It's been fantastic to see Sussex's Mollie Adams, Eve O'Neill and Shristi Patil all representing England U19s in the ongoing tri-series tournament in Australia.

The team flew out last month and are coming to the end of this series, that also features Sri Lanka U19s. It's a tournament of six matches, one 50-over game and two T20s against both the hosts and Sri Lanka.

The results haven't quite been as positive as Head Coach Chris Guest would have hoped for, yet this is a further immense opportunity and experience for a lot of these young cricketers who are still very much developing.

Supporters will be familiar with Adams and O'Neill, who played consistently last season for the Sharks (the former also being the daughter of legendary Sussex player, Chris Adams). 17-year-old Patil is a highly talented young batting all-rounder who joins this season from Berkshire, and all three will prove to be huge assets to Alexia Walker's side this season.

On speaking of her time over in Australia, Adams said: "I think I can say we’ve not had the results we would have wanted as a team, but there has been plenty of positives to take and lessons learned in Australian conditions. It’s been great to be a part of this group and we are looking forward to hopefully finishing this tour strong."

There's one final match of the series to ensure the young England side go out on a high, with that a T20 against Sri Lanka in the early hours of Friday morning. We wish our Sussex representatives all the very best in that one as they look to claim a first victory of the tournament, before they return home to put on a show in a Sussex shirt. 

Sussex Seniors in Malta: Tour Report

At the end of March, a Sussex Seniors touring party travelled to Malta for the third consecutive year to compete in the Malta Seniors Cricket Festival 2026 at the Marsa Sports Club. With the challenge of defending their title, the squad arrived full of enthusiasm and anticipation, eager to enjoy the opportunity of early-season cricket in the sun.

With a different lineup of players, as some of last year’s triumphant squad were not available, debutant players were enrolled to play their part making up a squad of 14.

This season saw the number of teams raised to 9 and divided into 3 groups with Sussex participating in Group B, the Ronnie Sacco Group along with one of two Essex teams and Kent. After the group round robins, the teams topping their group would progress with the other table toppers to the Champions Pool and then play each other for the overall title.

On Friday we played our first group game against Kent, and with new captain Mick Brazil winning the toss, we chose to bat in a game reduced to 27 overs a side due to unseasonal wet weather on the island. Runs proved hard to come by with opener Ian Rippengal retiring on 35 from his allotted 50 balls. Others were finding the going tough as well until tour organiser Chris Aeschlimann came to the crease at number 7 with 106 runs on the board and struct a quick 42 off only 18 balls with 4 sixes and with Roger Smith hitting the last ball for a six, we closed on a slightly disappointing 161.

Kent opener Rajan Sharma proved very difficult to bowl at as he hit the ball to all parts of the ground and was particularly severe on anything short as he rattled up an unbeaten 89 from his 50 balls. He would later score a century and end up Player of the Tournament. And with an opening partnership of 112 with Peter Newman, the hope was for other wickets to follow, but it never happened as Kent made the target with 3 overs to spare despite a good economic spell by Bryan Cox.

In the first game of the group on Wednesday, Essex beat Kent, so we needed a good win and hope to top the group.

Again, Mick won the toss, but this time chose to field with the object of increasing our net run rate to a level to head the group. Good all-round bowling and fielding saw Essex struggle to 119-9 from their full 30 overs. Kevin Allsobrook and Paddy Smith each took two wickets as the first objective was achieved.

Knowing the number of overs to make the desired run rate increase played into our hands as Player of the Match, and Sussex Player of the Tournament, Martin Sims, smashed a characteristic 74 from only 34 balls as the target was reached in 13.1 overs. Job done, so we joined the other group winners the Canada Masters and the Australian Kangaroos in the Champions Pool.

On Monday, Sussex were up first in the group against the Canada Masters who won the toss and chose to bowl in the windy, chilly and damp conditions. This proved to be effective as they bowled very straight resulting in 8 bowled and 2 LBW dismissals as we were all out for 130 in 26 overs with only Martin Sims making more than a run-a-ball score.

