On Sunday 12th July, a baking hot day at The Saffrons, Eastbourne, stand-in captain James Bunday won an important toss and chose to field first, asking his side to set the tone with the ball despite a line-up missing some regular faces.

The new-ball pairing of Dan Gee and Charlie Ferguson responded well. Both bowlers found enough rhythm early on to give Sussex the start they needed, reducing Essex to 29-2 from the opening seven overs. Gee struck first with an lbw, while Ferguson produced the second breakthrough by inducing an edge that Eddie Spence gathered neatly behind the stumps. It was a disciplined opening burst, and suggested Sussex had arrived ready for the occasion. 

Even so, Essex were never likely to fade quietly on a ground known for big scores, particularly in fierce heat where anything that pierced the infield quickly ran away to the rope. A positive stand between A Mowatt and Rahul Kainth shifted the balance back towards the visitors, the pair adding 72 from 75 balls to move Essex into a commanding 101-3 after 17 overs. At that stage, Sussex’s depth was going to be tested, particularly with several less experienced players being asked to carry more responsibility than usual. 

That challenge was met well. Sam Webster, in his first spell for the first team, and Noah Newman, making his first-team debut, combined for nine useful overs that gave Bunday valuable flexibility and helped steady the innings. On paper, Sussex’s bowling resources had looked a little light, but both young players stood up well under pressure. Newman also marked his debut with his first Sussex first-team wicket, a moment that added a personal highlight to an important contribution. 

Sussex were excellent in the field for much of the innings, making Essex work hard for their runs and doing a fine job of keeping the scoring rate under reasonable control. But one familiar problem remained. After scoring a half-century in the previous meeting, Kainth again proved difficult to contain and this time went much bigger, compiling an outstanding 125 from just 101 balls. For a while it looked as though he would drive Essex beyond 280 and place the game firmly out of Sussex’s comfort zone.

That threat was brilliantly checked by Gee. Returning in the latter stages of the innings, he produced another decisive spell, claiming two more wickets - both bowled - to finish with outstanding figures of 3-41 from eight overs. His intervention ensured Essex never quite broke the game open, and they were eventually dismissed for 239 in 39.4 overs. It was still a substantial chase, but Sussex felt they had kept it within reach. Bunday’s view that 270 might have been par reflected the confidence in the dressing room that this total was gettable if they batted with intent and discipline. 

What followed was Sussex’s best opening stand of the season. Gee and Ferguson, having set the tone with the ball, did so again with the bat, launching the chase in emphatic fashion. Sussex raced to 72 without loss from the first 10 overs and immediately put Essex on the back foot. Gee’s strength through the line repeatedly took the ball to the boundary, while Ferguson was ruthless whenever the bowlers offered width or missed their lengths. 

The partnership only gathered momentum. By the 17-over mark Sussex had surged to 132-0, with four overs in the innings costing 12 or more, and significantly they were already 37 runs ahead of Essex at the same stage. The pair had not only neutralised the chase, they had turned it firmly into Sussex’s game. Ferguson’s innings ended on 60 when he was given lbw, but by then the opening stand had put a huge dent in the target and left the hosts in complete control.

Bunday came to the crease at number three, and, for his first 15 balls, there was a slight reminder that the job was not yet done. He took a little time to settle, and Sussex knew one good partnership was still required to remove any remaining doubt. Once he found his rhythm, though, he slipped seamlessly into the tempo Ferguson had set. At the other end, Gee continued the excellent form he had shown two weeks earlier, this time producing a Sussex best of 78 not out from 96 balls, an innings containing 11 boundaries and full of authority, patience and control. 

From around the 30-over mark onwards, Bunday shifted gears impressively. Anything loose from Essex was punished, and the chase, which had long been in Sussex’s favour, was turned into a procession. He finished unbeaten on 54, the perfect supporting hand to Gee’s composed match-winning effort, and together they guided Sussex home in style. 

The final margin told its own story. Sussex sealed a remarkable nine-wicket victory, the largest in Sussex first-team history, and one built on discipline in every department. Their fielding in the heat had made Essex earn every run, particularly impressive given the changes in personnel and the inexperience in parts of the side. Their bowlers kept control where it mattered most, conceding 24 extras compared to Essex’s 48, a decisive contrast in a game shaped by fine margins. And with the bat, the top order showed exactly the right blend of patience, presence and ruthlessness. All three elements came together to produce a special result.

