Hospitality packages on sale now!
Take Your Matchday Experience to the Next Level
Upgrade your matchday experience to a new level at The 1st Central County Ground with one of our matchday hospitality packages, on sale now.
Whether you’re looking for the high-octane entertainment of the T20 Vitality Blast under the lights, the all-encompassing action of the Metro Bank One Day Cup, or the first-class red-ball action in the County Championship, we have a hospitality package for you.
Matchday hospitality at The 1st Central County Ground is the perfect place for you to entertain clients, celebrate a special occasion, or simply take your experience to the next level.
See our full range of hospitality packages in our 2024 Matchday Hospitality Brochure below.
Ready to book? Visit our ticketing website now to secure your package today.
Want to talk to our team and find out a little more? Contact Corporatesales@sussexcricket.co.uk
Currie and Tear selected for Scotland
Brad Currie and Charlie Tear Selected for Scotland
Sussex duo Brad Currie and Charlie Tear have both been selected for the Scotland Men's team for their tour of the UAE in Spring. Whilst Brad Currie had previously made his Scotland debut, the call-up is a first senior international selection for young wicket-keeper Charlie Tear.
Cricket Scotland Press Release
The Scotland Men’s squads have been confirmed today for the forthcoming tour of the UAE in February and March.
The tour will consist of four ICC Cricket World Cup League 2 fixtures against Canada and the UAE, followed by three T20 internationals against the UAE. Two squads have been picked to compete across the multiple formats.
Three players feature in the Men’s senior squad for the first time. 22-year-old Scott Currie of Hampshire is the younger brother of Brad Currie, who made his Scotland debut last year. 19-year-old wicket-keeper batsman Charlie Tear, contracted to Sussex, is picked in his first senior international squad, while Heriots’ all-rounder James Dickinson also receives his first call up.
Batsman Andrew Umeed, 27, returns to the squad after a successful 2023 season with Somerset. The former U19 international made his Scotland debut against Afghanistan in the Intercontinental Cup in 2015. Another returnee is Brad Wheal, whose most recent appearance was at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in 2022.
Richie Berrington will captain both squads, while the coaching team will consist of Stevie Gilmour, Moneeb Iqbal, and Andy McKay. All three assisted Doug Watson during last year’s successful ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Europe Qualifier. The recruitment process for a new Men’s Head Coach is currently ongoing.
Ends
Congratulations, Brad and Charlie! #GOSBTS
Sussex unveil new training kit
New Men's Training Kit,
Sponsored by Webtrends Optimize
Sussex Cricket is delighted to unveil the new Official Men's Training Kit, sponsored by Webtrends Optimize.
Last week, the Club announced a new sponsorship deal that will see Webtrends Optimize become the Official Training Kit Sponsor for the Men's first team for at least the next four seasons.
The training kit, along with the new playing kit and Express Range, will be supplied by KitKing, in a multi-year deal that has seen Sussex become the only professional cricket team in the northern hemisphere wearing the Swoosh across their kits.
Replica Training kit will soon be available for Sussex fans to purchase via the brand-new e-commerce platform, managed by KitKing.
For now, fans can still get their hands on the brand new Nike Express Range, by visiting the online shop.
Sussex Cricket EDI Update
Sussex Cricket Provides We Are You Are Progress Update
With so much going on at Sussex Cricket to over the past 18 months to promote inclusivity and make cricket a game for everyone, the Club has provided an update on a range of initiatives designed to support the objectives of our EDI Strategy.
What was our plan?
In 2021 we developed the We Are You Are strategy. This Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan would underpin the work carried out by the Club and its charitable arm, the Sussex Cricket Foundation, by providing objectives and direction to increase participation, make our sport a game for everyone and make The 1st Central County Ground a welcoming environment.
You can view the EDI Action Plan, along with our EDI Policies by visiting the Inclusion section of our website here: https://sussexcricket.co.uk/equality-diversity-and-inclusion
What progress has been made?
