A maiden first-class century from off-spinner Jack Carson helped Sussex recover from 88 for six to 284 all out on the opening day against Worcestershire at Hove.  

Arriving at the crease with his side floundering, Carson looked to shepherd the tail and punish anything loose, striking 11 forceful fours and a one whipped leg-side six in his highest first-class score of 102.

When it looked as if he might run out of partners, Carson was joined by last man and debutant James Hayes, who stuck around for 126 balls as the home side edged past 250. With a first bonus batting point secured, Carson let loose and brought up his century in style, dispatching seam-bowler Ben Allison to the leg-side boundary with a powerful pull shot in the 86th over.

Carson finally fell five overs later, and Worcestershire opener Jake Libby and nightwatchman Ben Gibbon, batted out the remaining three overs without alarm to finish on 7-0.

Sussex found themselves in need of a hero after a potent five-wicket haul from Pears’ paceman Tom Taylor put the visitors in the driving seat. The right-arm bowler took five wickets for 56 runs as the home side lost six wickets for just eight runs in the early afternoon.

In a blistering mid-morning spell, the talismanic Taylor found the edges of opener Daniel Hughes and middle-order batter Tom Alsop, who were caught by third slip Henry Nicholls and wicketkeeper Gareth Roderick respectively. He then trapped Tom Clarke lbw with a searing inswinger, to which Clarke shouldered arms. Youngster James Coles also fell in the morning, driving a wide Ben Allison delivery to the grateful hands of Ethan Brookes at fourth slip from the final ball of the session.

Taylor was equally dangerous after the lunch break, bowling Sussex skipper John Simpson after Tom Haines edged a rising delivery to sub fielder Rob Jones, who took a smart rebound catch at second slip.

Opener Haines was the only top-order Sussex batter to offer any meaningful resistance, carving 12 boundaries in a graceful 89-ball 53 before Carson began his counter-offensive.

The remainder of Worcestershire’s fast bowling troop was eager to get in on the act in the afternoon session. Left-armer Gibbon had all-rounder Fynn Hudson-Prentice caught behind for a 47-ball 22 before Ollie Robinson and Ari Karvelas fell to short deliveries from Brookes and Allison.

Seamer Matthew Waite took the visitors’ final wicket, dismissing Carson with a wide delivery which the centurion chopped onto his stumps.

Debutant Hayes was Sussex’s last man and batted valiantly in his unbeaten innings of 33. The 23-year-old has been signed on an emergency two-week loan from Nottinghamshire, after Jayden Seales withdrew from the squad due to injury.

In his one over before the close of play, Hayes bowled at a good pace and conceded one boundary. 

By ECB Reporters Network, supported by Rothesay  

For more information about Rothesay, please visit www.ecb.co.uk/about/who-we-are/our-partners/rothesay

Nottinghamshire seamer James Hayes has joined Sussex on a short-term loan, following news that Jayden Seales has been forced to withdraw from the squad due to injury.

Hayes is available to make his First-Class debut this weekend, in Sussex's clash against Worcestershire at Hove, and will also be available for the away trip to Somerset in a week's time. 

The 23-year-old, who has made three senior appearances in List A cricket for Notts, has been a regular fixture in matchday squads this summer.

He featured in the Green and Golds' pre-season friendlies against Loughborough UCCE and Oxford UCCE this spring, and has since appeared twice for Nottinghamshire's Second XI, claiming figures of 4/45 against Kent.
 

Sussex vs Worcestershire: Match Preview

Following a three-match unbeaten run to open their return to Division One of the County Championship, Sussex's strong start came unstuck up in Nottingham last time out as the hosts wrapped-up a convincing nine-wicket at Trent Bridge. But after a period of rest Sussex return to Hove where they are yet to taste defeat this campaign, with Worcestershire the visitors on this occasion.

Team News

Paul Farbrace is still without Danny Lamb and Sean Hunt, who sit out with their respective injuries. The rest of the squad is unchanged from our previous Rothersay County Championship clash with Nottinghamshire:

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

The Opposition 

Worcestershire have found things a little tricky thus far who, after consolidating their Division One status last season with a sixth-placed finish, find themselves bottom of the pile after four matches. The only side in the division yet to record a win, they drew the opening game of the season at Somerset in dramatic style, but have since lost their last three. 