Sussex now sit top of the table, albeit with Hampshire still holding a game in hand, and the picture is clear heading into this weekend’s trip to Middlesex: another win is essential if hopes of topping the D40 Quest South Group are to remain alive. For now, though, Sussex can reflect on a performance that was not just important, but sensational. A nine-wicket win in a must-win game, and one that will live long in the memory.

View the full match scorecard here.

Match Report courtesy of Elliot Brown (Vice-Captain)

Elite international cricket returns to Hove next year, with England women hosting Bangladesh women in an ODI on Friday 17 September. The provisional start time for this fixture is 12:30pm.

Ticket details will be released in due course, and supporters are strongly encouraged to register their interest by completing the form below, to be kept in the loop on on-sale dates, group discounts and early bird windows.

A sold-out crowd enjoyed England women wrap up a T20 series against New Zealand at Hove earlier this summer, the team's final warm-up fixture before making the final of the ICC Women's T20 Cricket World Cup earlier this month, and demand is expected to be as strong for next year's ODI against Bangladesh.

The Metro Bank One Day Cup, a competition that sparks excitement and provides a fundamental platform for players with less experience, returns for Sussex Sharks on Wednesday with a trip west to Neath Cricket Club to take on Glamorgan.

It was a difficult Vitality Blast for Paul Farbrace's side who, in the newly-reduced 12-match group stage format, managed to claim three victories in that span, finishing bottom of the South Group despite winning the opening match of the campaign in convincing style.

Put a line through it, and move forward: up next is the One Day Cup, and it starts in Wales for the Sharks who will look to similarly start things quickly, and further build on what was a mixed campaign in 50 over cricket last season. Grant Flower took the reigns then, but Farbrace will be back overseeing this competition that starts a day after new Head Coach, Matt Walker, was announced by the club.

Walker will officially succeed Farbrace on November 1, as the current incumbent of the role looks to end his time as Head Coach on a positive with the One Day Cup preceding a crucial final six matches in the County Championship.

Team News

Leading the Sharks into this fresh campaign for the first time is Jack Carson, with this his first captaincy role at the club.

A competition that runs alongside The Hundred - featuring Sussex players James Coles, Tymal Mills, Jofra Archer, Tom Alsop, Danny Briggs and Henry Crocombe - it provides plenty of opportunity for the rest of the squad to feature, as well as three pathway players in Ollie Kirtley, Freddie Price and Toby Munt, who all feature in the first One Day Cup squad of the campaign.

It's a 14-player squad for the journey over to Neath, before the Sharks are swiftly back on the road as they head up to Durham for Friday's fixture ahead of a return to Hove on Sunday. 

Squad: Carson (c), Goodman, Henry, Hudson-Prentice, Hunt, Ibrahim, Kirtley, Leaning, Munt, Oosthuizen, F Price, T Price, Tear, Thomas

The Opposition 

A disappointing 2025 for Glamorgan in the One Day Cup saw them finish bottom of their group with just the single win to show for it. Despite that, this is a competition that has brought success for Welsh-based side, with two titles in the past five years. 

With five players missing, they will be hindered by The Hundred more than ever before, with the side likely to have at least six under-23s playing throughout the tournament. It provides a platform for the fledgling Romano Franco - a 19-year old slow left-armer who has already featured in this competition last year.

Hopes, then, might not be too high for this year’s edition with Glamorgan currently coach and captain-less, but what it will bring, as is the case for any side, is the chance to see someone announce themselves next, as Asa Tribe and Tom Norton did for Glamorgan last year.

How to Watch

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. 

The game gets underway at 11am at Neath Cricket Ground.

Tickets

Tickets for this Metro Bank One Day Cup opener are available to purchase here. 

There will be a £2 increase on adult tickets purchased in person on the day of the match, so we recommend that you order online! 

Sussex Cricket has appointed Matt Walker as the Club's new Men's Head Coach.

Walker will join Sussex from Warwickshire ahead of the 2027 season, bringing with him a wealth of coaching experience and a proven record of success in the domestic game.

