Alexia Walker Appointed Head Coach of Tier 2 Sussex Women

Sussex Cricket is delighted to announce that Alexia Walker has been appointed as the permanent Head Coach of the Tier 2 Sussex Women’s team. 

A number of candidates were interviewed, with the process headed up by Paul Farbrace, who will now take up the role of Director of Cricket at Sussex, whilst maintaining his duties as Head Coach of the Men’s First-Team.

A former Sussex player from 1998-2015, Walker had previously led the Sussex Women’s team on a part-time basis but will now take up the job full-time from 1st March 2025, leaving her role as Director of Cricket at Brighton Aldridge Community Academy. 

Walker previously won 5 domestic trophies with the team since 2019 and has also overseen the development of a number of international players including Georgia Adams, Mary Taylor, Millie Taylor and Tara Norris.

Speaking on the decision to appoint Alexia on a permanent basis, Paul Farbrace said: “We are delighted Alexia has decided to take this role full-time and have the opportunity to really drive things forward for Sussex Cricket. 

“Alexia has already achieved so much in the game, across both the mend and women’s game. 

“She will be a huge asset to all things Sussex cricket going forwards. 

Alexia Walker, added: “I am thrilled to be taking on a full time role at Sussex Cricket. 

"Having been associated with the club as a player, coach and supporter for over 30 years, I feel very privileged to be involved fully in the new phase in the evolution of women’s cricket. 

"It’s never been a more exciting time to be a female player and I know Sussex are very ambitious about continuing our successes on the pitch and development of the next England players. 

"I will be sad to leave BACA having overseen its development into the state school of choice for Sussex Cricket but it plays such an important role in the development of young players in the county, I know I will be a regular supporter and visitor.”

Fred Bridges and Liam O'Brien Selected for England

Sussex Cricket is delighted to announce that Fred Bridges and Liam O'Brien have both been selected for the England Men's Physically Disabled quad series against Sri Lanka, India and Pakistan. 

O'Brien and Bridges are just two of Sussex's outstanding disability cricketers who have developed through the Club's extremely successful disability cricket programme, with Bridges also working as a Community Coach for the Sussex Cricket Foundation.

All fixtures on the tour take place throughout January 2025. Congratulations, Liam and Fred! #GOSBTS 

To read the full ECB squad announcement, please click here. 

James Coles Selected for England Lions Tour of Australia 

Sussex allrounder James Coles has been selected for the England Lions tour of Australia in January 2025. 

Coles was recently part of the touring squad that travelled to South Africa alongside Sussex fast-bowler Henry Crocombe. The England Lions team will feature in two four-day games, as well as a first-class test against Australia A. Congratulations, James! #GOSBTS

Full ECB Release

England Men’s Lions Announce Squad for Australia Tour

England Men’s Lions have confirmed a 16-player squad for their upcoming tour of Australia in January.

The England A tour features two four-day matches against a Cricket Australia XI in Brisbane, followed by a first-class Test against Australia A in Sydney.

England Men’s Lions Squad:

Sonny Baker (Hampshire)
Shoaib Bashir (Somerset)
Pat Brown (Derbyshire)
James Coles (Sussex)
Sam Cook (Essex)
Alex Davies (Warwickshire)
Rocky Flintoff (Lancashire)
Tom Hartley (Lancashire)
Tom Lawes (Surrey)
Freddie McCann (Nottinghamshire)
Ben McKinney (Durham)
James Rew (Somerset)
Hamza Shaikh (Warwickshire)
Mitch Stanley (Lancashire)
Josh Tongue (Nottinghamshire)
John Turner (Hampshire)

The squad includes five players – Shoaib Bashir, Pat Brown, Tom Hartley, Josh Tongue and John Turner – who have all represented England at senior level.

Following strong domestic campaigns in the County Championship, Essex seamer Sam Cook, Warwickshire top-order batter Alex Davies and Somerset wicketkeeper-batter James Rew bring valuable experience to the squad. Davies, 30, who took over the captaincy at Warwickshire last season, averaged over 50 in the Championship and amassed more than 1,000 runs, including four centuries.