Captain Brett D'Oliveira leads his sides with the bat, scoring 253 runs at an average of 31.62, whilst with the ball Matthew Waite has claimed 12 scalps, one ahead of fellow seamers Jacob Duffy and Tom Taylor. 

Farbrace's Thoughts

The Head Coach was naturally frustrated with his side's performance at Trent Bridge, though was able to pick out a plentiful amount of positives. Speaking on the defeat, Farbrace said:

"We're obviously disappointed that we lost the game. We expect to play well and we expect to compete in every game, and this game has taught us a fair bit about us a team. We had a conversation in the changing room about the last month, and if you offered 51 points at this stage of the season after four games, I think we're pretty happy with that. But we're disappointed in the way we've lost the game."

"By and large, I'm actually quite pleased with where we're at. I never like losing, and I think we're a team that are very honest, we're learning together. I'm looking forward to every game we've got. I said at the start of the year this first month, where you've got two Test grounds to visit, and Surrey and Somerset the two big teams in the last five years in county cricket coming to Hove - what a brilliant opportunity."

"Worcester did brilliantly last season to stay in the division - they've been a bit of a yo-yo team over the last five years, but we know them having played against them in Division Two a couple of years ago. They're a good team, they've got a lot of good players, and yes, they might have had an indifferent start but so have a few other teams as well. We'll be treating that Worcester game as a chance to put into practice what we've learned from these first four games."

How to Watch

As always, you can watch every ball, free of charge, via our Match Day 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 11am. 

Ticket Information 

Tickets are available to purchase online now for all four days. Sixes Social Cricket, the latest addition to Hove, will be open throughout the duration, too.

Going forward, buying your tickets online is the quickest and easiest way to secure your seat, save a bit of extra money and protect yourself if rains comes into play.

Question of Sport

Following the conclusion of Day One, why not come along to our Question of Sport, hosted by the one and only Adrian Harms!

See the likes of Ollie Robinson, Tymal Mills, Paul Farbrace and many more compete in teams against legends of Brighton & Hove Albion FC. 

No need to book online - simply arrive on the night! It'll be a 7pm start at the 1st Central County Ground.

Members Forum

The next Members Forum will take place on tomorrow (Friday, 9th May) at 9.30am in The Long Room.

Members will have the chance to hear from Pete Fitzboydon, Jon Filby and Paul Farbrace. Complimentary tea and coffee will be available. 

Matchday Dining

Tom Haines' fine start to the 2025 season has been recognised, with the Sussex batter winning the PCA Player of the Month award for April.

Haines has arguably been Sussex’s key batter this season, having scored 513 runs from four Rothesay County Championship games. Averaging 73.28, the 26-year-old is currently the leading run-scorer in Division One and has also got the most MVP points with 122.21.

Having picked up the most MVP points in April, the Sussex batter also captained the PCA’s Team of the Month which also featured his club captain John Simpson.

The left-handed opener has scored two centuries in the County Championship so far. His first came against Somerset where he scored 141 in the second innings, helping Sussex secure a 260-run victory at the 1st Central County Ground, Hove.

Haines’ second century was scored at the same venue against defending champions Surrey. He scored 174 in the first innings and an unbeaten 69 in the second to claim the Match MVP, picking up 67.66 points. 

After winning the April Player of the Month award, Haines said: “It feels good to win the PCA’s Player of the Month for April. It has been a great start to the season which makes me incredibly happy.

“I would say that the hundred against Somerset was more important because we won the game, whilst the Surrey match ended in a draw. But I am pleased with both of the hundreds and hopefully I can perform like that in the next few games.

“We want to put as many wins as we can on the board in this first block of seven games and see where we are. Keeping our bowlers fit would be a big aim for the team because we have not got the depth as some of the bigger teams in Division One. We can definitely be up there and challenging if we keep everyone fit because we have got a very good team.

“It’s a real positive to know I secured the public votes from the fans and hopefully I can keep putting some more big scores on the board.”

