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

Throughout the course of this new, ultra-change campaign, there will be times where the results might not quite go their way. In last weekend's defeat to Glamorgan there were shining lights through gloomy skies, and the knowledge that this season will be difficult, yet with each fleeting week the performances will be stronger, the results better, and the vibes immaculate. But before all of that, often a heavy defeat can lead to brighter days - a learning curve for a young and hungry team who are incredibly talented. Time will show that.

So here we have a cloudy day with the sun poking through, and an experienced Yorkshire side journeying the long distance to Hove for the second match in the Metro Bank One Day Cup. A certain Lauren Winfield-Hill amongst the visiting ranks, the former England international is still an excellent cricketer, and what an experience it is for some of Sussex's youngest cricketers on display here to bowl to her.

Sussex's Chiara Green won the toss and elected to bat first on a wicket that looked suited for batting, yet 33 overs into the host's innings and they were all out for 77. Head Coach Alexia Walker made two changes to the side defeated in Cardiff, with Phoebe Wilkinson and Kali-Ann Doherty promoted to the starting XI. The former would be opening with Mollie Adams - the talented young Sussex batter looked good again here before falling to a stunning caught and bowled off the bowling of Claudie Cooper.

The hosts tried to tack on the runs but the wickets continued to fall - Maddie Ward the pick of the bowlers with impressive figures of 5-0-5-3. Jazz Westley held the bat the strongest for Sussex, but eventually her innings was ended having scored 20 runs. Beth Langston and Cooper both picking up two wickets apiece as Sussex ended their innings 17 overs early. 

And then it was all rather straightforward for the imperious Winfield-Hill who, alongside opening batting partner Erin Thomas, cruised close to the target before the latter hit wicket, Docherty claiming the lone scalp for the hosts. It's defeat, but it's merely just the start of something. Next up, it's a trip to Worcester in a week's time.

England’s Josh Tongue picked up a second consecutive five-wicket haul at Trent Bridge as Nottinghamshire dismissed Sussex for 169 before closing on 164 for three after the opening day of their Rothesay County Championship clash.

The two counties began the day sharing the early Division One lead but the home side have the upper hand so far after Tongue, in only his third match for Nottinghamshire after a 2024 season wrecked by injury, finished with five for 44 to go with his second-innings five for 66 against Durham on his county debut.

Tongue generated some rapid pace and was well backed up by new-ball partner Brett Hutton, who continued his early-season form with four for 53 after Oli Carter top scored for Sussex with 46.

Nottinghamshire lost England’s Ben Duckett cheaply but another man-in-form, their captain, Haseeb Hameed, closed unbeaten on 67, having scored 297 runs for once out in his last three innings.

Asked to bat first on a green-tinged pitch, with the ball doing plenty on an overcast morning, Sussex were soon in trouble as Hutton rapidly had them 22 for three with wickets in his first, third and fifth overs.

The in-form Tom Haines, who had scores of 141, 174 and 69 not out in three innings before this one, departed for a second-ball duck, caught at third slip. Hutton followed up by trapping Tom Clark in front, before Liam Patterson-White pulled off an outstanding catch at gully to remove Daniel Hughes.

When Tongue made his presence felt by pinning Tom Alsop leg before with a full and fast delivery, Sussex were 28 for four inside the first hour.

A recovery to 75 for four at lunch followed as James Coles and Carter weathered the storm but a wicket more apiece from a refreshed Hutton and Tongue set the visitors back again early in the afternoon.

Tongue roughed up Coles enough to force a mistake as the all-rounder miscued straight to mid-on, and Hutton claimed his fourth victim as John Simpson, the captain, nudged at one outside off stump to give Duckett a routine catch at second slip.

England opener Duckett is making his first Championship appearance for a year, with young batter Freddie McCann giving way. All-rounder Lyndon James pulled out with a viral infection. Sussex are without Danny Lamb, who has joined Sean Hunt and Henry Crocombe on the county’s list of injured seamers.

Carter justified his inclusion as an extra batter, striking seven boundaries as one of only two or three who looked like they could hang around long with Tongue hungry to prove himself to be fully firing after all his injury woes.

