Sussex Cricket is devastated to announce the sudden death of Daniel Oliver at the age of 50.

On Sunday morning Daniel collapsed at home and was taken to A&E at St Peter’s Hospital Chertsey where, after undergoing some tests, it was confirmed that he not only had a blood clot to his brain but also undiagnosed leukaemia. He was placed in a medically induced coma and his loved ones were with him when he died at 10.25 pm.

As a player, Daniel was a talented batsman who played with distinction for both Chichester Priory Park and Stirlands in the Premier Division of the County League and represented the Club Cricket Conference on several tours. 

He was a skilled hockey player too, playing for Havant in the National League but it was as an outstanding administrator that Daniel made his most important contributions to cricket in the county.

Daniel joined the committee of the Sussex Premier Cricket League (SPCL) in 2008 as Registration Secretary, subsequently adding the role of Results Secretary in 2014. Daniel was elected Vice Chair of the SPCL in 2017 and then took the Chair for the SPCL's final year in 2018. 

He was part of a small group that was instrumental in bringing the four recreational leagues together under the Sussex Cricket umbrella to form the highly regarded Sussex Cricket League in 2018. 

Daniel was appointed Vice Chair for the Premier Division of the league at its inception and had held that position ever since. As a key member of the League's Executive Committee, he was a leading figure in the management of most of the league's major relationships, not least with the ECB and our ball supplier Gray-Nicolls. 

Perhaps Daniel's proudest achievement though, was heading up the League's annual flagship event, T20 Finals Day at Hove, which ironically takes place at the 1st Central County Ground next Sunday. His death leaves an unfillable hole in the Sussex Cricket League.

As a result of Daniel's involvement with the SPCL, in 2010 he was elected as a Director of the Sussex Cricket Board, which at that time was the body responsible for the recreational game in the county. 

When the professional and recreational games in Sussex became one organisation in 2015, Daniel became a non-executive Director of the newly formed Sussex Cricket Ltd and part of that role included serving as an ex-officio Trustee of the Sussex Cricket Foundation until 2021. 

He served with huge distinction as a Board member, becoming Vice Chair of Sussex Cricket, and Chairing both the Player Pathway and Health and Safety Sub-Committees, until his maximum nine year term ended in March this year. 

He would most certainly have returned to the Board where he would have without doubt made an even greater contribution to Sussex Cricket. 

Daniel had an insatiable appetite for serving Sussex Cricket, selflessly, passionately and exceptionally diligently with a very rare combination of huge love for the game in all its forms and a remarkable attention to detail.

On Friday evening last week at the close of play on the second day of the County Championship match against Derbyshire, Daniel made what was to be his final post on the Professional Cricket Committee WhatsApp group which read: “It was a real pleasure to watch Dan (Hughes) bat on the live stream today”. 

As his colleague on the Board of Sussex Cricket since 2015, it was both a pleasure and a huge privilege to work with Daniel throughout that time and he will be hugely missed by all of us at Sussex Cricket. Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones.

During the T20 Blast quarter final with Lancashire on Wednesday the Sussex players will wear black armbands and the Sussex Cricket flag will fly at half-mast. 

A further tribute to Daniel’s exceptional contribution to Sussex Cricket will follow during the County Championship match against Glamorgan next week.

Sussex Cricket Chair, Jon Filby

Sussex vs Derbyshire: Day Four Match Report

Sussex took a firm grip on the second division of the Vitality Championship when they defeated Derbyshire by an innings and 59  runs, their sixth win of the season.  They took a maximum haul of 24 points as they placed more daylight between themselves and their pursuers and with two of their last three games at home they are now clear favourites to win the title.

Their undoubted star was off-spinner Jack Carson, who followed his innings of 97 with match figures of eleven for 157, the biggest return of his career.  

His second innings figures of six for 67 was another best.  He has taken 20 wickets in his past two games, following his nine in the previous game against Yorkshire.

After brave resistance from Harry Came and Wayne Madsen, Derbyshire lost their last eight wickets for 54 runs in just 25 overs.  And this match represented a cruel return to normal form following their heavy defeat of Glamorgan 

Derbyshire started the final morning on 141 for two, still needing 176 runs to make Sussex bat again, with Came 54 not out and Madsen unbeaten on 31.

For almost 90 minutes there was an intriguing battle between bat and ball, with Sussex captain John Simpson switching his bowlers thoughtfully, in an attempt to both conserve their energy in the warm sunshine and also to disrupt the immense concentration of  Derbyshire’s third wicket pair.  

It looked like being Derbyshire’s morning.  But then, at 196 for two, the new ball became available and there was a new match to contemplate.

Simpson decided to give the new ball to Fynn Hudson-Prentice and – bowling from his favourite Cromwell Road end – Ollie Robinson.  