This target proved to be wholly insufficient as their strong batting lineup knocked off the runs in just under 20 overs.

Next opponents, on Wednesday, were the Australian Kangaroos who were a much-improved team from the one last year and with the weather again being unseasonal they won the toss and elected to field. Opener Ian Rippengal made 51 before once again retiring, only to return at the end for a few balls. Two unfortunate run outs occurred before Terry Beeks came to the wicket and made a run-a-ball 25 hitting the point boundary well. Batting at number 6, last years Sussex Player of the Tournament, Alan Wyatt, at last found some form with a well made 41 including a monster six down the ground before becoming the third run out of the innings. This slowed the run rate as Peter Verechia then took 5-34 including twice being on a hat-trick as Sussex closed on 187.

As they proved in their other games, the Australians have a decent batting lineup. With 4 players making 30s the rain eventually became too hard, and the game was abandoned after 23 overs with Australia on 158-3 and well ahead of the DLS calculation.

The final match the next day between Australia and Canada was abandoned without a ball being bowled and the title went to Canada on a superior run rate and Sussex ending up in bronze medal place.

Upon returning to the UK, attention quickly turns to the start of the domestic season, with the Sussex Seniors moving straight into a full programme of fixtures. A series of friendly matches will provide valuable preparation ahead of the competitive action in both the 50+ County Championship and the Seniors County Cricket Championship.

You can follow the progress of the Sussex Seniors throughout the season via the Sussex Seniors Play-Cricket site, which features up-to-date fixtures, results, scorecards and statistics.

Jack Leaning led Sussex to a second win of the season in the Rothesay County Championship with his first hundred since September 2024 as they beat Warwickshire by five wickets at Hove.

The 32-year-old right-hander, signed from Kent in the winter, made an unbeaten 120 as Sussex backed up their 222-run win in the opening round against Leicestershire.

This victory was much closer and owed much to the superb sixth-wicket partnership of 144 in 43 overs forged by Leaning and Tom Price, another player making his home debut for his new county. The former Gloucestershire allrounder finished unbeaten on 70 and played a key role in Sussex’s success.

The pair had come together on 184-5 with Sussex still needing 144 to win and the contest in the balance.

They knocked 50 runs off that target last night but the first hour today was tense with only 35 runs added as Warwickshire’s seamers probed for a breakthrough.

Ethan Bamber had a very close lbw appeal against Leaning turned down when he was on 77, the ball appearing to pass just over the stumps. On 95 Leaning had to kick the ball away when he was in danger of playing on to Woakes, but in the last over before the new ball was taken he turned a delivery from part-time off-spinner Dan Mousley into the leg side for a single to reach the 12th century of his career, acknowledged by a standing ovation from the crowd.

Warwickshire’s last hope was to separate Leaning and Price with the new ball and put pressure on Sussex’s lower order but instead it liberated the pair.

Price steered Woakes wide of gully to bring up his second fifty for the county he joined, like Leaning, in the winter before stroking Bamber through the covers for three sumptuous fours in the next over.

All four Warwickshire seamers had a spell with the new ball, but runs were coming quickly by now with seven boundaries in three overs as Sussex sped towards their target.

Leaning launched Barnard down the ground for his 16th four to level the scores before driving the next ball through extra cover to seal Sussex’s victory 15 minutes before lunch.

ECB Reporters’ Network supported by Rothesay.

An unbeaten 72 by Jack Leaning has given Sussex the opportunity to make it back-to-back wins in the Rothesay County Championship.

The former Kent and Yorkshire player, who joined Sussex during the winter, defied Warwickshire’s persevering attack for three hours on day three at Hove to help take his side to 234 for five, needing 94 more to win. 

Leaning came in with Sussex in trouble at 68 for 3 but he and opener Dan Hughes revived their fortunes with a fourth-wicket stand of 108. 