Over the past 18 months Sussex Cricket has run a number of initiatives and programmes to make cricket a game for everyone, whilst also investing capital into developing infrastructure to support the growth of the sport across the County.
- The Crawley Urban Plan will have seen £200,000 invested into cricket in Crawley by the end of 2024
- Brand new three-lane indoor net facility opened at The Apple Tree Centre, Crawley
- Record number of attendees at Foundation’s DIScoverABILITY Day
- Over 500 relocated families given free access to cricket equipment
- 120 staff and Board Members have completed face-to-face EDI training
- Sussex Cricket signed the Muslim Athlete Pledge
- Brand new Changing Places facility and Multi-Faith Room opened at The 1st Central County Ground
- Thousands of free match tickets donated to local schools and cricket clubs
- First ever Women’s Premier League launched in 2023, with 5 teams competing in the top division and 10 in division 2
- Over £13,000 awarded to cricketers in the Pathway through the Foundation’s Champions Fund
These are just some of the highlights and victories that have been achieved as a result of our EDI Action Plan. But it doesn’t stop there.
Hear from Diyon De Silva on the impact of his Champion’s Fund support
And also hear from Kayleigh Pavitt on the importance of the Aldridge@BACA Women’s Premier League
What are our next steps?
Sussex Cricket is committed to continuing its mission to make cricket a game for everyone and although we have succeeded in meeting a number of our objectives, we understand that the job is never finished.
Sussex Cricket will continue to work listen to stakeholders, fans, members and people in the community to ensure their voices are heard.
We will work alongside the ECB and each of the other 17 First-Class Counties to carry out the ECB’s action plan outlined in their response to the report. You can view the full response and plan by clicking here.
Local coach Nilma Dole-Williams shares inspiring story
Nilma Dole reflects on a lifetime of positive cricketing experiences in the most challenging of circumstances - from Sri Lanka to Peru and Cambodia - and how coaching in Sussex has helped the next step in her journey.
For a fleeting moment, when Sri Lanka won the ICC World Cup in 1996, the weapons of war were put down and everyone came together to play cricket.
At security checkpoints, military camps, and even on the streets of Colombo, Sri Lankans united through a sport that helped build bridges, join communities, and inspire the younger generation to make peace.
Since then, life has taken me on many adventures. But those images of cricket’s immense power in my country of birth have never left me. Today, my husband is the British ambassador to Cambodia. And, alongside him, I carry on my own mission: helping to build on the ICC’s gift of Associate membership to Cambodia by supporting schools to set up, coach, and train potential female cricketers who will ultimately make up the Cambodia Women’s national cricket team.
Cambodia suffered immensely under the dictatorship of Pol Pot, when the Khmer Rouge took away the lives of more than two million people. Cricket comes at a time when Cambodians need to heal the generational trauma that’s been prevalent in their community for years. If we succeed, it will uplift and empower the lives of Cambodian women as they grow, thrive, and shine on the international cricket stage.
My earliest involvement with cricket came after our family had escaped the Sri Lankan conflict by moving to the UAE. Watching a match at Sharjah International Cricket Stadium inspired me and I learned all the rules of the game, but I was never encouraged to play because I was told that ‘cricket is not a sport for a young lady’.
I returned to Sri Lanka as a teenager, working as a journalist despite government propaganda and freedom of speech restrictions preventing me from doing my job with integrity and safety.
But amid all the civil conflict and turmoil, cricket was always played and loved as a sport of peace. It always acted as a uniting force. In 2009, when peace came to Sri Lanka, cricket blossomed and Sri Lankan female cricketers also got the chance to make their mark.
In 2012, I married my husband. Two years later, we moved to Peru for our first diplomatic posting. I was homesick, I’d just given birth, and I was trying to fit into a country very different to my own. But once again, cricket came to my rescue – and I graduated from a fan to a professional player.