But, after two ineffectual overs from Hudson-Prentice, Simpson replaced him with Jaydev Unadkat, for his first ball from the sea end.  And Unadkat immediately turned the match towards Sussex with two wicket maidens.

With the fourth delivery of his opening over he had Madsen caught by Tom Haines, the more square of the two gulleys beside the two slips.  

Madsen had faced 149 balls and hit ten fours in  his 77.  He had also batted for five minutes under three hours, to add to the five hours and 12 minutes for his first innings 138.

Then, with the second ball of his second over, Unadkat struck again, this time having Derbyshire captain David Lloyd caught low down behind the wicket by Simpson.  At lunch Derbyshire were 208 for four, still 109 runs behind.

When Carson replaced Unadkat at 230 for four the pressure appeared to be coming off.  But in his second over the spinner ended Came’s long vigil when he had the batsman caught at slip by Haines.  

His 79 had occupied three minutes less than six hours and he had faced 273 balls.  And at 251 the same combination accounted for Zak Chappell, with Haines taking his third catch of the innings. 

Aneurin Donald decided to play his shots, which is the game he knows best.  But in Carson’s next over he was caught at backward square-leg, as he swept towards the short boundary on the east side of the ground, and Derbyshire looked broken at 252 for seven.  

Without addition, Jack Morley was caught behind off Carson, his tenth wicket in the match. Four runs later Carson had Daryn Dupavillon caught at bat-pad and finally Anuj Dal, batting heroically with hand and groin injuries, after also being struck on the head, was bowled by Henry Crocombe.

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Reaction from Jack Carson after another Sussex win 

Sussex vs Derbyshire: Day Three Match Report

Sussex go into the final day of their Vitality County Championship match against Derbyshire as clear favourites to extend their lead in the second division with their sixth victory of the season. 

But some resolute batting by the Derbyshire batsmen second time round has given them an outside chance of saving the game. In their first innings Derbyshire had been 24 for four in reply to the massive Sussex score of 607 for seven.  

But after being asked to follow on, 317 runs behind, they ended the third day on 141 for two, still 176 behind.

Openers Harry Came and Luis Reece dropped anchor with a first wicket stand of 46 in 23.4 overs as they saw off the opening burst from Ollie Robinson and Jaydev Unadkat with the Kookaburra ball. 

At 29-0 after 16 overs the Sussex captain John Simpson – who was influenced by the fading light – switched to his spinners.  

And it was James Coles to made the breakthrough in the 24th over when Reece, sweeping, was caught by Fynn Hudson-Prentice at deep backward square-leg for an 88-ball 27.

At 47-1, just before tea, the players went off for bad light, and were off the field for an hour.  

But tea was taken and ultimately only four overs were lost.  When play was resumed Guest was more positive, striking three fours and sweeping Carson for six before he fell lbw on the back foot to the Sussex spinner. 

But then Came (54) and first innings batting hero Madsen (31) defied the Sussex attack with an unbroken half-century third wicket stand. 

In an extended morning session, Derbyshire had been bowled out for 290, having started the day on 178 for six, still a massive 429 runs behind.  

Madsen, resuming on 79, scored 138, his 38th first-class century and his fourth against Sussex.  

He faced 210 deliveries, striking 21 fours and three sixes.  

Off-spinner Jack Carson, following his nine wickets in the previous match against Yorkshire, had figures of five for 90, becoming the first Sussex spinner to return a five-for against Derbyshire since Chris Waller in 1985.

Zak Chappell was first out, lbw to Carson for 25 as he attempted to slog-sweep, having added 54 with Madsen.  Jack Morley was less obdurate, losing his middle stump to one that turned sharply from Carson for a seven-ball duck.  

But Madsen found another ally in Daryn Dupavillon, the pair adding 47 for the ninth wicket.  

Madsen decided to take the attack to Carson, hitting him for 16 from three deliveries, with successive leg-side sixes, before hoisting the bowler to deep mid-wicket. 

Dupavillon was last out, having hit three fours and two sixes in his 54-ball 28.  He was bowled by Henry Crocombe,  and wicketkeeper Simpson had to take avoiding action action as the ball ricocheted off the stumps.

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Reaction from Paul Farbrace at stumps on day three

Sussex vs Derbyshire: Day Two Match Report

Sussex took control against Derbyshire at The 1st Central County Ground as they pushed for a victory that would strengthen their promotion push in the Vitality County Championship.

The second division leaders reduced the visitors to 73 for 5 after Sussex had piled up 607 for 8, their highest total against Derbyshire. 

Wayne Madsen held them up and was unbeaten on 79 at stumps on day 2 as he put conditions in perspective but Derbyshire are still 429 runs behind on 178 for 6.

They were soon in trouble as Indian left-armer Jaydev Unadkat, who is back at Sussex for the run-in, took 3 for 19 in a skillful five-over opening spell.