Jordan Thompson was rewarded for some wholehearted bowling when Hughes played on for 89 – the Australian’s first mistake in an innings that might still help Sussex get over the line. Michael Booth then angled one into John Simpson’s pads and got it to straighten to leave Sussex 184 for five, still needing 144.

But the composed Leaning posted his first half-century for his new county and has so far put on 50 for the sixth wicket with Tom Price.

Sussex have only successfully chased bigger fourth-innings targets at Hove on four occasions and the odds on them making it five were rocked by Ethan Bamber’s new-ball burst.

Tom Haines edged low to second slip, defeated by late seam movement, and Tom Clark was caught at gully playing away from his body. James Coles was palpably leg before working a straight ball from Booth to leg and at that stage Warwickshire were eyeing up a three-day finish.

Hughes, however, was rock solid in defence and punished anything loose while Leaning grew in confidence as their partnership blossomed. 

Earlier, Sussex had hoped to keep Warwickshire’s lead to under 300 when they took three wickets in 23 balls in the first hour including Rob Yates for 90 after Warwickshire resumed on 154 for 5. 

But they were frustrated by ninth-wicket pair Booth and Thompson whose stand of 64 might yet prove decisive. 

Booth in particular played aggressively, hoisting Henry Crocombe’s bouncer onto the top tier of the pavilion as well as hitting eight fours. He departed two short of what would have been only his second first-class fifty when he mistimed a pull off Ollie Robinson in the third over after lunch. Sussex only needed three deliveries with the new ball to end the innings as Thompson slogged to long on.

That gave Fynn Hudson Prentice his fourth wicket while Robinson finished with 3-48, having earlier ended a sixth-wicket partnership of 84 between Yates and Kai Smith, who was defeated by extra bounce before Robinson got one to hold its line and peg back Chris Woakes’ off stump. 

However it was Price, with the third delivery of his spell, who made the crucial breakthrough when Yates, after more than four hours of patient accumulation, made his only mistake with a loose drive to short mid-wicket. It is the top score in the game so far and might still be the match-winning one. Leaning, though, will have other ideas.

By Paul Weaver, ECB Reporters’ Network supported by Rothesay.

Warwickshire moved into a strong position on the second day of a low scoring match when they dismissed Sussex for 204 to take a first innings lead of 63.

Sussex made a strong start to their first innings but then lost eight wickets for 72 runs before a ninth wicket partnership of 66 between captain Ollie Robinson and Jack Carson led them to partial recovery.

In their second innings Warwickshire scored 154 for five to extend their advantage to 217 runs.

There was no sign of the mayhem to follow in the Sussex innings as openers Tom Haines and Dan Hughes added 58 for the first wicket at more than four an over, with both left-handers making the most of some indifferent Warwickshire bowling.

But Sussex were undone by a combination of a sporting wicket, some improved bowling, a couple of marginal umpiring decisions and poor strokes from Haines, James Coles and John Simpson.

Haines was bowled by Ethan Bamber playing a crooked drive in the 14th over, although the ball came in from the bowler’s position wide on the crease.

The wicket precipitated a collapse in which Sussex lost five wickets for 25 runs in six overs. Tom Clark was out to the third delivery he faced, attempting to turn a ball to leg and getting a leading edge to mid-off.

And it was 78 for three when Coles, who had already offered a sharp chance to midwicket on eight, was caught at second slip attempting to drive a ball that was too short for the purpose. He had scored eleven off 12 deliveries.

Without addition Hughes was lbw to Michael Booth for a 52-ball 30, although the ball may have pitched a fraction outside leg stump. John Simpson, so often a man in a crisis, had made just five when he played a loose drive and was caught behind; 83 for five.

Jack Leaning, desperate for a score after a double failure on debut at Leicester in the previous match, made a careful 14 off 28 balls but was caught at first slip of Jordan Thompson. And when Tom Price was judged to be just in front to one from Chris Woakes Sussex’s score of 115 for seven was a little like Warwickshire’s 117 for six the previous day.

At tea Sussex were 130 for seven.  And Hudson-Prentice was caught behind off the first ball after the break.

