Sussex Cricket League Celebrates Outstanding Season at Annual Awards Dinner

Friday 24 October - The Sussex Cricket Foundation hosted its annual Dean Wilson Sussex Cricket League Awards Dinner at the iconic Grand Hotel Brighton, bringing together players, coaches, and volunteers from across the county to celebrate another remarkable recreational cricket season. The evening was a fitting celebration of another fantastic year of cricket in Sussex - honouring the dedication, talent, and community spirit that makes the local game thrive.

This year’s event was proudly supported by the league’s new sponsors, Dean Wilson, and featured special guest speaker Jonathan Agnew, the legendary cricket commentator and former England bowler. For the first time, winning teams from the Aldridge@BACA Sussex Women’s Cricket League joined the celebration, reflecting the continued growth and inclusivity of cricket across Sussex.

With an incredible 420 guests representing more than 50 clubs, this year’s dinner was the largest to date. Awards were presented throughout the evening, recognising both team and individual achievements, before guests were treated to entertaining stories and insights from Jonathan Agnew’s illustrious career on and off the pitch.

Horsham Cricket Club enjoyed a double celebration, lifting the Premier League title, while their Women’s team also took home the Women’s Premier League trophy - a testament to the club’s strength across both the men’s and women’s games.

The Young Player of the Year award went to Toby Barton (Middleton CC), who played a crucial role in his club’s success, scoring an exceptional 1,038 runs across the Sussex Premier Division, T20 Cup, and ECB National Cup.

Three Bridges CC claimed Ground of the Year, while Brighton and Hove CC were named Most Improved Ground of the Year.

The highlight of the season was the annual T20 Finals Day which was held at The 1st Central County Ground, where Three Bridges CC 1st XI won the Daniel Oliver Cup, and their 2nd XI secured the Paul Baker Trophy. Sidley CC triumphed in the Plate competition. With the cup final played under lights, it proved to be a memorable day for players and supporters alike.

Gary Wallis-Tayler, Community Cricket Director said, "It was great to see representatives from our men's and women’s teams come together to celebrate what has been another wonderful summer of cricket in Sussex. The recreational game continues to thrive and events like this show how strong and vibrant cricket is across the County. I would like to congratulate Horsham CC on their 'double' as well as all the other league and individual award winners"

Gary Stanley, Chair of the Dean Wilson Sussex Cricket League added, "What a great night! To see so many people coming together to celebrate the year really does reflect what a special thing we have built. I am so proud and privileged to be leading a league that provides the right cricket at all levels, to players of any age, ability and background".

An album of photos from the evening can be found here.

ECB announces updated England Men’s Central Contract list for 2025–26

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has announced the updated Central Contract list for England Men’s international cricket.

A total of 30 players have been awarded England Men’s Central Contracts - comprising 14 England Two-Year Central Contracts, 12 England Annual Central Contracts, and four England Development Contracts.

England Men Centrally Contracted Players 2025–26

England Two-Year Central Contracts (30 September 2027)
Jofra Archer (Sussex)
Gus Atkinson (Surrey)
Jacob Bethell (Warwickshire)
Harry Brook (Yorkshire)
Jos Buttler (Lancashire)
Brydon Carse (Durham)
Sam Curran (Surrey)
Ben Duckett (Nottinghamshire)
Will Jacks (Surrey)
Adil Rashid (Yorkshire)
Joe Root (Yorkshire)
Jamie Smith (Surrey)
Ben Stokes (Durham)
Josh Tongue (Nottinghamshire)

England One-Year Central Contracts (30 September 2026)
Rehan Ahmed (Leicestershire)
Sonny Baker (Hampshire)*
Shoaib Bashir (Somerset)
Zak Crawley (Kent)
Liam Dawson (Hampshire)*
Saqib Mahmood (Lancashire)*
Jamie Overton (Surrey)*
Ollie Pope (Surrey)
Matthew Potts (Durham)
Phil Salt (Lancashire)
Luke Wood (Lancashire)*
Mark Wood (Durham)

*Denotes newly centrally contracted player for 2025–26
 

England Development Contracts
Josh Hull (Leicestershire)
Eddie Jack (Hampshire)
Tom Lawes (Surrey)
Mitchell Stanley (Lancashire)

Five players - Sonny Baker, Liam Dawson, Saqib Mahmood, Jamie Overton and Luke Wood - have been awarded England Central Contracts for the first time.

Three players - Eddie Jack, Tom Lawes and Mitchell Stanley - have agreed England Development Contracts for the first time, joining Josh Hull.

