Vitality County Championship match at Derby.

Robinson bowled five consecutive maidens either side of lunch and claimed 2 for 48 after the visitors won the toss and put Derbyshire in.

Former Derbyshire all-rounder Fynn Hudson-Prentice took 2 for 52 including the wicket of Luis Reece who top scored with 50 from 78 balls.

Aneurin Donald hit nine fours in his 44 which came off 46 balls but when rain prevented any further play shortly after 3pm, Derbyshire were 189 for 8.

Before the start of play, the teams observed a minute’s silence in memory of the Worcestershire spinner Josh Baker who died this week at the age of 20.

Under overcast skies with the floodlights on, it was no surprise Sussex decided to bowl although initially they did not make the best use of the conditions.

Robinson was cut for four by David Lloyd and bowled a no ball in his opening over but removed the Derbyshire skipper in his next. 

Lloyd offered no shot to a ball that was too straight to leave and was lbw but both Robinson and Jayden Seales struggled to maintain a consistent line before the England paceman found his rhythm with three consecutive maidens.

Reece and Brooke Guest took the score to 50 before Fynn Hudson-Prentice got one to straighten and take out Guest’s off stump.

Batting was awkward in the murky light but Sussex were gifted some cheap wickets after Wayne Madsen, in his 600th innings in all formats for Derbyshire, was brilliantly caught behind by John Simpson leg glancing Tom Clark.

Simpson then dropped Matt Lamb second ball but two balls later, he played across a ball on off stump from Danny Lamb and was lbw.

Robinson continued to bowl tightly after lunch, starting with two more maidens, before the spell was broken in spectacular fashion.

Donald cut and drove Robinson for three fours in an over which included a no ball and cost 17 and the flow of runs continued with Reece dispatching Hudson-Prentice to the ropes to reach 50 from 77 balls.

But Hudson-Prentice responded with another excellent delivery that straightened enough to take Reece’s off stump. 

Robinson claimed his second wicket when Anuj Dal played across one the next ball after the umpires agreed to a ball change before Donald’s counter-attacking innings ended in disappointing fashion.

Seale’s began his second spell with a short and wide loosener that Donald slapped into the hands of substitute fielder Oli Carter at cover.

When Zak Chappell was run out in the next over taking on the arm of Tom Haines at mid on, Derbyshire were 163 for 8 but some uncomplicated blows from Blair Tickner frustrated Sussex before rain brought an early close.

Report provided by ECB Reporter's Network 

Reaction from Fynn Hudson-Prentice at stumps on day one

Sussex Women's Danni Wyatt, Linsey Smith and Freya Kemp have all been selected for the England squads of the upcoming Pakistan IT20 and ODI series. 

Freya Kemp and Linsey Smith will feature in the IT20 squad, whilst Danni Wyatt will feature in both the IT20 and ODI squads. Congratulations! #GOSBTS 

Full ECB Press Release

England Women have named their white-ball squads for the forthcoming Vitality IT20 and Metro Bank ODI series’ against Pakistan, which get underway on Saturday, 11 May.

Left-arm spinner Linsey Smith is again selected after returning to the senior squad for the IT20s in New Zealand while there’s a return for Freya Kemp to the IT20 group. All-rounder Kemp will be available as a batter during the series.

Heather Knight's side start with a three match IT20 series, beginning a week tomorrow at Edgbaston, where England played in front of nearly 20,000 fans in a Women's Ashes IT20 in July 2023. They then travel to The County Ground, Northampton before finishing at Headingley.

That series is followed immediately by three ODIs against the same opposition at Derby, Taunton and Chelmsford.

Head coach Jon Lewis said: “We are really excited to start our home summer. It’s great to be kicking off the summer of sport on home soil. Edgbaston is an incredible place to play cricket, the atmosphere is always special and it will be a huge occasion. I know the group are looking forward to playing in front of our fans in grounds across the country throughout the series.

“It’s great to see England’s men’s and women’s teams playing side by side again after the success of the Ashes last year.

“These two series’ against Pakistan give us an opportunity to build, develop and ensure we are in the best place come the World Cup in Bangladesh in September.

“We are very keen whenever possible to make sure all the players vying for places in the World Cup squad get opportunities to play cricket this summer so that they are able to put in performances that help secure a place in the squad for Bangladesh.”

Tickets for both series are still available and can be purchased here: https://www.ecb.co.uk/tickets/england 

Derbyshire vs Sussex: Match Preview

After a week off Sussex return to Vitality County Championship action with a trip to The Incora County Ground to take on Derbyshire, with Paul Farbrace naming a 13-player squad. 

Sussex head into the game unbeaten in their opening three games, a run that includes a victory over Gloucestershire, and will no doubt be looking to return to the top of Division 2 with another victory at Derbyshire.

Squad

Alsop, Carson, Carter, Clark, Coles, Haines, Hudson-Prentice, Karvelas, Lamb, Pujara, Robinson, Seales, Simpson* (wk)

How to Watch

As ever, every ball is available to watch, free of charge, on our livestream via our Match Centre. Action gets underway from 11am tomorrow. 

Hear from Paul Farbrace after victory against Gloucestershire

Jofra Archer Selected for England Men's 

T20 World Cup Squad

Sussex star Jofra Archer has been selected for the provisional England squad for the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 in the West Indies and United States of America, starting in June. 

Everyone at the Club is delighted for Jofra and wishes him all the best for the tournament! #GOSBTS

Full ECB Announcement:

England name provisional ICC Men’s T20 World Cup squad

England Men's selection panel have named a provisional squad for the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 in the West Indies and United States of America starting in June and the preceding four-match Vitality IT20 series against Pakistan, which gets underway next month in Leeds.

England Provisional ICC Men's T20 World Cup & Vitality IT20 Squad versus Pakistan Squad:

Jos Buttler (Lancashire) Captain
Moeen Ali (Warwickshire)
Jofra Archer (Sussex)
Jonathan Bairstow (Yorkshire)
Harry Brook (Yorkshire)
Sam Curran (Surrey)
Ben Duckett (Nottinghamshire)
Tom Hartley (Lancashire)
Will Jacks (Surrey)
Chris Jordan (Surrey)
Liam Livingstone (Lancashire)
Adil Rashid (Yorkshire)
Phil Salt (Lancashire)
Reece Topley (Surrey)
Mark Wood (Durham)

Sussex quick bowler Jofra Archer has recovered from his right elbow injury and is named in the squad. Archer’s last appearance at this level came over a year ago in England’s tour of Bangladesh in March 2023.

Lancashire left-arm spinning all-rounder Tom Hartley is the sole uncapped player and, along with Surrey batter Will Jacks, are the only players not to feature at an ICC World tournament previously.

Selected players, currently playing in the Indian Premier League, will return in time for the series against Pakistan, which gets underway at Headingley on Wednesday 22 May 2024.

The World Cup squad will fly to the Caribbean on 31 May ahead of England’s opening group match against Scotland at the Kensington Oval, Barbados, on Wednesday 4 June.