But skipper Robinson and Carson, who both made 39, then batted for 15 overs to help Sussex top 200.

When Warwickshire batted again they lost four quick wickets, three of them to Hudson-Prentice, who again bowled well and was on a hat-trick when he dismissed Dan Mousley and Sam Hain with successive deliveries.

At that stage, with Warwickshire leading by just 88 runs, the match was in the balance.  But Rob Yates and captain Ed Barnard moved the visitors ahead with a solid fifth wicket stand of 81 in 21 overs.

The stand came to an end when Coles came on and Barnard jumped down the wicket to his second delivery and slogged him to mid-on.  He looked crestfallen, holding his bat above his head.  But Yates remained to push Warwickshire’s lead to over 200 with a season’s best unbeaten 75. 

Sussex Sharks Women head to Grace Road to face Leicestershire Women in the opening match of the One Day Cup campaign.

It was a prominent outing in this competition for Alexia Walker's Sharks last season, finishing 7th in the Metro Bank One Day Cup Women League 2 with four wins and five defeats from their nine group matches.

It wasn't quite enough to secure a place in the latter stages of the competition, but there was plenty of promise for the youthful Sharks in a season that just seemed to improve with each passing week. It was the dawn of a new chapter, and that fine spirit and mood has continued this winter as they look to build on last season's promising performances.

The Opposition

There were plenty of lessons learned for Leicestershire Women last season in what saw them claim two wins from their nine group matches, losing the other seven. There was plenty of promise on display, though, especially in last year's meeting between the two clubs before the Sharks ran away winners by a margin of 56 runs on a sultry summer's day at Arundel.

They ended up finishing just a place below Sussex, but were eight points adrift. This a year where Women's Head Coach, Stephen Franklin, will look to further develop his similarly youthful players and progress higher up the table.

2026 Squad Update

Walker has confirmed an official 15-player squad for the 2026 season, which is as follows:

Mollie Adams, Anna Buckle, Izzy Collis, Lottie Curling, Kali-Ann Docherty, Indigo Gentry, Chiara Green, Beth Harvey, Bella Johnson, Anna Lewis, Faye Mullins, Eve O'Neill, Shristi Patil, Talitha Stanley, Phoebe Wilkinson.

Team News

Alexia Walker has chosen a 13-player squad for tomorrow's trip to Leicestershire, with Chiara Green continuing her captaincy for this upcoming campaign. Mollie Adams, Eve O'Neill and Shristi Patil are all part of England U19s currently touring Australia, and so miss out. Kali-Ann Docherty, Talitha Stanley and Lottie Curling all miss out through injury.

That allows pathway products Sophie Beck and Georgie Pedley the opportunity to have their name in the first squad of the season, as former Sussex representatives Nancy Harman and Ava Lee return on loan from Hampshire Women. So, too, does Poppy Tulloch.

Sunday Squad News

Sophie Beck, Anna Buckle, Izzy Collis, Indigo Gentry, Chiara Green (c), Nancy Harman, Bella Johnson, Anna Lewis, Ava Lee, Faye Mullins, Georgie Pedley (wk), Poppy Tulloch, Phoebe Wilkinson.

How to Watch

As always, you can watch every ball, free of charge, via our Match Centre. You will need to register for a free account to access the stream, statistics, replays and live scorecard. You can find information on how to register here.

The action gets underway tomorrow at 10.30am.

By Paul Weaver, ECB Reporters’ Network supported by Rothesay

A counter-attacking seventh wicket stand of 115 in 28 overs between Kai Smith (53) and Chris Woakes (64) pulled Warwickshire round from the perils of 116 for six against Sussex at Hove.

But Sussex hit back after tea to take the last four wickets for 35 runs. And they finished the day the happier of the two sides when they did not lose a wicket before the close, which was 9.2 overs early because of bad light.

Sussex went into the match on the back of an emphatic 222-run victory at Leicester, Warwickshire after a run-soaked draw with Surrey in which they often got the better of the 2024 champions.