He will succeed Paul Farbrace on 1 November, with Farbrace transitioning into the role of Director of Cricket from the same date, ensuring continuity across Sussex's cricket operation.

Paul Farbrace said:

"We are delighted that Matt has agreed to become our new Head Coach.

"We conducted a thorough three-stage process involving some excellent candidates from across the cricketing world, and Matt consistently impressed throughout. He was the clear choice.

"He has an excellent reputation within the game and brings the experience, energy and enthusiasm we're looking for. I'm really looking forward to working alongside him as we tackle the challenges in front of us and build a team capable of competing for trophies."

Walker arrives at Hove after eight seasons as Head Coach at Kent, where he guided the county to promotion to Division One before leading them to Vitality Blast success in 2021 and the One-Day Cup in 2022. He has also coached within the England men's set-up, is currently Batting Coach at Warwickshire and was previously an Assistant Coach with MI London in The Hundred.

Matt Walker said:

"I am incredibly honoured and excited to have been given the opportunity to become Head Coach of Sussex Cricket.

"Sussex is a Club I have always admired and one with a proud history. The opportunity to work with this group of players and staff, alongside Paul, was one that really excited me.

"There is already a strong foundation in place and I'm looking forward to building on that as we strive to help Sussex compete for trophies. I can't wait to get started."

Walker's appointment is another significant step in Sussex's long-term plans as the Club looks to build on the progress made in recent seasons.

Ed Warner, Chair of Sussex Cricket, said:

"Appointing the right Head Coach was one of the most important decisions we had to make.

"Matt combines an outstanding track record with the leadership, experience and ambition we believe Sussex Cricket needs. He impressed us throughout the process, not only with what he has achieved but with his vision for developing players and building successful teams.

"Alongside Paul's continued involvement as Director of Cricket, this appointment gives us a leadership team with the experience, continuity and ambition to help drive Sussex Cricket forward. I'm excited about what Matt, Paul and the wider team can achieve together."

Mark West, Interim Chief Executive Officer of Sussex Cricket, said:

"Matt's appointment is another important step for Sussex Cricket as we continue strengthening the Club both on and off the field.

"He is joining a talented group of players and staff, and we believe he is the right person to help drive the next phase of our cricket programme.

"Our supporters rightly expect us to be ambitious and competitive, and today's appointment reflects that ambition."

Walker enjoyed a distinguished playing career with Kent and Essex, scoring more than 18,000 runs across all formats before moving into coaching. After working as a batting coach at Essex, he returned to Kent as Assistant Coach in 2014 before being appointed Head Coach in 2017. He joined Warwickshire ahead of the 2025 season.

Sussex Cricket and Shepherd Neame have today launched the club’s first ever Trade Show, scheduled to take place at The County Ground, Hove on Thursday 17 September.

The Trade Show, aimed predominantly at member clubs of the Dean Wilson Sussex Cricket League, will bring recreational cricket clubs together with vendors from industries including Beers, Ciders, Wines and Spirits, Soft Drinks, Catering & Food Suppliers, Payment Solutions, Club Merchandise and Equipment, Fundraising and Club Support Services, and much, much more.

This exclusive event will take place in the Dean Wilson Boundary Rooms and other venue locations from 3pm during the third day of play in the upcoming Rothesay County Championship game between Sussex and Nottinghamshire, with more than 100 clubs expected to attend from around the county.

Any businesses interested in exhibiting and connecting with decision-makers at over 100 regional cricket clubs are encouraged to express their interest as soon as possible, with places strictly limited and pitches currently available at heavily-reduced early bird prices.

To reserve a stand for your business, or to request an Exhibitor Information Pack, please contact info@sussexcricket.co.uk today.

On Saturday 18th July the Sussex Sharks Visually Impaired XI hosted London Metro in the Semi Final of the BCEW Primary Club Heindrich Swanepoel Memorial Cup at the Blackstone Academy Ground. 

This was a repeat of last year's final which had gone down to the final ball and saw Sussex get home by just 2 wickets. The coin was flipped and Metro Captain Rory Field called correctly and asked the Sharks to have a bat.