The Sussex Cricket Foundation and Webtrends Optimize presents DIScoverABILITY Weekend 2025

The Sussex Cricket Foundation is delighted to announce that DIScoverABILITY Day will return once again to the The 1st Central County Ground on Friday 16th May 2025 and will precede with the inaugural Disability T10 Cup on Sunday 18th May on the hallowed turf at Hove. 

Last year, another record-breaking DIScoverABILITY Day saw over 700 participants from over 30 organisations, as well as over 150 volunteers take to the field at The 1st Central County Ground for an action-packed day of batting, throwing, catching and bowling challenges, designed for all abilities and led by Sussex Cricket Foundation coaches.  

For the first time ever the spectacular disability sport event, one of the largest in the southeast, will be followed by the inaugural Disability T10 Cup on the Sunday. 

The day will consist of two semi-finals and two finals, a shield and cup. The first match will take place from 11:00 am, and with the draw to be announced week commencing Monday 12th May.  

Tom Belcher, Disability Cricket Manager for the Sussex Cricket Foundation is looking forward to an amazing weekend: “I am absolutely delighted to not only be able to announce DIScoverABILITY Day and Weekend is back again, but also to further announce and demonstrate how Sussex Cricket Foundation, continue to lead the way, breaking boundaries within disability cricket, by hosting the another first! 

"The Disability T10 Cup, here in Sussex, in partnership with the ECB, Lord’s Taverners and our sponsors Webtrends Optimize”. 

“This we welcome over 700 participants to our most important event in our calendar, DIScoverABILITY Day; welcoming some of the country’s highest performing disability cricket players from Sussex, Essex, Surrey and Hampshire disability squads to 1st Central, our first-class ground, as well as our most important event in our calendar, DIScoverABILITY Day, all on the same weekend will be incredible achievement, for disability cricket not only in Sussex but nationally”.  

“We look forward to welcoming as many people as possible to what will be a very special weekend at the 1st Central County Ground.”

The T10 Cup will be live streamed and our commentary team on the day will be Dan Jadz and Georgie Heath. Spectators will also get the chance to test their own batting skilsl, free of charge on the day, in our new Sixes Social Bar at Hove.

Tickets to the T10 Cup are available and free of charge. Please click here to register your attendance. 

Sussex Cricket Foundation Announces 2025 Ambassador Line-Up

The Sussex Cricket Foundation is proud to announce its new cohort of Ambassadors for 2025.  The Ambassadors will play a key role in championing the Foundation’s work and helping to raise its profile across the county.

Joining the team this year are:

• Tom Alsop & Jack Carson – Sussex Men’s team
• Lucy Western – Sussex Women’s team
• Dan Field – Sussex Disability team
• Chris Nash & Will Beer – Former Sussex professionals

Lucy, Chris, and Will are welcomed as new Ambassadors alongside existing supporters Tom, Jack, and Dan.

The Foundation's Ambassadors serve as vital advocates for the charity, helping to spread awareness of its initiatives, inspire community involvement, and promote the importance of accessible cricket for all. 

Their support is instrumental in encouraging others to get involved—whether through sponsorship, donation, or volunteering.

To learn more about the Sussex Cricket Foundation’s work and impact, please read the latest 2024 Impact Report.

The Foundation continues to rely on the generosity of donors, sponsors, and volunteers to sustain and expand its wide-reaching programmes. 

Anyone interested in supporting the Foundation is encouraged to contact Community Cricket Director, Gary Wallis-Tayler, at gary.wallis-tayler@sussexcricket.co.uk

Gary Wallis-Tayler, Community Cricket Director, said: "I am delighted to name our Foundation Ambassadors for 2025. Our ambassadors are crucial in helping us raise our profile across the county, promote the work we do, and encourage other players to support us. 

"As a Foundation, we continue to need financial support to help run our many programmes and initiatives that grow the game and make it accessible to all. Our ambassadors will be key to this, and I look forward to working with them over the year."

Worcestershire Rapids Women v Sussex Sharks Women

After two tough tests against Glamorgan and Yorkshire, Alexia Walker takes her Sussex Sharks team to Worcestershire for the next match in the Metro Bank One Day Cup tomorrow at 10:30am.