In the event he was undone by Farhan Ahmed, the 17-year-old off-spinner, who had him caught behind going down the pitch to drive.

Tongue, deployed in short and particularly sharp bursts, returned for a fourth spell with Sussex 166 for seven and finished off the innings in just one over, as Fynn Hudson-Prentice edged to first slip and Jack Carson to second, with Jayden Seales tickling one to Verreynne down the leg side, the last two wickets coming  from consecutive balls.

Nottinghamshire’s first innings started with runs flowing, between four and five an over, albeit helped by a somewhat wayward opening spell from West Indies pace bowler Seales.

But they were checked by the loss of wickets in the ninth and 11th overs. Seales picked up the first, ironically at the end of the over that had cost three Ben Slater boundaries and a no-ball, when Slater was caught at gully seemingly trying to pull out of the shot.

Duckett, who had been tested by Ollie Robinson, then went hard at a ball without too much foot movement and was caught behind off an inside edge, a deserved reward for a good spell from the England seamer.

Joe Clarke’s indifferent start to the season continued when he was well caught low down at second slip off Hudson-Prentice, but Hameed and Haynes had the upper hand in the 17 overs that remained.

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

Sussex Sharks Women vs Yorkshire Women: Match Preview

Following on from last week's defeat at Sophia Gardens, Alexia Walker will be looking for a swift response from her Sussex team as Yorkshire Women venture down to Hove for the second game of the Metro Bank One Day Cup.

Last Outing

In a historic clash in Wales, the opening chapter for Sussex Sharks Women ended with a loss at the hands of Glamorgan Women in a match ultimately won by one player: Bethan Gammon.

It was her fine score of 72 runs that dented the Sussex hopes, leading the charge as her side recorded an impressive total of 178-5 from their 25 overs - a match halved by the soggy conditions. But there were strong performances, too, from the visitors: Eve O'Neill took three wickets, whilst Daisy Gibb chipped in with a couple wickets of her own.

Yet with the bat in hand things just never really got going as the pressure mounted. Mollie Adams displayed her repertoire of shots as she made 19, ahead of Gibb's controlled knock, but eventually she was bowled for 24 runs. In the end, Glamorgan claimed victory by 53 runs.

Squad 

Walker has selected a 13-player squad ahead of Saturday's visit of Yorkshire Women:

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

Pre-Match Thoughts

Ahead of the game, Head Coach Alexia Walker shared her thoughts: "The team are very much looking forward to our first home game and to bounce back from the disappointment of last weekend."

"Yorkshire are a strong side with plenty of experience so we are preparing for a really good battle on the pitch", she continued. 

"The players are very focused on their plans and making sure we improve on a few areas from last weekend.

The weather looks good and pitch looks decent so hopefully a good crowd will get behind the team tomorrow for some excellent cricket."

Ticket Information

Tickets for tomorrow's clash at Hove start from just £5, with seating unallocated. 

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. 

Next Match

Alexia Walker's side are back in action the following Saturday, as her side continue their One Day Cup journey at Worcestershire's New Road. Play is due to get underway at 10.30am.

Tickets for this fixture can be found here.

Sussex Cricket Ignites a New Partnership with Award-Winning Brighton Restaurant 

Sussex Cricket is thrilled to announce an exciting new partnership with the award-winning Brighton restaurant, Embers, as the Official Wood-Fired Restaurant Partner of the Club. This partnership brings together two brands united by a shared commitment to excellence, community, and a love of great moments.

Located in the heart of Brighton's South Lanes, Embers has quickly built a reputation for bold dishes crafted from the very best Sussex has to offer. Now, the restaurant is bringing that same energy to the boundary, as it steps up to support Sussex Cricket for the 2025 season.

Benjamin Arthur, General Manager of the restaurant said: "We’re huge fans of Sussex cricket here at Embers, and after a few of the players dined with us it was an easy decision to start sponsoring the team. 

"We're proud to be building this relationship, and are really looking forward to working closely with such an important institution."

Director of Growth for Sussex Cricket, Sam Graham added: “We are so excited be to partnering with such an amazing local restaurant. Our staff and players are massive admirers of everything Embers do and this is another fantastic Brighton-based, trail-blazing organisation that we are fortune enough to partner with."