Jack Carson, Tom Alsop and Mary Taylor Become 

Sussex Cricket Foundation Ambassadors

The Sussex Cricket Foundation is delighted to announce the appointment of Jack Carson, Tom Alsop and Mary Taylor as Sussex Cricket Foundation Ambassadors for 2024. 

The trio joint the already appointed Georgia Adams and Dan Field to help support the Foundation’s mission of actively changing lives through the power of cricket and help promote the Foundation among men’s, women’s, and disability cricket teams.

Tom Alsop will build upon the work he has already done with the County Disability teams, which has included coaching their indoor training sessions throughout the winter and building a strong connection between the professional squad and our community teams.

Gary Wallis-Tayler, Community Cricket Director: “I am delighted that Tom, Jack and Mary have agreed to join Georgia & Dan as Ambassadors of the Foundation. 

“Having players from all three of our elite cricket teams to support the Foundation is crucial to building a stronger connection between the professional and recreation side of Sussex Cricket. 

“Our players are role models and it’s important that they get involved in community events, so they can see first-hand the work of the Foundation and also help inspire future players of the game.”

Sussex’s Tom Alsop said: “It’s a privilege to be a foundation ambassador. I’ve seen first-hand the happiness and positive impact the foundation brings to so many. 

“There’s so much passion for the game in this county; I was fortunate enough to work with the D40 squads this winter and their collective enthusiasm and enjoyment for the game was infectious. 

“Sussex is a fantastic club and a club for all. The more we can grow our game and club, the more positive impact on people’s lives we can make.”

Sussex Women’s Mary Taylor added: “I am delighted to become an ambassador for the Foundation.

“I hope to be able to use my profile to help inspire more women and girls to play the game and also to help the Foundation continue their fantastic work in growing the game.”

To learn more about the work of the Foundation, please look over their latest Impact Report https://sussexcricket.co.uk/impact-report-2023

If anyone is interested in supporting the Foundation please contact Community Cricket Director, Gary Wallis-Tayler on gary.wallis-tayler@sussexcricket.co.uk 

Sussex vs Yorkshire: Day One Match Report

Seventeen wickets fell on the first day at The 1st Central County Ground as second division leaders Sussex hit back after they were bowled out for 150 by Yorkshire in the Vitality County Championship.

Joe Root showed his class with 67 but no one else made more than Sussex’s top scorer James Coles (38). Yorkshire were 176 for 7 at stumps and how much they can add to their lead of 26 will be crucial to their efforts of securing a first victory of the season.

Root enjoyed an absorbing battle with England teammate Ollie Robinson, who bowled two quality spells and was unlucky not to pick up more than one wicket. 

He shared stands of 42 with James Wharton and 58 for the sixth wicket with Jonathan Tattersall, as he passed 50 for the fourth time in seven Championship innings which have now brought him 432 runs in his preparations for the international summer. But having moved to 67 off 88 balls (7 fours) a misjudgement saw him struck on the back leg by Tom Haines working into the on side.

For the other batters it was hard work. On a well-grassed pitch the ball moved lavishly off the seam at times, but there were some loose shots too and 12 of the wickets fell to slip catches.

Sussex weren’t surprised to be put in, but Haines and Tom Clark serenely added 42 in 6.5 overs. It proved a false dawn, though, and apart from a fifth-wicket stand of 30 between Cheteshwar Pujara and Coles, Yorkshire’s disciplined all-seam attack held sway.

George Hill led the way with 4 for 22 including two in five balls in his opening spell as Haines was taken at second slip and Alsop at third playing at deliveries which nipped off the seam. He returned after lunch to pick up Danny Lamb with his first ball back and then removed Jack Carson in the same over. 

Hill got good support, notably from Ben Coad (3 for 47). Coad had angled one in which seamed away to make the breakthrough when he removed Clark. Sussex skipper John Simpson was lbw shuffling forward and Tattersall dived in front of slip to remove Fynn Hudson-Prentice.