Last Time Out

Glamorgan away, Yorkshire at home. It doesn't get much harder than that for your first every Tier 2 games. Alexia Walker's side would have already learnt so much from stepping toe to toe with two future Tier 1 Counties. Although the odds were stacked against them, Alexia Walker feels her side didn't play the cricket she knows they can and is looking for improvements tomorrow against Worcestershire.

Squad

Mollie Adams (wk), Anna Buckle, Izzy Collis, Kali-Ann Docherty, Daisy Gibb, Chiara Green (c), Rachel King, Anna Lewis, Eve O'Neill, Talitha Stanley, Lucy Western, Jazz Westley, Phoebe Wilkinson 

How to Watch

As always, you can watch every ball, free of charge, via our Match Day 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. 

Members Forum to be Held on Friday 9th May 2025

Sussex Cricket can confirm the next Members Forum will take place on Friday 9th May at 2025 at 930am in The Long Room.

Members will have the chance to hear from Pete Fitzboydon, Jon Filby and Paul Farbrace. Complimentary tea and coffee will be available. 

Division One leaders Nottinghamshire eased to a nine-wicket win against Sussex in their Rothesay County Championship clash at Trent Bridge.

Needing 148 to win after Sussex were bowled out for 278 in their second innings, Nottinghamshire were home and dry in 25.5 overs after unbeaten half-centuries from skipper Haseeb Hameed (62) and England’s Ben Duckett (59), earning 21 points from their second victory of the campaign.

A doughty 74 from Sussex captain John Simpson, backed up by off-spinning all-rounder Jack Carson’s 43, kept the home side in the field until lunchtime, but Nottinghamshire looked as it they were no mood to be still playing at tea, completing the job in good time to watch their neighbours from Nottingham Forest take on Manchester City in their FA Cup semi-final later.

Farhan Ahmed, their 17-year-old off-spinner, delivered another stand-out display with the ball, taking four for 54, with Australian seamer Fergus O’Neill signing off with three for 74 in his last match for the county.

With an overnight lead of 64, much depended not just on the experience and know-how of Simpson but also on the ability of the three remaining batters to stick with him as Sussex sought to make Nottinghamshire work for their victory.

In the event, the 36-year-old left-hander found a doughty and productive ally in his overnight partner, 24-year-old Carson. He and the skipper frustrated the home attack for 96 minutes, extending their partnership to 87 runs before, facing the second new ball, the younger man clipped Brett Hutton straight to midwicket, where sub fielder Freddie McCann had been moved from slip moments earlier.

Carson batted for two hours and 18 minutes for his 43, which contained five fours.

With an important obstacle removed, the Sussex innings fell away quickly. Ahmed, called into the attack with the new ball only 12 overs old, needed just one delivery with it to have Ollie Robinson caught behind.

Left to eke out what he could, Simpson perished in Ahmed’s next over, caught by Josh Tongue in a failed attempt to clear the long-on boundary.

The Nottinghamshire target was heading towards the territory that Sussex felt might have been ‘tricky’ in the overcast conditions of Saturday, but Hameed quickly made it look much less daunting as warm sunshine presented the best batting conditions of the match.

It did not help Sussex’s cause that Jayden Seales, who played his part in reducing Nottinghamshire from 167 for three to 210 for eight on the second morning, slipped back into his wayward ways of Friday evening, handing Hameed plenty of opportunities to give himself a flying start, which he eagerly snapped up.

In his opening two overs from the Stuart Broad End he conceded four boundaries to Hameed, coming back for a third at the Radcliffe Road End to see Ben Slater hammer him for six and four. Little wonder, when Slater pulled him to be caught at deep square leg in his fourth over, he declined to celebrate.

Nottinghamshire had polished off 67 of their required runs in 14.2 overs with Slater’s dismissal, which only ushered in Duckett, looking to make amends after falling in single figures in the first innings of one of his nowadays rare appearances in the Championship.

Five fours and four sixes - all off the unfortunate Carson – as he raced to a half-century in 23 balls confirmed that impression. Hameed’s 50 from 71 balls, though beautiful to watch, looked pedestrian by comparison. And it was Hameed who hit the winning run with the result wrapped up at 3.27pm.