In 2015, I was honoured to get the opportunity to play for the Peru Women’s cricket team at the Women’s South American Cricket Championships (WSACs) in Chile. The following year, we won the bronze medal at the WSACs in Brazil.
Playing for Peru gave me the chance to learn Spanish, experience Latin American culture, and volunteer for charitable causes. Cricket opened doors for me. It was a guiding light during a difficult time, and it helped me connect with inspirational Peruvian women and girls who believed not only in me, but also themselves.
Today, I’m grateful to Sussex Cricket Club for giving me a bursary to qualify with my Level 1 cricket coaching qualification and thankful to the DSFA (Diplomatic Service Families Association) for supporting me financially through my Level 2 qualification.
I’ve had the opportunity to play for Brighton and Hove Cricket Club’s women’s teams, and coach there as well. I support and volunteer whenever I can, because it’s important to be a good role model for women and girls of colour. Promoting body positivity, self-esteem and confidence is important, especially with the mass influence of social media nowadays.
I like the fact you don’t need to be the most physically active player to play cricket. And, like me, I encourage more mothers to join too, because it helps them feel good about themselves through exercise and keeping fit.
I’m also happy to see long-lasting friendships thrive in cricket clubs when more diverse and disabled players join the team, making it an inclusive and supportive community.
I hope to see more female cricket players and coaches of colour, because they would bring in new skills, varied experience, and support to any club. Girls and women of colour need to see leaders like them to show they also can achieve their cricket dreams and represent their country.
Being one of the only British Ambassadors’ spouses of colour, my dream is to also see more diversity and inclusion of female cricket players of colour in the England Women’s team. And, who knows, we could even win the next cricket World Cup!
If you are interested in coaching then anyone can apply for a bursary. To get started check the details for a Coaching Bursary on your local County Cricket Board's website, or simply type 'County Cricket Coaching Bursary' plus the name of your local county into your web browser search.
Sussex's Liam O'Brien makes runs in England victory
England Men's PD team finish India tour with a win
Sussex's Liam O'Brien played a vital role in England's win over India, making 45 from 28 deliveries.
India had already clinched the series with a win on Saturday, but the win from England in the final match saw the series finish 3-2 to the hosts.
England Captain Callum Flynn was named player of the series, as he surpassed 1,000 runs in international cricket.
The match also marked the retirement of left-arm spinner Danny Hamm after a 14 year career. Hamm was a member of the first ever England PD squad and took a wicket with his first ball in international cricket. The 29-year-old went out in style with three wickets in today's match.
England won the toss and opted to bat first, the visitors making 152-6 from their 20 overs. Flynn top scoring with 53, opener Alex Hammond chipping in with 38 and Liam O'Brien hitting 45 from just 28 balls.
In reply India made 130-7, with three wickets for Hamm, two for Flynn and a wicket apiece for Anthony Clapham and Dan Reynaldo.
After the game, Hamm said: “It was great to get a win in the last game of the tour. Although we've lost the series, to come out here lose 3-2 and challenge India in most games has been a real achievement.
"Personally, for that to be my last international game, to play in the largest stadium in the world and to help the team get a win is a dream finish. To get our first ever wins in India on this tour and push them as far as we could in the series is something that we can be really proud of.
"We obviously would have liked to have won the series, but I am sure that the team will come back stronger from the learnings picked up in these games. It has been a fantastic experience and the team can't wait to get back out here and go one better next time."
England Men's Physical Disability Team India Tour Results
Sunday 28 January, India won by 49 runs
Tuesday 30 January, India won by 35 runs
Thursday 1 February, England won by 22 runs
Saturday 3 February, India won by 19 runs
Tuesday 6 February, England won by 22 runs
Sussex Cricket appoints Pete Fitzboydon as Chief Executive
Sussex Cricket is delighted to announce the appointment of Pete Fitzboydon as Chief Executive.
The decision to appoint Pete as Chief Executive followed an extensive and rigorous recruitment process and will see him take over the role from 11th March 2024.