A key figure in Essex’s bowling attack, Cook has been a regular in Lions squads in recent years. His consistent performances saw him take 43 Championship wickets in 2024 at an average of 17.30.

Rew, 20, continues to excel as a wicketkeeper-batter in Championship cricket. He recorded 45 dismissals in 2024 and averaged 36 with the bat, including two centuries.

Lancashire teenager Rocky Flintoff is a notable inclusion. The 16-year-old received a late call-up to the Lions squad earlier this month during the training camp in South Africa, where he featured in the four-day match against South Africa A. Flintoff impressed in domestic cricket last summer, making his professional debut for Lancashire and becoming a consistent performer for the England Young Lions over the past 12 months.

The squad will be coached by Andrew Flintoff, supported by Neil Killeen, Richard Dawson and Graeme Swann. Australian batting coach Trent Woodhill has also been brought in as a consultant for the tour.

England Men’s Performance Director, Ed Barney, said:

“We have rewarded players who have proven themselves at this level and those with significant potential. Matches and tours of Australia are always important and we relish the opportunity to test ourselves against quality opposition. This tour allows us to evaluate performances, refine preparation and continue working with some of the best emerging talent in the country.

“I’m also delighted to see Josh Tongue returning to competitive cricket. Josh has had a challenging time with injuries but is progressing well and will benefit from this tour as he steps up his preparation. We hope this marks the start of a prosperous and impactful return to cricket for him in 2025.

“Josh Hull continues his rehabilitation from injury and will travel with the squad as part of his development and return-to-bowling programme.”

The tour party departs on 3 January.

England Lions Tour Schedule:

Four-day match: Cricket Australia XI v England Lions, 14-17 January 2025, Shaw Park, Brisbane

Four-day match: Cricket Australia XI v England Lions, 22-25 January 2025, AB Field, Brisbane

Unofficial Four-day Test: Australia A v England Lions, 30 January – 2 February 2025, Cricket Central, Olympic Park, Sydney

Tom Haines Signs Contract Extension 

Sussex Cricket is delighted to announce that Tom Haines has signed a contract extension with the Club.

The new deal will see the left-handed opener stay with Sussex until at least the end of 2027. 

A product of the Sussex Cricket Pathway, Haines made his First-Class debut for Sussex at just 17 years of age and has gone on to amass 4430 First-Class runs. 

In 2024 he scored 819 runs at an average of 40.95, including three centuries and two half-centuries, helping to secure the County Championship Division Two title. 

As well as providing runs at the top of the Sussex order, Haines has provided an extra bowling option and has picked up 26 First-Class wickets. 

Speaking on the new deal, Haines said: “I’m really pleased to have signed a new contract. It was great to be scoring runs last year and helping the team win Division Two.

"The club is going in a good direction and I am looking forward to the next few seasons which can hopefully bring some more silverware.

Sussex Head Coach, Paul Farbrace, added: “I am delighted Tom has committed the next three years at least to the club, he epitomised everything good about the improvement the team has made over the last two seasons. 

“He is a top-class player who has a huge influence in the group and has really driven the standards. 

“Not only is he an excellent opening batter but his catching at slip has been outstanding. 

“I’m really looking forward to watching Tom continue to set the tone in Division One.”

Buy Your 2025 Sussex Membership Today

Sussex will be back in the top Division of the County Championship in 2025 and with the fixtures released, now is the time to secure your Membership and start planning your summer at The 1st Central County Ground.

Memberships include a seat at every County Championship and Metro Bank One Day Cup game in 2025.

Click here to explore the different Membership options. 

Sussex Cricket Men's Trials - Applications Open

Applications for Sussex Cricket’s Men’s trials day at The 1st Central County Ground, Hove on Wednesday 29th January are now open.

Applications are for any uncontracted players that feel they have the skills required to play professional cricket at a first class level.

Applicants should send their cricketing CV plus full statistics for the 2024 season to colin.bowley@sussexcricket.co.uk by Friday 3rd January 2025 at the latest.

Successful applicants will be invited to attend the trial and given full details of the day.

Triallists MUST be in possession of a British or EU passport, a copy of which should be brought on the day.