The Sharks started steadily losing their first wicket in the 10th over with the score on 72, but Metro had bowled 8 of their 9 overs delivered by totally blind players which traditionally go for more runs. Callum Weir (46) was the next to fall on 102 scoring at exactly a  run a ball. The Metro bowlers were very disciplined and restricted the usually free scoring Sharks middle order to around 6-7 runs per over. Dan Field (52) and Si Ledwith (30) pushed the score up towards the 200 mark, the last few overs saw wickets tumble as the Sharks pushed for extra runs and the final tally was 209-9. Setting Metro exactly 7 an over to win the game. 

Mo Gallib was unlucky to go wicketless but his 6 overs went for just 20 runs, Mike Shay was the pick of Metro’s bowlers returning 3-36, Javed Patel also chipped in with 2-34.

The Metro reply started steadily with the openers looking to keep the scoreboard ticking rather than hit out and get ahead of the rate. When Marcus Kipling (2-28) took 2 wickets in 2 balls Metro were teetering on 76-4. There was then a stand of exactly 100 that threatened to turn the game in Metro's favour. Damion Corrigan (63) including 8 boundaries was run out with Metro needing just another 34 to win with 5 overs remaining. 

Two tight overs meant it was 26 to win off 3 overs but Ian 'Tiny' Morris had to come back to bowl the 28th and 30th, his first over had been taken for 18 so it was clear that Metro had been waiting for this opportunity. Hardik Patel was the set batter but on the third ball of the 28th over, hit the ball miles in the air and 15 year old Deacon Finn took a fabulous catch to effectively end Metro's hopes. The last 15 balls saw a run out, a wicket maiden and singles but when time was called Metro were still 14 short at 195-9.

It was another epic match between these two rivals, you have to go back to 2016 to find a Cup Final in which neither team has appeared. In the other Semi Final it was a close finish with Northants getting home with 3 balls to spare over Kent in a high scoring match.

Sussex vs Northants was the final line up in both 2023 and 2024 with the sides winning one apiece, so onto the final on Saturday 4th September to see who gets the best of three.

View the full match scorecard here.

Match Report courtesy of Ian 'Tiny' Morris

Half-year Sussex Memberships are now on sale to Sussex Cricket supporters looking to attend all remaining Rothesay County Championship Division One fixtures at Hove, as well as all of Sussex Sharks' home fixtures in the Metro Bank One Day Cup.

Priced at £150, the new half-year Memberships include general admission access to all remaining home fixtures as well as access to the Spen Cama Pavilion on matchdays.

Fixtures included in the Half-year Membership:

Rothesay County Championship Division One
Sussex v Somerset - Thursday 27 until Sunday 30 August
Sussex v Surrey - Thursday 8 until Sunday 11 September
Sussex v Nottinghamshire - Tuesday 15 until Friday 18 September

Metro Bank One Day Cup
Sussex Sharks v Yorkshire - Sunday 26 July
Sussex Sharks v Essex - Wednesday 29 July (at Arundel Castle Cricket Club)
Sussex Sharks v Worcestershire Rapids - Friday 7 August (Day nighter)
Sussex Sharks v Hampshire - Sunday 9 August

A potential of 16 days of cricket for just £150, the Sussex Half-year Membership is a great entry-level option for supporters who have never previously been a member, or for those looking for a flexible, low-cost way to support the club on Sussex's ongoing Rothesay County Championship Division One title push and a great way to support the next generation of Sussex Sharks stars in the Metro Bank One Day Cup.

You can purchase your Half-Year Membership online here, or by contacting the ticket office on 01273 827 100 (lines open weekdays between 10:00 to 14:00).

Any questions on the Half-Year Membership can be answered over email by contacting info@sussexcricket.co.uk

• The Alan Lee Memorial cricket match to take place on Tuesday 28 July after racing at Qatar Goodwood Festival, presented by Visit Qatar.
• Lord March's Racing XI will play Sussex Cricket Foundation’s Select XI in Twenty20 charity game.
• Funds raised will go to Sussex Cricket Foundation to support its programmes, making cricket more accessible to the local community and change lives through cricket.

Goodwood is delighted to announce that this year’s charity cricket match, which takes place during Qatar Goodwood Festival presented by Visit Qatar, will once again be between Lord March's Racing XI and Sussex Cricket Foundation.