The system, which covers both red-ball and white-ball cricket, takes into account the likelihood of players featuring in England teams across formats during the next period, while also recognising performances over the past year.

Rob Key, Managing Director of England Men’s Cricket, said:

“This year’s central contract group reflects the depth and strength of talent we have across England Men’s cricket.

“We have awarded two-year deals to our multi-format players, so we can manage their workloads responsibly and give them the stability they need to perform across formats.

“We have also secured a number of white-ball players on longer agreements to help us plan effectively around the growing franchise calendar and ensure England remains their priority.

“This structure allows us to support our players properly while maintaining strong squads across all formats as much as possible.”

 

Sussex Cricket is delighted to announce the signing of Jack Leaning, on a three-year contract from Kent. 

The experienced batter joins Sussex with an outstanding first-class record behind him — 6,277 runs in 131 matches at an average of 32.18, including 11 centuries, 31 fifties and a career-best 220 not out.  

Whilst the 32-year-old right-hander brings proven quality to the Sussex squad, he also brings further experience and leadership to an ever-increasingly talented dressing room at Hove.  

Leaning will be available to play across all three formats for Sussex.  

Sussex’s Director of Cricket Paul Farbrace said: “We are delighted that Jack has committed to our project here at Hove, he is the experienced player that we need currently to help take the team to the next level in our desire to win the County Championship and the T20 Blast.  

“We have been looking for not only the experience Jack brings with his batting, but he also shares our appetite for winning and is a very good professional.  

“I have known Jack for a long time, and he all the qualities that we as a team and Club need right now.  

The great work the entire coaching staff has done to develop a lot of our home-grown players over the last six or seven years means we know have the right balance in our squad.  

“The development hasn’t just happened in the last three years.  

To help us win trophies every so often you need a good, experienced player to help our own players on their journey, and I’m delighted Jack is here to help us with that.” 

Jack Leaning expressed his excitement about the move: 

“I’m buzzing to be honest. It’s something that wasn’t necessarily on the radar a short while ago, but now it’s come up I’m really excited. 

It’s [Sussex] obviously a club that is doing really well at the moment, certainly on the way up, and I’m really looking forward to being back in Division One as well.” 

Leaning’s arrival will be the fourth new addition to the squad ahead of the 2026 campaign, following the signatures of Danny Briggs, Dom Goodman and Tom Price. 

Sussex Memberships for 2026 are now on sale at early bird prices! Sign up before 19th November to take advantage of the discount and join Good Old Sussex by the Sea. More information: https://sussexcricket.co.uk/2026-membership 

Aldridge@BACA Sussex Women’s Cricket League: 2025 Season Review 

Jaydev Unadkat Returns for Eight Games in 2026

Sussex Cricket is thrilled to announce that Indian Test bowler Jaydev Unadkat will return to the club for the final eight rounds of the 2026 County Championship season. This marks the third consecutive year Unadkat will bolster Sussex's bowling attack during the crucial phase of the competition.

Unadkat's impact since joining Sussex has been profound. In 2023, he played three matches, taking 11 wickets at an average of 24.2, including a standout 6/94 against Leicestershire. 

His return in 2024 saw him claim 22 wickets at an impressive average of 14.4 across five matches, significantly contributing to Sussex's Division Two title victory. 

In 2025, Unadkat continued his fine form, taking 16 wickets at an exceptional average of 17.25. Notably, he delivered a match-winning performance against Worcestershire, claiming seven wickets in the match. 

Sussex Memberships for 2026 are now on sale at early bird prices! Sign up before 19th November to take advantage of the discount and join Good Old Sussex by the Sea. More information: https://sussexcricket.co.uk/2026-membership 

Sussex Cricket Launches New Under 25s Membership

Sussex Cricket is delighted to announce that 2026 Memberships and T20 Blast Passes are now on general sale, with exciting new options designed to make supporting Sussex more accessible than ever.

The highlight of this year’s launch is the brand-new Under 25s Membership, offering full access to Sussex home cricket for just £125 – half the price of a standard adult membership. 

The new category aims to make it easier for young adults and students to enjoy live cricket at The 1st Central County Ground and become part of the Sussex family.

Sussex Cricket’s Director of Growth, Sam Graham, said: “We’re committed to building the next generation of Sussex supporters. The new Under 25s Membership makes high-quality county cricket affordable and accessible for younger fans, whether they’ve grown up watching Sussex or are new to the sport.”

