The ECB have today announced that England Women will play New Zealand Women in an IT20 on Monday, 25th May 2026 at The 1st Central County Ground, Hove. 

The exciting news comes after the same fixture sold out in 2024 and is expected to be another full house when we once again host England and New Zealand Women at Hove next May. 

It was in 2024 that New Zealand Women last played at Hove with England claiming a 23-run victory on the DLS. 

To be notified at the very earliest possibility on how to purchase tickets, learn sale dates and receive any further information, you can visit this link.

Hundreds by Jordan Cox and Matt Critchley strengthened Essex’s position on the second day against Sussex at Hove. 

Cox made 132 and Critchley 123 as Essex reached 475 for nine before bad light and rain took 28 overs off the day’s allocation after tea. 

Sussex haven’t lost a home game in the Rothesay County Championship since May 2022 but will be hard pressed to maintain that record after Essex stretched their lead to 247.

That was largely down to Cox and Critchley, who put on 184 in 43 overs in the first half of the day. 

Cox made 139 not out last week against Hampshire in the Vitality Blast and showed similar form against the red ball here, hitting 23 fours in his tenth first-class century – the second fifty of which came off 53 balls. 

Sussex’s seam attack struggled in the absence of the rested Ollie Robinson, and with the Kookaburra ball offering little assistance skipper John Simpson soon adopted a containment strategy by rotating his attack in short spells in search of a breakthrough. 

But with a temptingly short boundary on the pavilion side it was hard to contain Cox and Critchley, who offered one half-chance on 27 when Gurinder Sandhu got one hand on the ball at long on but couldn’t cling onto a very difficult opportunity.

Cox reached his century by reverse-sweeping Jack Carson to the boundary as 149 runs came before lunch. Sussex desperately needed to break through with the second new ball and they did so when it was five overs old. Cox launched into a full-blooded drive at Sandhu and second slip James Coles parried the edge into the air and Tom Alsop dived full length at first slip to take the catch.

Critchley also lodged his tenth first-class hundred of his career, which he reached in the 89th over when he ran a delivery from Ari Karvelas down to third man. As well as 12 fours he also hit five leg-side sixes in 175 balls. 

He departed after a smart piece of work by Fynn Hudson-Prentice at mid on who ran him out with a direct hit after Critchley had been called through for a quick single by Michael Pepper.

When Noah Thain had his middle stump plucked out of the ground by Sandhu with the next ball there was brief respite for Sussex. 

Rain and thunderstorms arrived at tea and when the players returned at 5.50pm Pepper (44) got a thin edge to the fourth ball after the resumption from Hudson-Prentice, who then had Khaleel Ahmed caught on the boundary before bad light forced an early close with Essex in control.

The PCC Select XI take on Pakistan A in two matches at The 1st Central County Ground next week. 

First, Hove will host a 50-over friendly on Sunday, 27th July. This will commence at 11am.

Next, starting on Tuesday, 29th July, a three-day friendly against the same opposition will take place. 

Tickets are priced at just £5 for adults and £1 for U18s. 

Book tickets online via this link.

Essex produced an opening day performance against Sussex which belied their disappointing season to date, bottom but one of the championship’s first division, with just one victory. They bundled out Sussex – third in the table – for just 204 in only 52.4 overs and at the close were powerfully placed at 152 for four.

Essex’s inability to pair up their opening attack of Jamie Porter and Sam Cook has been a major factor in their poor campaign.  Cook has been involved with the England set-up and Porter, on paternity leave, missed the last championship match against Yorkshire.

Here, though, they were back in tandem, both hitting a length on a relentless line of third or fourth stump and Porter, with four for 30, was the star of the show.  Sussex, though, knowing the Kookaburra ball gets softer, and batting easier, showed a lack of application.    

Essex won the toss and bowled on a grassy pitch, with a canopy of clouds also promising to assist their seamers.

Sussex, who had dropped Tom Clark for the fit-again Tom Alsop, and brought in Ari Karvelas for the rested Ollie Robinson, struggled to overcome the conditions but were also guilty of some indulgent strokeplay.

Porter broke through in the ninth over when Daniel Hughes, going for a lavish drive, edged to keeper Michael Pepper.  And it was 31 for two in the next over when Alsop, playing forward defensively, edged Cook behind.