The Alan Lee Memorial Trophy will be played at Goodwood Cricket Club on Tuesday 28 July from 6pm, in aid of Sussex Cricket Foundation. The Foundation works to help increase awareness and grow the game from grassroots level, making it accessible to all and supporting diversity while raising funds for its local programmes.

Lord March's Racing XI will comprise of a number of horseracing personalities including ITV’s Oli Bell and will be captained by Johnno Spence. Meanwhile, Sussex Select XI will feature members of the Sussex Women's Team, Sussex Disability Cricket Team, ex-professionals and local club cricketers.  The match is played every year in front of Goodwood House in memory of racing and cricket journalist Alan Lee, who passed away in 2015.

Gary Wallis-Tayler, Community Cricket Director at Sussex Cricket, said: “I am delighted that Goodwood has once again chosen to support the Sussex Cricket Foundation.  As we enter the second year of our partnership, it provides another fantastic opportunity to showcase the Foundation’s work, strengthen our links with the local community and highlight players from across our Sussex teams.” 

Cricket is the oldest of the sports played at Goodwood and has been supported by all the Dukes of Richmond.  The earliest known written laws of cricket were drawn up for a game between the 2nd Duke of Richmond and Mr Broderick of Peper Harow in 1727. It has been associated with Goodwood since at least 1702 and the match on the 28 July is the 299th anniversary of the first of the two matches these rules were written for.

James Crespi, Goodwood Racecourse Director, said: “Renowned as England’s greatest sporting estate, a love of sport is at the heart of all that we do here at Goodwood. We want people to be fully immersed in and enjoy all the sports we have on offer, whether that’s horseracing, motorsport, golf, shooting, flying, or cricket. We are proud to be raising money for Sussex Cricket Foundation as they play Lord March’s Racing XI after a superb afternoon of horseracing at Qatar Goodwood Festival presented by Visit Qatar.”

Before the charity match gets underway, Sussex Cricket Foundation will host a girls’ soft ball festival between 3pm and 5.30pm. at Goodwood Cricket Club. For more information and entry details about the 6-a-side Dynamos soft ball, contact: lara.johnson@sussexcricket.co.uk

-ENDS-

Sussex Cricket are delighted to announce that pathway products Ollie Kirtley, Toby Munt and Freddie Price have all been handed One Day Cup contracts for the forthcoming campaign.

Ollie Kirtley, 18-year-old right arm medium fast bowler and son of legendary Sussex bowler and current Lead Bowling Coach, James Kirtley, has just finished at Eastbourne College and has come through our pathway and academy.

Freddie Price is a 19-year-old all-rounder who has just finished at Millfield School, but has also come through our pathway and academy.

Toby Munt, 19-year-old left seam bowler, who also bats, was at BACA and went on their exchange deal to NZ in the winter, also coming through Sussex's pathway and academy.

On the trio signing up for the One Day Cup, Paul Farbrace, Head Coach, said: "I am delighted that all three lads have signed to play in the ODC, and it is great testament to the pathway at Sussex under Keith Greenfield that these talented young players have developed. Sussex has a great tradition of developing and producing players to go on and play at the highest level, and these three young players all have got very good qualities and are a real credit to the pathway and academy."

"All three of these players not only have a high level of skill, but they have a fantastic approach to learning and wanting to be the best they can be, that is the first and most important thing we look for in young players, do they want to get better, are they driven to succeed. All three have worked incredibly hard to get to this point and equally know there is a lot of hard work in front of them, but they have deserved this opportunity to progress their games and be part of the first team squad for the ODC."

"I think at a time when our members are worried and disappointed about players sadly leaving the club, this will give them a boost that we have some very talented young players coming through the pathway. I am sure our members will not only enjoy watching them play but will also get behind them and encourage them as they always do."

All three are available for selection for next Wednesday's One Day Cup opener versus Glamorgan at Neath.

Sussex Cricket showcases £1m Breaking Boundaries programme.

Breaking Boundaries is a £1m initiative from the Sussex Cricket Foundation to widen access to cricket for state school children and create clearer pathways into the game. Supported by Sussex Cricket and backed by Focus Foundation and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), it is already helping more than 4,000 young people across Sussex.