Win an Original Painting of The 1st Central County Ground

Sussex Cricket Foundation are running a raffle to own an original one-off painting depicting The 1st Central County Ground, Hove (Dimensions 100cm x 50cm) by local artist Nate Cordery.

This a fantastic opportunity for Sussex Cricket fans to not only own this beautiful painting but also to support the amazing work the Sussex Cricket Foundation does across the county. 

Raffle tickets are £10 entry and the winner will be presented with the painting at The 1st Central County Ground during the 2025 season. 

There are also 50 limited edition prints (50cm x 25xcm) available to purchase, either framed or unframed. 

To purchase your raffle ticket or a limited edition print* please do so here.

If you have any questions please contact foundation@sussexcricket.co.uk

*please note framed prints will not be available until the New Year. 

2024 Sussex Disability Cricket Round-Up

It has been yet another ground-breaking year for Disability Cricket in Sussex, with so many highlights, initiatives and performances to be proud of. Read all about the successes of the players, volunteers and staff who make it all possible, from Sussex Cricket's Disability Cricket Manager, Tom Belcher. 

It has been another excellent year for Disability Cricket at Sussex Cricket; we thank all staff, volunteers and clubs, who support the development and delivery of our programmes and wider performance pathways. 

We would also like to thank Webtrends Optimize for their continued commitment and sponsorship of the Sussex Disability Pathway and DIScoverABILITY event. 

Their support has provided players with increased training opportunities, matchday support and team kit. Their continued commitment to this year’s DIScoverABILITY Day, saw record breaking numbers of Children Young People (CYP) and Adults with SEND - a wonderful day of cricket and sporting opportunities.

SEND Schools Cricket continued to grow this year, reaching over forty schools - a twenty one percent increase. With over one hundred and seventy places for table cricket competition, in our regional table cricket festival, held at The 1st Central County Ground, over three days in February 2024. 

Another excellent year across our Super1s Hubs. With over one hundred and twenty, CYP, accessing our county wide offer, with the further development of a newly formed Visually Impaired (VI) Hub and welcomed partnership with Arundel Castle Cricket Club, housing our ‘Arundel’ Super1s Hub, commencing October 2024.

We saw a growth across our network of ‘Disability Champion Clubs’ with eight confirmed hubs, providing opportunities to train, play and socialise within a club environment, supporting the development of players accessing our Sussex Disability Pathway, across the recreational cricket leagues. 

This is well above the national average of three and a half clubs per county across the country.

A wonderful start to pre-season in January; Tom Alsop supporting the Disability Pathway teams, with specialist group and one-to-one coaching sessions, throughout the winter.

We expanded our D40 offer this season, with the entry to both the ECB Quest and Pursuit leagues, welcoming over seventy players this season with a further increase of over eighty players, as we enter 2025. An increase of twenty five percent.

The D40 Quest team had a great season – sadly, several games were abandoned due to weather. We played four, won two, and went on to secure 4th place in the table. Playing games at Arundel Castle, The Oval and the 1st Central County Ground, this season.

The D40 Pursuit team entered the Pursuit League for the first time this season, and although faced with some tough challenges, the team played exceptionally well against some excellent and highly experienced teams and players. 

The Super9s Challenge Squad played at several competitive pairs cricket festivals across the South of England - Sussex, Surrey, Kent and Hampshire. Providing opportunities for both our established pathway and Super1s Development Players.

2024 has been another excellent year for the VI Sharks, after an early win in the league, the Sharks played Northants at the 1st Central County Ground, on the 11th May, in the final of the oldest disability sport competition in the world – the Heindrich Swanepoel Cup. 

The Sharks re-wrote the history books scoring 362 for 3 in 30 overs, with Skipper Dan fields scoring 154 off 73, the highest ever individual score. Northants were skittled for 93.

The Sharks run in the T20, saw the team stroll to finals day, then it went horribly wrong to a west country side, in the semi-final.

The Sharks made the 2024 final against Northants but sadly an injury ravaged side, came up short this time. However, the team went on to win National League Division 1 by just a single point - Sussex VI Sharks are the best in the country!