Opener Harry Came edged Unadkat’s third ball to first slip where Tom Alsop took a good, low catch while Brooke Guest drove lavishly at another outswinger but straight to backward point.

It was 19 for 3 in the seventh over when Fynn Hudson-Prentice struck with his fifth ball, which straightened enough to pin left-hander Luis Reece, and Derbyshire lost their fourth wicket on 24 when Tom Haines took a fine diving catch low to his left to remove skipper David Lloyd, after Unadkat pushed one across his defences.

Madsen and Aneurin Donald added 49 for the fifth wicket but they were parted when off-spinner Carson, who earlier made a career-best 97, nipped one through Donald’s defensive push with his fifth ball. 

Madsen found another ally in Anuj Dal and they put on 84 for the sixth wicket in 24 overs but Carson made another important breakthrough just before stumps when Dal (45) was caught by Alsop at short leg playing a forcing shot off he back foot. 

Sussex skipper Simpson had earlier led the successful charge to secure the maximum five batting bonus points – for getting to 450 inside 110 first innings overs – with an early assault on Derbyshire pacemen Daryn Dupavillon and Zak Chappell.

Simpson had already taken three lovely offside fours off Dupavillon’s opening over of the day when Alsop chipped Chappell’s loosener, at the start of the second over, straight to short mid-wicket after he had added just a single to his overnight 69, his third successive fifty and seventh of the season. 

Alsop swished his bat in annoyance at his mistake but Simpson, who had resumed on 25, was in no mood to waste an opportunity to score quick runs.

Two extra cover fours off Chappell were followed by a straight driven four off Dupavillon that took him to a 68-ball fifty and another booming straight four, this time off Chappell, to reach 60.

Hudson-Prentice (8) edged Anuj Dal’s medium pace to keeper Guest but Carson brought up Sussex’s 450 in the 108th over by slamming left-arm spinner Jack Morley high past mid off for four.

Carson swung Morley over the short legside boundary for the first of his three sixes, the final one a massive blow over mid-wicket off Dupavillon as he went past his previous highest score of 87.

Simpson eventually holed out to long off on 121, his fourth Championship hundred of a prolific season, after facing 167 balls and hitting a six and 13 fours. He also reached 10,000 first-class career runs in the process. 

And Carson’s bid for a maiden first-class hundred ended when he was bowled swinging at a full ball from Dupavillon. His excellent effort came from 125 balls, with six fours besides his trio of sixes, and Sussex’s declaration immediately followed. Sussex’s total was their biggest at Hove for seven years.

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Reaction from Jack Carson at stumps on day two 

Sussex vs Derbyshire: Day One Match Report

Australian Daniel Hughes made 144 as second division leaders Sussex established a strong position after day one against Derbyshire at The 1st Central County Ground.

Derbyshire elected to bowl first then saw Hughes and Tom Haines put on 196 in just 36 overs. Haines made 72 and after Hughes departed Tom Alsop hit an unbeaten 69 as Sussex closed on 391 for 4.

It was just the response they would have wanted after losing only their second game of the season to promotion rivals Yorkshire last week.

They began the game six points clear of second-placed Middlesex and nine ahead of Yorkshire, who are playing each other at Headingley, but three of their remaining four matches are at Hove where they won three out of four this season and know the conditions well. 

Once again there was a good covering of grass on the pitch which would have influenced Derbyshire skipper David Lloyd's decision to insert Sussex but his seamers, armed with the Kookaburra ball which is being used for the next two rounds of Vitality County Championship fixtures, struggled for consistency, particularly before lunch, and Hughes and Haines cashed in. 

It wasn’t until deep into the second session, when spinners David Lloyd and Jack Morley operated in tandem, that the run rate dipped below five an over but by then Sussex had taken control.  

Hughes offered one chance on 35 when he drove at Zak Chappell, but Derbyshire skipper Wayne Madsen couldn’t hold on to the edge diving to his right at second slip, and by lunch the two left-handers had plundered 161 from 28 overs, targeting the short boundary on the scoreboard side.

Hughes duly eased to the ninth first-class hundred of his career just after lunch and it was a surprise when he fell for 144 off 142 balls. 

South African Daryn Dupavillon had bowled a wide earlier in the over when he speared another delivery outside off stump which Hughes could have ignored, but instead under-edged to keeper Brooke Guest. 

Hughes hit 18 fours and three sixes, but it was a somewhat tame end to an excellent innings by the 35-year-old from Sydney, who has already confirmed that he will return to Sussex next season. 

It was also the 1500th century scored against Derbyshire in all formats. 

Haines had already departed for a fluent 72 when Chappell tempted him into a loose drive and this time Madsen held on at slip while Tom Clark, one of the five left-handers in Sussex’s top six, squandered a promising start when left-armer spinner Morley found extra bounce and the edge looped to slip high off the bat. 