Warwickshire’s powerful batting line-up must have fancied another run glut after winning the toss and choosing to take first knock on a brown strip that looked as though it had been borrowed from midseason.

But they were confounded by the Sussex seamers, who all bowled superbly.

They lost their first wicket in the seventh over when Alex Davies edged Ollie Robinson to the wicketkeeper for an 18-ball three. And in the next over Dan Mousley, who had scored just a single, edged Fynn Hudson-Prentice and was well caught low down and to his left by Tom Clark at second slip.

Warwickshire were 22 for three in the 14th over when Sam Hain dragged one on in Tom Price’s first over. Robinson, Hudson-Prentice, Price and Henry Crocombe had such a hold on the Warwickshire batting that it was only when left-arm spinner James Coles came on a short while before lunch that the pressure eased. Coles went for ten runs in his first over and eight in his second.  At lunch Warwickshire were 69 for three.

As if emboldened by this, Warwickshire opted for a more positive approach after the break, but lost three quick wickets as they did so.

With the score on 83 Rob Yates, defending off the back foot, was caught by Clark at second slip for 36 – the same fielder had dropped him a little earlier, when he had made 31.

Then, at 109, Warwickshire lost their fifth wicket when the dangerous Beau Webster, defending against a ball that moved away, edged Robinson to keeper John Simpson for 48.  And when captain Ed Barnard chopped on to Price for 18 the visitors were floundering on 117 for six.

But Smith and Woakes turned the innings rounds with a century stand in 19 overs.  When they reached tea on 223 for six Warwickshire had scored 154 runs in he session, more than double their tempo before lunch.

When Smith worked Carson to leg to reach his fifty from 63 deliveries he looked in the mood to make a major score. But on 53 he clipped Crocombe off his legs and Carson took a sharp low-down catch at midwicket.  He had hit a six (off Clark) and six fours.

Three overs later Crocombe, who had changed ends, beat Woakes for pace and took out the batsman’s off-stump.  Woakes had faced 64 deliveries and struck nine sweet fours and a pulled six off Crocombe. Price and Crocombe polished of the tail.

Sussex Cricket has agreed a new multi-year partnership with independent family brewer and pub company Shepherd Neame.

The agreement, which unites the world’s first professional sports club with Britain’s oldest brewer, becomes the most lucrative pouring rights partnership in the club’s history.

Shepherd Neame’s flagship brands, including Singha lager, First Drop IPA and Iron Wharf stout, will now be served across the ground at Hove, including within the Sixes bar at the venue.

The partnership also includes investment in new bar infrastructure at the historic County Ground. Shepherd Neame will install several new bars around the ground ahead of the 2026 season, including a 40-foot container bar overlooking the boundary on the east side of the ground.

Alongside improvements to the ground’s bar facilities, Shepherd Neame and Sussex Cricket will also launch a new premium 4% Lager named Sea End, that will be exclusively available for supporters at the venue.

Sussex staple and fan favourite Harvey’s Best Bitter will continue to be served alongside Shepherd Neame’s leading brands, ensuring a wide range of alcoholic and 0% refreshments for supporters on matchdays, as well as visitors attending conferences and events at the ground.

Sussex Cricket Interim Chief Executive Mark West said: “We entered the tender process for our new pouring rights partnership with clear objectives: to find a partner who shares our values, engages with our supporters and invests in the stadium infrastructure, while providing high quality products at an affordable price point.

“Working with Shepherd Neame will introduce premium new options for supporters, alongside an innovative fan engagement programme and increased exposure for the club across Shepherd Neame’s venues in Brighton and Sussex.

“This partnership also supports our wider vision to develop Hove into one of the leading sports, entertainment and leisure venues in Sussex.”

Shepherd Neame’s Commercial Director Nigel Bunting said: “We are absolutely delighted to partner with Sussex Cricket, an institution with a proud heritage and an exciting future. This collaboration allows us to bring our award‑winning beers to a passionate sporting community while investing meaningfully in the matchday experience. 