The relatively inexperienced Khaleel Ahmed replaced Cook at the sea end but there was no let-up for Sussex.  Khaleel pitched one up to Tom Haines who went for the drive.  But the ball nipped off the pitch and Simon Harmer took the catch at second slip.  And it was 64 for 4 in the 18th over when Dan Ibrahim attempted an expansive drive against the same bowler and was caught behind.  The players took an early lunch at 69 for four when a second, heavier shower swept over the ground.

The in-form James Coles and John Simpson launched a mini-revival with a stand of 56.  Coles showed some of the fluency that had brought him 150 against Warwickshire in his previous championship innings.  When he played Cook to backward point for a quick single he had reached his half-century from 62 balls, with seven eye-catching fours.  But then he played forward to Porter and edged to first slip, and four balls later Fynn Hudson-Prentice nicked off for a duck.

Yet again Simpson was required to make the most of diminishing resources. He added 49 for the seventh wicket with Jack Carson, whose five fours included a straight drive off Noah Thain that might have been the shot of the day. 

The introduction of fourth seamer Thain saw the first drop in the keen accuracy of the Essex attack.  But he, too, was good enough to get among the wickets.  Carson had made 25 when he edged to Pepper and next ball it was 169 for eight when Simpson prodded only half-forward to Harmer and was caught at slip.

When Karvelas flayed to cover for one Sussex had lost three wickets for two runs but last pair Henry Crocombe and Gurinder Sandhu put on 33.

When Essex batted Dean Elgar was caught at midwicket, Paul Walter, half forward, was lbw to Carson, Tom Westley was yorked by Sandhu and nightwatchman Cook was caught at leg slip. But they could still be in a very strong position by the second afternoon.

With Sussex's Vitality Blast campaign coming to an end on Friday, the Kookaburra returns for another short spell as Essex head down to Hove in search of a victory that would take them away from danger. A win for Sussex, meanwhile, could prove pivotal as we look to close the gap at the top of the division.

It's been an extremely solid return for Sussex back in the top flight, who sit third and just 17 points shy of the top. Back-to-back draws in the previous red ball outings a month ago have helped consolidate that position, as Paul Farbrace's side prepare for two more County Championship matches ahead of the start of the One Day Cup.

Team News

Paul Farbrace has named a 13-player squad for the visit of Essex, with Tom Clark and Ollie Robinson both rested. Danny Lamb and Tom Alsop shift into the squad.

Alsop, Carson, Carter, Coles, Crocombe, Haines, Hudson-Prentice, Hughes, Ibrahim, Karvelas, Lamb, Sandhu, Simpson* (wk)

The Opposition 

It's not been the finest of seasons for Essex who, after finishing at the foot of the Vitality Blast South table, also find themselves in trouble towards the rear of the County Championship Division One. Claiming one win from their opening nine matches this season, only Worcestershire are worse off. 

It's certainly raised a few eyebrows, for Essex are notoriously strong in the four-day game. There is still time to turn their season around, but the victories will need to start flowing soon. They suffered a 10-wicket defeat in Yorkshire in their last ball fixture, though were without Jamie Porter and Sam Cook, who may return to bolster their bowling attack.

Timings

Gates will open tomorrow at 9.30am, with the toss taking place an hour later at 10.30am. The first ball will be bowled at 11am. 

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.

Match Tickets

Tickets are available to purchase on the day from our ticket office, or via this link.

Matchday Dining

Bertie Foreman Joins Worcestershire on Loan

Sussex Cricket can today announce that spinning allrounder, Bertie Foreman, will join Worcestershire on a short-term loan.

Bertie will be available for selection for the next two rounds of the Rothesay County Championship for the Pears, before returning to Hove. Go well, Bertie! #GOSBTS

Sussex Cricket is delighted to announce the acquisition of talented allrounder, Tom Price, from Gloucestershire on a three-year contract.

The 25-year-old, who has taken 19 wickets in County Championship Division Two this season, has played all of his first-class cricket with Gloucestershire after signing his first professional contract with the club in January 2020.

He would make his first-class debut in August of that year, taking one wicket in the first innings against Worcestershire in the Bob Willis Trophy. Since then, he has featured in 34 further first-class matches, claiming 94 wickets at an impressive average of 31.11.

20th April 2023 was a historic day not just for Price, but for cricket as a whole as Price scored his maiden first-class century against Worcestershire, along with taking a hat-trick in the same game. With this, he became the first cricketer in the history of first-class cricket to score a century and take a hat-trick on the same day. Price holds best bowling figures of 8/27, claimed in majestic fashion against Warwickshire in 2022.