Sussex Cricket’s  ‘End of Season Awards Night’ welcomed the wider club, ‘Disability’ and ‘Women and Girls’ squads. A truly momentous occasion and a first in the club’s history.

A huge celebration for our award winners and wider successes of our Disability Pathway.  Sussex Cricket ‘first’ Women & Girls DPL player – Meg Loveland. 

The wider successes of our Male DPL players – Alfie Pyle, Owen Piper, Fred Bridges, Liam O’Brian and Daniel Gee. Further celebrating the successes of our international players, Alfie Pyle (LD), Fred Bridges (PD), Liam O’Brian (PD) and Jake Vosloo (PD) – who has been invited to train with the England PD squad.

Discoverability Weekend saw three days of disability cricket brought to the County Ground, starting with DIScoverABILITY Day on the 10th May 2024. We say over 750 CYP and adults attend a superb day of cricket activation, alongside golf, football and wheelchair rugby. Thanks to Jolf, Brighton & Hove Albion Foundation and Brighton Buccaneers, for attending. 

Saturday 11th May welcomed the ‘2023’ VI Heindrich Swanepoel VI Cup Final. 

Sunday 12th May welcomed the D40 Quest fixture ‘Sussex vs Lancashire’ Sussex winning by nine wickets. 

This coincided with our national leading campaign #disabilitycricketmonth, celebrating the success of our community programmes and county disability pathway players and teams, including captains’ interviews with ex-international blind cricketers – Dan Field and Mark Bond and D40 Quest Captain – James Bunday.

Looking ahead

2025 will see a continued growth in Disability Cricket across the country and Sussex will continue to lead the way and ‘Inspire and Generation’ of players, developing opportunities for CYP and adults, to again equal opportunity and access to the game. 

With increased funding for both our Lord’s Taverners SEND and Super1s programmes, our SEND programme will continue to provide softball and table cricket to over fifty schools, with an increase in schools competition across both formats. 

The Super1s programme will see the provision of ten Super1s Hubs across Sussex, whilst continuing to provide a direct pathway into our VI Sharks team, through our Super1s VI Hub. 

We will continue to support the development of our Super1s participants through life skills and employability workshops, work experience opportunities and Super1s cricket festivals, for all participants. 

Finally, as players continue their development in disability cricket, our team of coaches will be working hard across the county to provide both opportunities to play cricket and signpost players to the appropriate pathway for development. 

This will include the development of our D40 Under 25s (hardball)squad, Super9s (softball) regional team entry and the development of a Women & Girls D40 (hardball) squad.

Sussex Cricket Society Christmas Lunch

The Sussex Cricket Society's Christmas Lunch will take place on Wednesday December 11th in the Cow Corner hospitality units of The 1st Central County Ground, Hove. 

We are fortunate to have Graham Gooch OBE as our guest speaker, so it promises to be an interesting and entertaining afternoon.

Gooch, arguably one of the finest batters in the last 50 years or so, played 118 Tests for England in a period from July 1975 to February 1995 with both his first and last Tests against the “old enemy” Australia. 

In his Test career he amassed 8,900 runs at 42.58 with a top score of 333 versus India at Lord's.

Members have already been sent details of how to book with the latest newsletter and if you are not yet a member you can join immediately for just £20 annually (£25 joint membership) at www.sussexcricketsociety.org and you will be sent booking details and prices for the lunch. 

Please don't delay, bookings for the lunch can only be taken until December 1st.

Sussex Announces Festival of Cricket at Arundel in 2025

Sussex Cricket is delighted to announce that both the Men’s and Women’s teams will play Metro Bank One Day Cup fixtures at Arundel in 2025, as part of a 4-day Festival of Cricket, sponsored by Rathbones.

The ECB today announced the remaining fixtures for the 2025 domestic cricket calendar, which includes the Sussex Sharks Men playing against Kent on August 7th in the Metro Bank One Day, with the Sussex Sharks Women also playing in the same competition at Arundel on Saturday 9th August. 

These fixtures will be part of a 4-day Festival of Cricket at Arundel, running from 6th-9th August 2025. 

Further details on the events taking place across the four days will follow in due course. 