“We’re looking forward to working hand‑in‑hand with the club to enhance the atmosphere at Hove, support its ambitions for growth, and raise a glass with supporters as we celebrate Sussex Cricket’s successes in the seasons ahead.”

Sussex Cricket are delighted to unveil the new white ball kits for the forthcoming Vitality Blast and Metro Bank One Day Cup competitions.

For online orders, please note: This garment is on a pre-order basis. Delivery estimated time of arrival: early June, though that is subject to change. Visit our online club shop here. The club shop will soon be stocked with all 2026 replica merchandise. 

Spring is in the air and with it County Championship cricket returns to Hove as Warwickshire journey down to the south coast in good stead following a run-fest of a draw with Surrey in their opening match of the campaign.

But for Paul Farbrace's Sussex their season opener couldn't have gone much better: a thunderous 222-run victory in Leicestershire that saw contributions from just about every player. Tom Clark's century in the opening innings was utterly crucial, before Henry Crocombe took not only career best innings figures of 5-33, but also career best match figures (9-69).

Mix it all together and you've got a Sussex side eclipsing their points deduction total at the earliest opportunity, as we sit on 10 points following the opening gameweek ahead of this forthcoming home opener.

Team News

Farbrace has confirmed a 15-player squad for Sussex's hosting of Warwickshire, with it almost entirely unchanged from last weekend's win at Leicestershire barring the inclusion of 20-year old bowler, Nantes Oosthuizen.

Seamers Sean Hunt and Dom Goodman continue to miss out through injury. 

Squad: Carson, Clark, Coles, Crocombe, Haines, Hudson-Prentice, Hughes, Ibrahim, Lamb, Leaning, Oosthuizen, Price, Robinson (c), Simpson, Tear

New for 2026, you can sponsor our players or coaches! Have your company name included on squad lists in our Match Preview articles. To find out more, visit https://sussexcricket.co.uk/player-coach-sponsorship

The Opposition 

A colossal 1,319 runs were scored in Warwickshire's first fixture of the campaign at Edgbaston, with the hosts only batting once as they posted 544 ao. Dan Mousley (144) and Sam Hain (94) were the pick of the batters in the opening four sessions of the match, before skittling Surrey out fairly cheaply (328 ao) to give the hosts hope.

Yet Surrey dug in and centuries from Jamie Smith and Dan Lawrence ensured the draw. Beau Webster, Warwickshire's overseas signing for the first half of the season, batted well, too. There were starts for two of the three new additions Ian Westwood made in the winter, with bowlers Nathan Gilchrist and Jordan Thompson both in the XI and both in the wickets. 

Warwickshire finished 5th in Division One last season, level on points with Sussex but a place below. 

Spectator Information

Gates will open for all four days at 9.30am, with the toss taking place at 10.30am and the first ball at 11am.

Supporters are advised to arrive early if they need to visit the Ticket Office. We strongly recommend that all non-members purchase their tickets in advance, online here. 

Before play begins on Friday, at 10.50am, we will take a moment to remember and celebrate the lives of three individuals who have made a lasting contribution to Sussex Cricket: Tony Pigott, Norman Gifford and Arnold Long. 

We will also take this opportunity to remember all Vice Presidents and Members of the Club who have sadly passed away, and whose contribution and support remain an important part of our history.

Free Entry to Day Three

On Sunday, we've continued our tradition of regularly opening our doors to the public by making entry to the third day of the match completely free of charge to all spectators. 

Join us for a day of the finest County Cricket in the Sussex sunshine. All you need to do is claim a free ticket online, in advance, to gain entry into Hove.

North East Gate

As a reminder, the North East Gate will be closed for Days 3 and 4 of all our home County Championship games this season. Entry to Hove will only be available via the Main Entrance, situated on Eaton Road, on these days.

How to Watch

As always, you can watch every ball, free of charge, via our Match Centre. You will need to register for a free account to access the stream, statistics, replays and live scorecard. You can find information on how to register here.