While bowling may be more of his forte, Price has also demonstrated frequent capabilities with his bat, holding a high score of 109 and averaging just over 25 in first-class cricket. 

On joining Sussex, Price said: "I'm really excited by and grateful for this amazing opportunity at Sussex Cricket.

"It’s a very impressive club, with a lot of ambition, a squad that’s going from strength to strength and a highly respected group of coaches and support staff - it was always going to be a hard decision for me to leave my home club but I’ve had some very positive conversations and really believe this is a great fit.

"I’m really grateful the club are putting their faith in me for the next few years. I’m excited to continue developing my game, and will give everything I can to help the club win games and trophies.

"I look forward to meeting everyone when I join up in November."

Speaking on securing this new signature, Sussex’s Director of Cricket, Paul Farbrace, said: "We are all delighted that Tom has committed to joining us at Hove for the next stage of his career. He has been so impressive during the recruitment process, that involved our full coaching staff.

"Tom is someone I have followed closely for a few years now, he is a genuine all round cricketer who will really enhance our talented squad, and I look forward to him being a central player for us in all forms of the game."

Kent Women vs Sussex Sharks: Match Preview

The Vitality Blast for the Sharks Women comes to a close tomorrow, culminating in a trip down the road to The Spitfire Ground, where Alexia Walker's team will be welcomed to the garden of England by Kent Women, with both sides looking to finish the campaign on a high. 

Having completed a T20 double over Gloucestershire earlier in the week, the Sharks will looking to be completing another over Kent, should the British weather hold out.

Alexia Walker's young and ambitious side have grown into the tournament and will certainly take plenty of positives from a campaign that has seen them take on two sides who will turn professional imminently.

Team News

Just the one change in the Sharks squad from the Gloucestershire victory, as Daisy Mullan comes in for Rachel King.

Squad: M Adams, A Buckle, I Collis, L Curling, K Docherty, C Green, N Harman, D Mullan, A Lee, A Lewis, T Stanley, J Westley, P Wilkinson

How to Watch

You will be able to 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.

Will Jacks, with a magnificent 58-ball century, and Sam Curran and Chris Jordan, with some canny late bowling, inspired Surrey to their 11th victory in 14 Vitality Blast games and snuffed out Sussex hopes of winning the last quarter-final berth from the South Group.

       Jacks powered three sixes and a dozen boundaries as he put on 65 for the first wicket with Ryan Patel and then 97 with Jason Roy as Surry scaled the 200 mark with a last ball six from Tom Curran over long-off off Tymal Mills.

          It all looked too much for the Sussex Sharks. But they were heroic in defeat.  Knowing they had to win go qualify for the latter stages of the competition, with results going against them elsewhere, they strove valiantly for victory. Daniel Hughes, who has been disappointed with his return in the competition this year, plundered 75 from 43 balls, keeping his side in the hunt as he hit former Sussex man Jordan for four fours in over, before lofting Jamie Overton for a straight six.

            At the halfway stage Sussex were 81-1, ten runs behind the Surrey score.  When Hughes was bowled, backing away to cut Jacks, it again looked difficult for Sussex.  But Coles and Tom Clark changed all that, with a partnership of 58 in just four overs.

           Coles, in great form this season in red and white ball cricket, hit Jamie Overton for successive sixes, one over long-off and then over long-on and with 33 needed from three overs, and then 21 from two, the home side were favourite.

            But Surrey turned the game in the last two overs, as Curran took two in three balls, taking a brilliant return catch to dismiss Coles for a delightful 39 off 18 balls and then having Danny Lamb caught behind.  That left Sussex needing 13 off the final over and even with captain John Simpson on strike they could not manage it against the clever Jordan, as he changed his paces.

        Surrey had already qualified for the latter stages with a guaranteed home draw while Sussex, after four losses on the spin, had been given a lifeline with their last-gasp victory over Gloucestershire the previous day and knew they could qualify by winning here.

       Surrey’s powerhouse batting line-up had shown a liking for Hove’s short boundaries in the past and they again got off to a flyer after choosing to bat, with openers Jacks and Patel thumping 47 off the first four overs, with 65 coming off the six-over powerplay as Brad Currie – replacing the injured Ollie Robinson – Nathan McAndrew and captaian Tymal Mills all coming in for severe punishment.

           Sussex pulled it back through the spin of Coles and with Henry Crocumbe and  Lamb both impressive as they took pace off the ball. But then Surrey powered on again through Jacks, and with Jason Roy finding form to set an imposing total.  But it was only just enough.