Pete Fitzboydon is a former Chief Executive of London Sport who also led both Badminton England and Cycling UK as CEO and brings experience of driving improvement of governance standards within professional rugby through a consultancy role at the Rugby Football Union.
More recently, he served as Interim Chief Executive of Cricket Scotland, overseeing the Scotland Men’s team who qualified for this year’s ICC T20 World Cup.
Speaking on the new appointment, Sussex Chair, Jon Filby, said: “I am delighted that we have been able to appoint Pete Fitzboydon as the Chief Executive of Sussex Cricket.
“Pete joins us at an exciting time, as we seek to return our men’s professional team to the first division of the County Championship, to develop a women’s professional team, to continuing growing the game in all forms across the county and to continue developing The 1st Central County Ground at Hove.
“The Board and I are very much looking forward to working with Pete, whose broad experience of leadership in sport and passion for cricket, kindled by being a frequent visitor to Hove in years gone by, make him the ideal person to lead us through the years ahead.”
Commenting on his new permanent role, Pete Fitzboydon, said: “It is truly an honour to be joining Sussex Cricket as CEO at such an important time.
I have so many fond memories of watching matches at The 1st Central County Ground in the late 2000s when I lived locally, and I am looking forward to playing a part as the club seeks to return to those trophy-laden days.
“Sussex Cricket is an exceptional organisation with a rich heritage. There are so many exciting opportunities ahead for Sussex Cricket, not least developing the women’s game and helping the sport to widen its appeal to all communities.
“I look forward to adding my experience to the leadership team to help Sussex Cricket to fulfil its potential in all areas, from the sport’s grassroots right up to the top echelons of the game.”
Sussex Women players selected for England
Sussex's Danni Wyatt, Freya Kemp, Georgia Adams, Linsey Smith and Paige Scholfield have all been selected to play for England Women's teams for their upcoming white-ball tour of New Zealand.
Heather Knight’s side will play five IT20s and three ODIs across March and April.
Following a recurrence of a back injury, Freya Kemp will tour with the A group as a batter only. Managing her workload over the next few months will be an important part of her return to full availability.
The A side, who will be led by former Durham head coach and current ECB performance batting coach Jon Lewis, will play three T20s and three 50 over matches in Queenstown, Dunedin and Nelson.
IT20 squad for first-third matches
Hollie Armitage (Northern Diamonds)
Tammy Beaumont (The Blaze)
Lauren Bell (Southern Vipers)
Maia Bouchier (Southern Vipers)
Charlie Dean (Southern Vipers)
Sophia Dunkley (South East Stars)
Lauren Filer (Western Storm)
Danielle Gibson (Western Storm)
Sarah Glenn (The Blaze)
Bess Heath (Northern Diamonds)
Amy Jones (Central Sparks)
Heather Knight (captain; Western Storm)
Linsey Smith (Southern Vipers and Sussex)
IT20 squad for fourth and fifth matches
Tammy Beaumont (The Blaze)
Lauren Bell (Southern Vipers)
Maia Bouchier (Southern Vipers)
Alice Capsey (South East Stars)
Charlie Dean (Southern Vipers)
Sophia Dunkley (South East Stars)
Sophie Ecclestone (Thunder)
Lauren Filer (Western Storm)
Danielle Gibson (Western Storm)
Sarah Glenn (The Blaze)
Bess Heath (Northern Diamonds)
Amy Jones (Central Sparks)
Heather Knight (captain; Western Storm)
Nat Sciver-Brunt (The Blaze)
Danielle Wyatt (Southern Vipers and Sussex Women)
ODI squad
Tammy Beaumont (The Blaze)
Lauren Bell (Southern Vipers)
Maia Bouchier (Southern Vipers)
Alice Capsey (South East Stars)
Kate Cross (Thunder)