Memberships for the 2026 season include a host of benefits, such as:

• Access to all home Men’s County Championship matches
• Entry to Men’s and Women’s home group Metro Bank One Day Cup fixtures
• Exclusive access to the Spen Cama Pavilion
• Priority access to T20 Blast tickets
• Discount on Adult T20 Blast Passes
• Member events, discounts, and voting rights
• Complimentary quarterly Members’ magazine 

Supporters can also secure their T20 Blast Pass now for guaranteed entry to every Men’s and Women’s home T20 fixture in the Vitality Blast – one of the most exciting competitions in world cricket.

For full details and to purchase your 2026 Membership visit https://sussexcricket.co.uk/2026-membership or to find out more about T20 Blast Passes visit https://sussexcricket.co.uk/2026-t20-blast-passes

As the curtain falls on the 2025 season for Sussex, the time has come again to spotlight our players on their respective travels over the winter months. Thirteen players are journeying to warmer climates for the foreseeable, and we will update you weekly on their progress as they prepare for an exciting 2026 on the south coast. Let's get the ball rolling...

Mollie Adams 

Following the conclusion of an excellent first season in Tier 2 for our talented wicket-keeper/batter Mollie, she's been rewarded with a trip to Australia this winter - playing for Manly Warringah over the next few months. 

This promises to be another valuable experience for Mollie, and her progress can be tracked here.

Tom Alsop

Returning to Brisbane Heat after debuting in the BBL last winter, the 29-year-old will be looking to build on last year's stint having featured in four matches for Johan Botha's side. From his four innings he scored 100 runs at an average of 33.33, with the Heat's upcoming campaign commencing on 15 December at Melbourne Renegades.

You can keep up to date with Alsop's BBL campaign here.

Jofra Archer

Following his return from injury, Jofra's place in the England setup seems secured after he marked his first Test appearance in four years in style against India back in July.

He's currently in New Zealand for the ODIs - the last of which takes place in the early hours of Saturday morning. Then, it's the Ashes. 21 November is the opening Test in Perth, with the series concluding in early January in Sydney.

Anna Buckle

Swapping Sussex for Sydney this winter, Anna is playing her cricket for UTS North Sydney in the women's second grade. She captain the side last time out, too, as she continues to impress and improve with both bat and ball over the coming months.

All information on Anna in Australia can be found here.

Oli Carter

Following three successive and successful Aussie summers with Newcastle City Cricket Club, a new challenge awaits the wicket-keeper/batsman as he joins Sturt District Cricket Club. His summer Down Under is already up and running, and you can follow Oli's progress in Australia by clicking here to see all of Sturt's scorecards, fixtures and results.

James Coles

A rather absurd 2025 season for James Coles has landed him a place in the SA20 - South Africa's leading domestic T20 competition. Sold to Sunrisers Eastern Cape for the price of R1 million (roughly £44k), he will join up with his new team in late November ahead of their opening match on 27 December.

Coles will join up with fellow England stars Luke Wood, Jonny Bairstow and Lewis Gregory, as well as South African great Quinton de Kock and New Zealand star Adam Milne in the city of Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth).

Coles' progress will be able to be tracked via this link.

Brad Currie

In a whirlwind week earlier this month, Brad flew out to Canada for the CanadaSuper60 to feature in seven matches for the Montreal Royal Tigers. Despite making it to the final, his side were eventually upended by Brampton Blitz. Brad did, however, take both wickets for the Tigers in the final - removing Will Smeed and James Vince. 

Tom Haines

Following yet another splendid season with the bat at the top of the Sussex order - racking up 1075 first-class runs this season, making three centuries and five half-centuries at an average of 41.34 - there was little surprise when it was announced at the end of September that Tom Haines had received another call-up to the England Lions squad.

It follows the success of his recent involvement with the Lions back in May, where Haines struck 171 against India A back in May. This is his third selection to the England Lions setup, where the squad will assemble in Australia in early November ahead of matches in Perth, Canberra and Brisbane.

The first match for the Lions will in fact be against England Men, as they prepare for the opening Ashes Test. This warm-up fixture will take place between 13-15 November, ahead of the opening Lions fixture against CA XI between 21-24 November.

To follow Tom representing the Lions in Australia in the coming weeks, visit this link!

Troy Henry

Whilst Troy continues to recover from a shoulder injury, he has been training with Georgetown Cricket Club in Guyana. It is hoped that once he receives full clearance from the Guyana Cricket Board upon the healing of his shoulder, Troy will be training with the Guyana National Team in the months ahead. 