But by then Tom Alsop was easing to his seventh half-century of the season as he added 66 for the fourth wicket with James Coles, who looked untroubled until he played across the line to off-spinner Lloyd. 

Alsop has yet to convert any of those fifties into a hundred but he won’t have a better opportunity when he resumes tomorrow, having so far put on 39 for the fifth wicket with captain John Simpson, who was dropped by Madsen off Dupavillon on 21 late in the day. 

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Reaction from Daniel Hughes after his magnificent century on day one 

Sussex vs Derbyshire: Match Preview

Sussex return to The 1st Central County Ground tomorrow in the hunt for promotion to Division One of the Vitality County Championship, with Derbyshire the visitors. Paul Farbrace has named a 14-player squad for the game, which starts at 11am.

Squad

Alsop, Carson, Carter, Clark, Coles, Crocombe, Haines, Hudson-Prentice, Hughes, Hunt, Karvelas, Robinson, Simpson* (wk), Unadkat

Ticket Information

You can purchase tickets for tomorrow's action by visiting our ticketing website.

How to Watch

If you can't make it to the game tomorrow, you can catch every ball, free of charge, via the Match Day Centre on our livestream. The first ball is at 11am. 

Former Sharks VI Player to Represent Team GB at Paralympics

Former Sussex Sharks VI and England international cricketer, Sam Murray, is set to represent Team GB at the 2024 Paralympics in Paris, which gets underway today.

Sam will represent GB in the rowing and will follow in the footsteps of another former Shark, Rob Williams, who played for Team GB's Futsal team at the London 2012 Paralympics. 

Everyone at Sussex Cricket would like to congratulate Sam and wish him the best of luck for the games! #GOSBTS

Sussex Women Quintet Selected for England 

Danni Wyatt, Freya Kemp and Linsey Smith have all been selected for the England Women's ICC T20 World Cup squad, which takes place in the UAE in October. Georgia Adams, Paige Scholfield and Freya Kemp have also been included in the England Women's squad for a bilateral white-ball series against Ireland in September.

England Women will play three ODI's and two IT20s in Belfast and Dublin respectively, before they make the trip to the UAE for the ICC T20 World Cup.

Congratulations Danni, Freya, Linsey, Georgia and Paige! #GOSBTS

T20 Quarter-Final Packages Selling Fast

With general admission tickets for our T20 quarter-final against Lancashire on Wednesday 4th September sold out, the only way to get yourself to Hove for a special night of cricket is with one of our outstanding hospitality packages. But they are selling quickly!

All of our Curry and Cricket packages are now sold out, meaning the only spaces left to book are in our Martlet BBQ and All Inclusive packages. 

Matlet BBQ Package | £140pp + VAT

• Enjoy the action from exclusive Martlet Hospitality Suite
• Outside decked viewing area on the boundary's edge
• Welcome drink on arrival
• Two course BBQ buffet - BBQ main course with a selection of sharing platter sides and a dessert station
• Post-match snack
• Private inclusive bar - house beer, lager, cider, wine and soft drinks until the start of play

All Inclusive Package | £155pp + VAT

• Enjoy the action from the Cow Corner hospitality area
• Outside decked viewing area on the boundary's edge 
• Welcome drink on arrival
• Three course meal 
• Post-match snack
• Private inclusive bar for the entirety of the match

Ready to book? Visit our ticketing site now to book a special package, for a special night! 

Sussex Sharks VI Secure 2024 BCEW National Division 1 Title

Sussex Sharks VI have officially been crowned champions of the 2024 Blind Cricket England and Wales National Division 1, after their top of the table title clash with London Metro yesterday was rained off. 

On Saturday 24th August the Sharks travelled to London Metro with just a single point lead for the final game of the league campaign. Metro had pipped Sussex last year and the two sides historically have put on entertaining matches. 

Sadly, the weather had other ideas and 10 hours of solid rain left the pitch completely waterlogged and no play was possible, meaning that Sussex are crowned champions.

Sussex Sharks Captain, Dan Field said: "Naturally its not the way we would have wanted to win the title but we had earned our position at the top. 

"The only 2 games we haven't won saw our opponents 9 and 8 wickets down respectively, hanging on to get the draw. 

"I am enormously proud of our team who give everything for each other and we are excited that there are still two trophies to win".

The Sharks travel to Northampton CCC on Saturday 31st August to contest the Heindrich Swanapoel Memorial Cup against Northants, who they defeated earlier this year to win the delayed 2023 cup. 

The final competition takes place at Wolverhampton on 21st September when holders Sussex will contest the T20 Cup and hope to complete a historic treble. 

Sussex Sharks Vice-Captain, Ian "Tiny" Morris said: "We are taking nothing for granted, Northants gave us a  really tough game a  couple of weeks ago and we will need to be at our best to beat them. 

"Its a cliché but we really are taking this season one game at a time".