Charlie Dean (Southern Vipers)
Sophia Dunkley (South East Stars)
Sophie Ecclestone (Thunder)
Lauren Filer (Western Storm)
Danielle Gibson (Western Storm)
Sarah Glenn (The Blaze)
Bess Heath (Northern Diamonds)
Amy Jones (Central Sparks)
Heather Knight (captain; Western Storm)
Nat Sciver-Brunt (The Blaze)
Danielle Wyatt (Southern Vipers and Sussex Women)
England Women A squad
Georgia Adams (Southern Vipers and Sussex Women)
Hannah Baker (Central Sparks)
Alice Davidson-Richards (South East Stars)
Tash Farrant (South East Stars)
Kirstie Gordon (IT20 captain; The Blaze)
Freya Kemp (Southern Vipers and Sussex Women)
Emma Lamb (Thunder)
Ryana MacDonald-Gay (South East Stars)
Sophie Munro (The Blaze)
Grace Potts (Central Sparks)
Paige Schofield (South East Stars and Sussex)
Grace Scrivens (ODI captain; Sunrisers)
Seren Smale (Thunder)
Rhianna Southby (Southern Vipers)
Mady Villiers (Sunrisers)
England Women fixtures (all timings in GMT)
19 March - 1st IT20 - Dunedin - 1am
22 March - 2nd IT20 - Nelson - 1am
24 March - 3rd IT20 - Nelson - 1am
27 March - 4th IT20 - Wellington - 1am
29 March - 5th IT20 - Wellington - 1am
31 March - 1st ODI - Wellington - 11pm
3 April - 2nd ODI - Hamilton - 11pm
6 April - 3rd ODI - Hamilton - 11pm
England Women A fixtures (all start timings GMT)
16 March – 1st IT20 - Queenstown – 12am
17 March -2nd IT20 – Queenstown – 12am
20 March – 3rd IT20 – Queenstown – 12am
23 March – 1st ODI – Dunedin – 10pm
28 March – 2nd ODI – Nelson – 10pm
30 March – 3rd ODI – Nelson – 10pm
Training kit sponsorship announcement
Sussex Cricket Announces New Training Kit Sponsorship Deal with Webtrends Optimize
Sussex Cricket is delighted to announce that Webtrends Optimize will become the new Official Training Kit Sponsor for the Men’s first team for the next four seasons.
The new agreement will see Webtrends Optimize become an Official Major Partner of Sussex Cricket, following on from the recent announcement that the market-leading technology company has also extended its sponsorship agreement of all of the Sussex Disability teams for another four years.
The Webtrends Optimize brand will be visible across the front and back of all Nike training t-shirts, performance tops and training vests.
Back in September 2023, the Club announced a multi-year agreement with KitKing to supply global sportswear brand Nike, starting from November 2023.
The new replica Nike training kit will also be available for fans to purchase in the coming weeks, alongside the already released Nike leisurewear and eventually, the new playing kit, via the Club’s brand-new e-commerce platform managed by KitKing.
Speaking on the new agreement, Matt Smith, CEO of Webtrends Optimize, said: “Following on from the recent extension of our partnership with Sussex Cricket and the Sussex Cricket Foundation I am delighted that we are now able to extend our relationship even further by sponsoring the first team training kit for the next 4 years too.
The decision to extend our partnership further was an easy one for myself and my fellow directors at Webtrends Optimize.
"We’re looking forward to spending time at Hove and seeing the team in the new fantastic new kit. ”
Lisa Hogan, Head of Commercial at Sussex Cricket, added: “It is fantastic news to have Webtrends Optimize onboard as the Official Training Kit Sponsor for the Men’s first team.
"Matt and his team at Webtrends Optimize are incredibly passionate about Sussex Cricket, not only the Men’s team, but also the Disability teams who they also sponsor.
“We look forward to working alongside them for many years to come.”
Sussex Cricket releases 2024 Pathway data
Sussex Cricket has today announced its Academy and Emerging Player Programme intake for 2024, along with the supporting demographic data for the Talent Pathway.