Arguably the crucial wicket was claimed by the highly-regarded Dom Leech with the ninth ball of his first appearance of the season when Pujara was superbly caught by Tattersall, again diving in front of first slip. Coles then watched as four wickets fell for 18 runs in 8.1 overs before he was last out, holing out to mid-on. 

Sussex had been dismissed in 44.1 overs but their bowlers soon hit back.

Robinson beat the bat on numerous occasions with the new ball, but it was left-armer Sean Hunt who made the breakthrough with his fifth delivery which Finlay Bean edged to second slip. Adam Lyth was taken at third slip before Robinson was rewarded in his sixth over with the crucial wicket of skipper Shan Masood, fencing to third slip.

Hill played a loose drive at Hudson-Prentice to the last ball before tea but by then Root had begun to get the measure of the conditions. Wharton gave him good support until hitting across the line to a yorker-length ball which gave Hudson-Prentice his second wicket and Hunt returned to have Tattersall caught at third slip just before the close.

Report provided by ECB Reporters' Network

Reaction from Sean Hunt on stumps at day one 

Jayden Seales Becomes 159th Sussex Player to

 Receive County Cap

Sussex pace-bowler Jayden Seales today became the 159th Sussex player to be awarded their County Cap during the lunch interval of the County Championship match between Sussex and Yorkshire.

The West Indies Test seamer made a spectacular start to his first stint at Sussex this season, so far taking 23 wickets at an average of 21.86, helping Sussex to climb to top of the Division 2 table after five games. 

Seales was presented the cap by former Sussex overseas and West Indies seamer, Corey Collymore, who also coached Jayden in his teenage years. 

Jayden is the second Sussex player to have been capped this season, after skipper John Simpson received his in April. 

Congratulations, Jayden! #GOSBTS

T20 Captain Tymal Mills Visits Hailsham Community College

Sussex Sharks’ T20 captain Tymal Mills paid a special visit to Hailsham Community College last month to take part in a coaching session delivered by the Sussex Cricket Foundation.

As well as getting stuck into a training session, Mills answered questions from students at the college about his career, life at Sussex and the experience of winning the T20 World Cup.

Amazingly, Hailsham Community College won the visit in a competition held as part of the 2019 Cricket World Cup, but due to COVID, were unable to schedule it until now.

Hailsham Community College is part of the Sussex Cricket Foundation’s Chance to Shine Secondary School Girls Programme. Chance to Shine provides funding to the Foundation to deliver this programme in a number of state secondary schools across the County.

The programme is designed to provide opportunities for girls to access cricket and give the chance to play cricket outside of the school environment, as well as to help them develop leadership skills.

The initiative links into Hailsham Cricket Club, who are one of six teams participating in this summer’s Aldridge@BACA Sussex Women’s Premier League.

Hamish Russell, Territory Manager for the Sussex Cricket Foundation, said: "It was wonderful to see the girls of Hailsham Community College get the chance to showcase their skills in front of an England cricketer and World Cup winner in Tymal. 

“Growing the Women & Girls across the county is a priority for the Sussex Cricket Foundation so we are grateful to Chance to Shine and Tymal for creating this event to inspire more girls to develop a passion for cricket".

To find out more about Women & Girls’ cricket in Sussex, or to find out more about the Sussex Cricket Foundation, please visit: https://sussexcricket.co.uk/sussex-cricket-foundation 

Special T20 Blast Ticket Discount for Local Schools!

The Blast is back in just two week’s time and the Sussex Cricket Foundation has secured a special discount for local schools to purchase tickets to support the Sharks. If you are part of a local school and would like access to purchase tickets for a school trip, please contact foundation@sussexcricket.co.uk 

Sussex vs Yorkshire: Match Preview 

After tasting defeat at Glamorgan for the first time in the County Championship this season, Sussex will look to bounce back to winning ways tomorrow when they welcome Joe Root and his Yorkshire side to The 1st Central County Ground. Paul Farbrace has named a 13-player squad for the match.