We will provide an update in due course!

Daniel Hughes

The Sussex opening batsman will be playing his cricket this winter for Eastern Suburbs Cricket Club Dolphins, based at Waverly Oval, Bondi. 

All of his fixtures and results can be located here.

Dan Ibrahim

It's off to New Zealand for Dan over the next few months, with our 'Most Improved Player of the Year' playing for Central Hawkes Bay in the North Island.

You can keep score here.

Nathan McAndrew

In his first stint back with the ball in hand since our final T20 Blast fixture back in July, Nathan McAndrew is already enjoying a fruitful start to life back in his home country with South Australia. He starred in his first game of the campaign - a List A match where he claimed five wickets - before featuring in the Sheffield Shield.

McAndrew's journey this winter can be followed here.

Tymal Mills

In what will be another busy winter for the Sharks captain, who last week signed a fresh contract extension with Sussex, Tymal will feature in two competitions over the coming months: the Abu Dhabi T10 and ILT20.

The T10 League will run from 18-30 November, where Tymal will play for Aspin Stallions - the first Emirati-owned franchise team. He'll play alongside legendary Harbhajan Singh, as well as Kent Spitfires' captain, Sam Billings.

Mills will then move over to Dubai, where he'll play for Dubai Capitals in the International League T20. And you can keep up to date with every one of his deliveries via these links: 

• Abu Dhabi T10
• ILT20

Ollie Robinson

The 31-year-old seamer, who revelled in a remarkable end to his County Championship campaign, will touch down in Australia later this week in preparation for a stint with Sydney University. Previously representing St George and Sydney, Ollie is set to make his debut against Western Suburbs in Round 6 at Sydney University Oval No. 1, commencing next weekend. 

He is expected to remain in Australia until the end of December, and you can follow his every move here.

Jayden Seales

In what was yet another blistering spell in Sussex for the West Indies bowler earlier in the campaign, Jayden has continued to impress at international level. And he's been rewarded with a winter full of cricket.

First, the completion of an IT20 series with Bangladesh before heading over to New Zealand, where his side will compete in five IT20s, three ODIs and three Tests. The tour will begin on 5th November and conclude on 22nd December. Then, in January, it's over to South Africa for another IT20 series.

Talitha Stanley 

Also in Australia for the winter months, Talitha enjoyed a quietly excellent season for Alexia Walker's side in both formats. And she'll be based in Perth for the next few months, playing Grade A cricket with Perth Cricket Club, and has already taken a few wickets in the early stages of the season.

You can follow her time in Australia by visiting this link.

George Thomas

George will be playing his cricket for Cornwall Cricket Club Hastings, also in New Zealand, with his first match taking place this Saturday.

For all fixtures, results and stats, you can view this link.

Sussex Memberships for 2026 are now on sale at early bird prices! Sign up before 19th November to take advantage of the discount and join Good Old Sussex by the Sea. More information: https://sussexcricket.co.uk/2026-membership 

Sussex Cricket Announces Headline Sponsor and Pre-Show Entertainment for Fireworks Night 

Sussex Cricket is delighted to announce that long-term partner, Webtrends Optimize, will sponsor its annual Fireworks Night on Saturday 1st November at Hove Cricket Ground, for a night of dazzling fireworks and first-class local entertainment from the Brighton Rock Choir and DJ Llama. 

After initially partnering with Sussex Cricket as a corporate partner in 2020, the relationship has gone from strength to strength in the past four years, with Webtrends Optimize first becoming shirt sponsors for the Sussex D40 (Disability Cricket) Sussex Sharks VI (Visually Impaired) and Super 9s squads. 

As a Community Partner, Webtrends Optimize also sponsor the Sussex Cricket Foundation’s annual fundraiser, ‘DIScoverABILITY Day’ and will now take up the headline sponsor slot at the Club’s Fireworks Night, which aims to raise funds for the Foundation. 

The skies above Hove will be set alight by a 25-minute dazzling display of colourful fireworks after two sets of pre-show entertainment from local musical acts.

 DJ Llama - a student from local arts college - BN1 Arts, will first take to the stage to bring the noise with DJ set which will have adults and children dancing and jumping with excitement in the truly unique, multi-purpose venue. 

And just before the display gets underway, the award-winning Brighton Rock Choir will have spectators singing their hearts out with an exciting musical set that will be sure to knock the socks off anyone in attendance.