After 21 wickets in four matches, the end of O’Neill’s stint at Trent Bridge will leave a hole in the Nottinghamshire attack, although his replacement, Pakistan’s Mohammad Abbas, arrives in time for their next fixture, against his former county, Hampshire, on May 9.

By Jon Culley, ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay
For more information about Rothesay, please visit www.ecb.co.uk/about/who-we-are/our-partners/rothesay

Nottinghamshire v Sussex - Day Two Report 

Sussex will need a supreme effort to avoid a three-day defeat as Division One leaders Nottinghamshire look to complete a second win in four matches in a strong start to the Rothesay County Championship season.

Last season’s Division Two champions came into this match level on points with the Trent Bridge side but at 195 for seven in their second innings ended a day of fluctuating fortunes with a lead of just 64.

Nottinghamshire led by 131 on first innings, having slipped from 164 for three overnight to 210 for eight before Liam Patterson-White (42) and Josh Tongue (39 not out) helped them recover to 300 all out after skipper Haseeb Hameed’s fine 85 earlier.  Ollie Robinson and Jayden Seales led the Sussex bowling with four wickets each, with England’s Robinson the pick of the two.

Sussex reached 89 without loss in their second innings before a collapse saw them lose five wickets for 36 runs. Tom Haines made 64 but until skipper John Simpson (35 not out) put up late resistance, it was a batting effort from the south coast side to match their disappointing showing in the first innings. Australian Fergus O’Neill, whose four-match stint with Nottinghamshire ends with this match, has three for 60.   

Three down for 164 overnight, just five in arrears, Nottinghamshire looked well placed to establish a good first-innings lead and ultimately did so, if by a roundabout route.

The first hour, with the ball nipping around under an overcast sky, saw them lose five wickets for 46 runs as Robinson and West Indies Test quick Seales inflicted the kind of damage that Josh Tongue and Brett Hutton had dished out to Sussex on day one.

Seales dismissed Jack Haynes with his first ball via a thin edge to the wicketkeeper, quickly backing that up as Kyle Verreynne edged to third slip.

Robinson then removed Hameed with a ball that was too good for the Nottinghamshire captain, before sending O’Neill on his way for a duck via a catch at second slip. Seales dismissed Hutton, again taken at second.

Yet the second half of the morning swung towards Nottinghamshire as Tongue joined Patterson-White in a stand that combined doggedness with aggression to add 71 in 12 and a half overs. 

Back for a second spell after bowling eight overs at the start, Robinson finally saw off Patterson-White via another slip catch. Off-spinner Jack Carson prised out the final wicket, but not before Nottinghamshire had picked up a second batting bonus point as well as what looked like a handy advantage.

After a delayed lunch was taken between innings, Sussex went on the front foot to profitable effect, slashing 89 runs off the arrears without loss in 22 overs. Hutton, meanwhile, had suffered an injury scare that put him out of the attack until late in the evening session. 

An uppercut for six by Haines off Tongue took the Sussex opener to 53 from 66 balls and simultaneously to 500 runs for the season, the first in the country to reach that milestone.  But what was shaping up as a good comeback by the visitors stalled badly with three wickets in six overs shortly before tea.

Off-spinning prodigy Farhan Ahmed struck the first blow as Daniel Hughes, stepping back to cut, nicked to ‘keeper Verreynne, and was celebrating again shortly afterwards as Tom Clark was leg before sweeping. 

O’Neill picked up his first wicket of the contest, pinning Tom Alsop squarely in front as Sussex limped to tea three down and still 25 behind.

Worse was to come almost immediately after the break as Haines, who had taken a blow on the helmet facing Tongue but appeared none the worse, fell victim on 64 to a stunning, instinctive catch by O’Neill, grabbing the ball one-handed in his follow-through. O’Neill picked up a third wicket via another excellent catch, this time by Ben Duckett at second slip.

At 125 for five, Sussex were in big trouble. They suffered more blows as Tongue had James Coles leg before and Patterson-White bowled Fynn Hudson-Prentice but will at least require Nottinghamshire to bat again.

For more information about Rothesay, please visit www.ecb.co.uk/about/who-we-are/our-partners/rothesay