James Rufey, Director of Cricket and Chief Operating Officer at Arundel Castle Cricket Club said: “Arundel Castle Cricket are delighted to be hosting the Rathbones Festival of Cricket alongside Sussex Cricket, showcasing all areas of the game. 

Not only are we delighted to have both the Sussex Sharks Men’s and Women’s teams playing competitive matches at Arundel, but we will also be hosting two further fixtures including a disability cricket match.”

Steven Haines, Investment Director for Rathbones said: “Rathbones are delighted to once again sponsor the Arundel Festival of Cricket. We look forward to being part of this unique occasion in a spectacular setting, demonstrating the exceptional talent across all forms of Sussex Cricket.”

Jon Filby, Sussex Cricket Chair, added: “I am absolutely delighted that 2025 will see the return of the Arundel Cricket Festival. 

“So many people have worked hard to make this happen, but I am particularly grateful to James Rufey and Alistair Subba Row at Arundel Castle Cricket Club and to Steve Haines of Rathbones who are sponsoring the festival. 

“2025 is an important season in the history of Sussex Cricket with our Women’s team playing a full fixture list at Hove for the first time and our men returning to Division One of the County Championship, as well as the return to Arundel which gives us even more to look forward to.”

2025 Sussex Men's and Women's Fixtures Announced

The ECB have today announced the remaining domestic fixtures for the 2025 cricket season for both the Sussex Men's and Women's teams. This year will see the Sussex Women's team, playing under the Sussex Sharks name, playing alongside the Men's team on a number of occasions at The 1st Central County Ground.

• Sussex Women will play nine fixtures at The 1st Central County Ground in 2025, including three double-headers
• Sussex Sharks Men and Women to play Metro One Day cup matches at Arundel in August
• Sussex Men begin life in Division One of the County Championship at Edgbaston 
• Surrey Men visit Hove in first month of the season 

Sussex Sharks Women

After being awarded Tier 2 status the Sussex Women's team will now play under the Sussex Sharks name and will play at The 1st Central County Ground nine times in 2025. 

This includes three double-headers at Hove, where the Men's and Women's teams will play on the same day. 

The Sharks will play in three white-ball competitions in 2025, the T20 Vitality Blast League 2, the Metro Bank One Day Cup League 2 and the Vitality T20 Women's County Cup. 

Men's County Championship

The Sussex Men will begin their Division One campaign with a trip to Edgbaston on Friday 4th April to take on Warwickshire, before returning to The 1st Central County Ground for back-to-back games, firstly against Somerset, before welcoming local rivals Surrey on Friday 18th April. 

The season will end with an away game for the first time in a number of years, with Sussex visiting New Road to take on Worcestershire to conclude the campaign. 

Men and Women to Play at Arundel 

Both the Sussex Men's and Women's team will play competitive Metro Bank One Day Cup fixtures at Arundel in 2025. 

First the Men's team take on Kent Spitfires on Thursday 7th August, with the Women following on Saturday 9th August against Leicestershire Women. 

Men's T20 Vitality Blast

After a sensational campaign last year which saw the Sharks reach Finals Day in 2024, Sharks fans will be penciling Saturday 13th September 2025 into their diaries. Finals Day will once again be played at Edgbaston on this date.

The South Group starts on Thursday 29th May, with the Sharks travelling to the home of cricket to take on Middlesex, on the same day that the Sussex Sharks Women Blast Off, also against Middlesex at Lord's.

The group stages come to an end with a standout fixture. Surrey the visitors to The 1st Central County Ground on Friday 18th July. 

You can download all of the Men's and Women's fixtures, by clicking the button at the bottom of this article. 

2025 Sussex Memberships 

Now that you've seen the fixtures you can start planning your summer. A Sussex 2025 Membership is your ticket to every home County Championship and Metro Bank One Day Cup game next season.

Plus, you'll have access to a whole host of benefits, such as discount on food & drink, free guest tickets, discount on Blast Passes, plus so much more.

To purchase your Membership today, please click here. 

2025 Blast Passes

Those who held Blast Passes in 2024 will are now able to renew their Passes for 2025 before they go on general sale on Monday 2nd December at 10am.

To renew yours today, please click here.