Tickets for Fireworks Night are selling quickly! To find out more and to buy tickets, please visit: https://sussexcricket.co.uk/fireworks-night-2025

Sussex Cricket Celebrates a Vibrant Diwali at 

The 1st Central County Ground

Saturday 11 October saw the Dean Wilson Boundary Rooms at The 1st Central County Ground illuminated with colour, music, and togetherness as Sussex Cricket hosted its second annual Diwali celebration — a joyful evening that brought the local community together while raising vital funds for the Sussex Cricket Foundation.

The event welcomed 135 guests, including members of the local community, Sussex Cricket staff, representatives from the Sussex Cricket Foundation, and Sussex Cricket Chair Jon Filby, who all joined in the festivities marking the Festival of Lights.

Guests enjoyed an evening filled with delicious food, vibrant performances, and a true spirit of celebration.

The night not only celebrated cultural diversity across Sussex but also supported the important work of the Sussex Cricket Foundation, whose initiatives use the power of cricket to make a positive difference in local lives.

Jon Filby welcomed guests and thanked them for attending, highlighting the importance of the Diwali celebration to Sussex Cricket. He reflected on how the event connects the organisation's proud heritage — as the county that produced KS Ranjitsinhji, the first non-white cricketer to play for England — with its vision for the future: making cricket the most inclusive sport in the country.

Speaking on the event, Foundation Trustee, Anju Chauhan said: “The event was such a spectacular evening, bringing together people across communities, sport and culture, all of which resonate deeply with the spirit of Sussex Cricket.” 

Following the success of last year’s inaugural Diwali celebration, this year’s event built on that momentum to create an even more memorable experience. 

The Foundation plans to continue hosting the event as a highlight of the Sussex Cricket community calendar, strengthening connections and celebrating the county’s rich cultural tapestry.

Sussex Cricket’s People Director, Sam Holder, added: “Sussex Cricket’s second Diwali celebration was a truly joyful evening, filled with colour, music, and togetherness. 

“It was wonderful to see our community come together to share in the spirit of light, friendship, and celebration — a reflection of what Sussex Cricket is all about.”

If anyone is interested in sponsoring next year’s Diwali event, please contact Gary Wallis-Tayler, Community Cricket Director, at gary.wallis-tayler@sussexcricket.co.uk 

Tymal Mills Agrees Contract Extension

Sussex Cricket is thrilled to announce that Sussex Sharks captain Tymal Mills has signed a one-year contract extension with the Club.

The new deal will see the T20 World Cup winner remain with the Sharks until at least the end of the 2027 season.

Having spent over a decade with the South Coast side, Mills has firmly established himself as one of the most successful T20 bowlers in the history of the game. 

In 2023, he became Sussex’s all-time leading wicket-taker in T20 cricket, surpassing Will Beer.

A year later, Head Coach Paul Farbrace appointed the left-arm pacer as T20 captain, a move that paid off immediately. 

Under Mills’ leadership, the Sharks reached T20 Finals Day in thrilling fashion—dominating the South Group before convincingly defeating Lancashire in a packed quarter-final at Hove.

In recognition of his outstanding service both on and off the field, Mills was awarded a benefit year in 2025, celebrating his long-standing contribution to Sussex Cricket.

Speaking on the new deal, Tymal, said: “I’m delighted to have extended my contract to take my association with Sussex through 13 seasons. 

“The Club continues to mean a lot for me both on and off the field and I’m still hungry to help deliver success in the T20 Blast. 

“We have a lot of talent and match winners within the squad and now is the time to capitalise on that and push for silverware and I’m excited to try and do so both as captain and as a bowler. 

“I look forward to seeing everybody down at Hove again in the summer for what’s hopefully going to be a great season.”

Sussex’s Director of Cricket, Paul Farbrace, added: “We are all delighted that Tymal has extended his contract at Hove until the end of the 2027 season. 

“He is a huge part of everything we do at Sussex Cricket, not just his wicket taking, or captaincy of the Blast team, but also, his fantastic professionalism that sets such great examples for all our players at the Club.

“Tymal has always been a leader in the dressing room but has taken to the captaincy of the T20 team with real skill, a high level of passion and continues to drive the standards around the team, and our goal to get back to Finals Day at Edgbaston and win the T20 Vitality Blast trophy.”

Sharks fans who held a T20 Blast Pass in 2025 can now secure their seat for 2026 before they go on general sale on Wednesday 29th October at 10am. Find out more: https://sussexcricket.co.uk/2026-t20-blast-passes