Through a growing network of State School Cricket Hubs, alongside professional coaching, teacher development, facility investment, club partnerships and representative competition, the programme is creating lasting opportunities for young people throughout their secondary school years.
 

The event will bring together pupils, teachers, schools, community partners and cricket stakeholders at The County Ground, Hove, the home of Sussex Cricket, for a day that brings Breaking Boundaries to life through competitive cricket and the voices of the young people, teachers and schools already benefiting from the programme.
 

Throughout the day, four area-based franchise teams made up of Year 9 and 10 pupils from across Sussex will compete in a T20 competition, with the day also featuring firsthand stories from the schools, teachers and young people helping shape its success.
 

Early impact includes four new hubs, 62 teachers trained through CPD programmes, 169 students supported through half-term activity and 290 students supported through after-school cricket.
 

The long-term ambition is simple: every child in Sussex should be within 30 minutes of a State School Cricket Hub.

Chris Goodman, Sussex Cricket Board member and Founder of Focus Foundation, whose investment has helped establish Breaking Boundaries, said: "For me, this has always been about opportunity. Cricket, like every sport, should be accessible to every young person, not just those fortunate enough to attend an independent school. Breaking Boundaries is about giving more children the chance to experience the confidence, wellbeing and aspiration that sport can unlock. If it also helps produce future Sussex or England cricketers, that would be a fantastic byproduct."
 

Paul Farbrace, Sussex Men's Head Coach, said: "The more opportunities we can create for young people to experience cricket, the better it is for them and for the future of the game. Breaking Boundaries is about ensuring ability and enthusiasm are not limited by circumstance." 

Gary Wallis-Tayler, Head of Sussex Cricket Foundation, said: "We're already seeing Breaking Boundaries make a real difference in schools across Sussex, but this is only the beginning. By working closely with schools, teachers, clubs and community partners, we are helping more young people discover cricket and fulfil their potential."
 

Breaking Boundaries builds on more than a decade of work by Sussex Cricket and the Sussex Cricket Foundation to widen access to the game. Central to that has been the long-standing partnership with Brighton Aldridge Community Academy (BACA), which has helped establish new opportunities and pathways for state school cricket in Sussex. Breaking Boundaries now builds on that work to extend those opportunities across the county.
 

Sir Rod Aldridge, President of Sussex Cricket, said: “Sussex Cricket has always believed the game is strongest when it is open to everyone. I have been a long-term supporter of state school cricket through the successful cricket programme run at BACA for the past 10 years in partnership with Sussex Cricket. Breaking Boundaries reflects this commitment to state school cricket and gives the opportunity to extend this work to many more young people across Sussex. I look forward to seeing the impact of this on the future development of the game and to the opportunities it will bring.”
 

Former England World Cup winner and broadcaster Alex Hartley has also lent her support, backing its ambition to widen access to cricket for state school children across Sussex.
 

"I'm proud to be associated with Breaking Boundaries because it goes straight at one of cricket's biggest challenges: access. Talent is everywhere, but opportunity isn't. By putting high-quality coaching into state secondary schools, supporting teachers, improving facilities and linking pupils with local clubs, the Sussex Cricket Foundation is creating a proper route into the game for boys and girls who might otherwise never get one. That matters not just for future players, but for the future of cricket."
 

The programme is also backed by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), which sees initiatives like this as an important part of widening access to cricket and strengthening pathways into the game.
 

Leshia Hawkins, Managing Director of the Recreational Game at the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), said: “Creating more opportunities for young people to discover and stay involved in cricket is one of the game's biggest priorities. Programmes like Breaking Boundaries show the impact that can be achieved when schools, clubs, recreational cricket boards, professional clubs and local communities work together to widen access and create meaningful opportunities for children and young people. We welcome, applaud and want to support scalable initiatives that complement the ECB's wider ambition to grow the game and help ensure more young people develop a lifelong connection with cricket.”
 

Media attending the event will have the opportunity to interview Chris Goodman, Gary Wallis-Tayler, Paul Farbrace, Sussex T20 captain Tymal Mills, Sussex Women's Head Coach Alexia Walker, together with other Sussex men's and women's players (all subject to availability), alongside participating schools, teachers and young people involved in Breaking Boundaries.