Boys EPP and Sussex Cricket Academy Squads
Emerging Player Programme (EPP)
Ollie Hughes, Archie Hall, Fergus O’Connell, Jamie Schoeman, George Bamford, Aryan Kulkarni, Oli Mason, Billy Hemmings, Jonny Prior, Adam Ibrahim, Reuben Martin
Sussex Cricket Academy
Frankie Cripps, Zan Copleston, Harry Eastman, Freddie Wallis, Rahul Tangirala, Ollie Avinou, Fergus Kenyon, Dylan Driscoll, Kieran Finnegan, Julian Laird, Louie Lawrence, Harry Walker, Sam Topping*
*Due to missing 2023 through injury, Sam Topping has been attached to the Academy as an overage player in 2024.
Boys Data
Demographics of Academy & EPP vs Sussex Population
To benchmark the demographics data of the EPP and Academy, we have compared the numbers with the overall population data for the county of Sussex, taken from the 2021 Census.
State School vs Independent Data
Of the 23 intakes in the EPP and Academy, 26.08% of those attend state schools within Sussex, including 3 who attend Sussex Cricket’s state school of choice, the Brighton Aldridge Cricket Academy.
This represents a 5.03% increase from the 2023 intake of 21.05%.
Oxfordshire Cricket Partnership
Sussex Cricket is delighted to confirm that two more players from the Oxfordshire Cricket partnership will be in the Academy for the 2024 season.
Julian Laird and Dylan Driscoll will follow in the footsteps of Sussex First XI players, James Coles, Harrison Ward and Zach Lion-Cachet.
Hear from Julian Laird on being selected in the Sussex Cricket Academy
County Junior Squad Data - Boys
The following statistics relate to the players selected in the Boys’ Sussex Cricket Pathway for 2023/24 from U9’s to U16’s.
State School vs Independent Data
Of the 333 boys currently in the Sussex Cricket Pathway, a total of 169 (51%) currently attend state schools, 156 (47%) attend independent schools and the remaining preferring not to say.
Girls Data
Demographics of Girls’ County Junior Squad vs Sussex Population
State School vs Independent School Data – Girls
Of the 164 girls currently in the Sussex Cricket Pathway, a total of 80 (49%) currently attend state schools, 82 (50%) attend independent schools and the remaining preferring not to say.
Keith Greenfield, Director of Pathways & Cricket Partnerships
Speaking on the announcement of the new Academy intake, Keith Greenfield, Director of Pathways and Cricket Partnerships, said: “Sussex Cricket is committed to working to provide as many opportunities as possible to talented players across the county, regardless of ethnicity, background or what school you attend to be able to fulfil your cricketing aspirations.
“This year we have maximised the number of players selected in the Academy group, this is virtually a new group into the Academy and the journey with this group of players to produce an exciting new crop of future professional players for Paul and Club for the years ahead has started.
“The impact of extra free state school coaching provision for players, the coaching opportunities within the program we’ve established with our state school cricket provider at BACA, the ongoing work in our two Urban Cricket plans in Crawley & Brighton and increasing quality of delivery in our Club systems are all having an impact on giving a balanced opportunity for all players across the board.
“Through the Sussex Cricket Foundation’s partnership with the Ned’s Fund, we have also been able to provide over £13,000 of funding through our Champion’s Fund, helping to provide financial support to aspiring cricketers in the Pathway.
We need to continue to identify and remove any barriers that exist to be able to fully participate.
“Our partnership with Oxfordshire Cricket continues to grow with seven further players involved into our upper end pathway activity following in the footsteps of the three pros from Oxfordshire we have signed to our professional squad in the last couple of years.”
Full Data
A breakdown of all the data for the Boys’ Cricket Pathway can be downloaded by clicking the button below*. This includes data related to ethnicity, age, background and the cricket club of the players who have made the intake.
*All data accurate as of December 31st 2023
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