Squad

Alsop, Carson, Carter, Clark, Coles, Haines, Hudson-Prentice, Hunt, Karvelas, Lamb, Pujara, Robinson, Simpson* (wk)

Team News

Jayden Seales is being rested due to a minor groin injury, whilst Ollie Robinson returns to the squad.  

Ticket Information

Tickets to the first three days are available to purchase online here. As always, we recommend purchasing your tickets in advance, to save money and to protect yourself, should the game by impacted by rain. Full details can be found in our Refund Policy. 

Free Entry After 4pm

Entry to all County Championship games at The 1st Central County Ground after 4pm is free of charge. 

How to Watch

As ever, every ball is available to watch, free of charge, on our livestream via our Match Centre. Action gets underway from 11am tomorrow. 

Watch: Jayden Seales Talks to talkSPORT About Life at Sussex

It's fair to say Jayden Seales has hit the ground running at The 1st Central County Ground this season. The overseas star is currently the leading wicket-taker in Division Two of the County Championship, with his wickets and performances propelling Sussex to top of the table. 

Jayden recently spoke with Steve Harmison and Neil Manthorpe about life at Good Old Sussex by the Sea, his relationship with Paul Farbrace and the tips and tricks he has picked up from fellow Sussex stars Ollie Robinson and Cheteshwar Pujara. 

Visit the talkSPORT Cricket YouTube channel to watch the full interview. 

Record Breaking Sussex Storm To Fifth Primary Club Cup Success

On a glorious day at The 1st Central County ground in Hove Northants Steelbacks and Sussex Sharks finally contested the delayed 2023 BCEW Primary Club Heindrich Swanepoel Cup Final after a mix of rail strikes and rain prevented the game going ahead last season. 

Rail disruption still had an impact as Northants were delayed and the game finally got underway twenty minutes later than scheduled with Northants winning the toss and electing to field.

The Sussex innings started solidly as the Northants bowlers looked to keep things tight, The first wicket fell at 27 with Dave Daniels being run out for 12 with an excellent throw from Northants skipper David Howells. 

Mark Bond, having scored 31 played on off Gerald Porter’s bowling with the score on 106 and this brought Dan Field and Si Ledwith together for the partnership that would change the game.

Si’s 80 not out, off just 52 balls with 11 fours was a magnificent innings but that was eclipsed by Dan’s 154 off just 80 balls with 19 fours and 5 sixes.

This was the highest score by an individual batter in the cup final’s 44 year history. Si & Dan’s partnership of 180 was another all time cup final record.

Northants did claim three late wickets with Asif Ali finally dismissing Dan Field who was one of two catches for David Howells. Howard Greenhill also picked up a wicket and a run out as Sussex finally closed on 322/5, the highest ever cup final score by a wide margin.

Northants needed a fast start to have a chance at such a massive chase but some outstanding Sharks bowling made that impossible. Joe Harrison and Phil Daniels kept the score down to just 5 runs for the opening 5 overs with Phil (5.2 overs, 2 maidens, 3 for 3) clean bowling Northants dangerous opener Asif Ali. 

Joe was then replaced by totally blind bowler Ian “Tiny” Morris (6overs, 3 for 38) and as Northants looked to hit out they twice picked out Dan Field in the deep and the contest was effectively over. 

Alex Towers (6 overs, 3 for 24) ensured there would be no fightback from the middle order and when Si Ledwith took a sharp chance behind the stumps Northants were 94 all out in the 25th over, Gerald Porters battling 21 was the only score of note.

It was a tough day for Northants who had fielded in the hottest part of the day and came up against a Sussex side who turned in a complete team performance. 

The Partially sighted Player of the match was awarded to Dan Field for his destructive innings and the Totally blind Player of the match was awarded to Ian Tiny Morris whose 3 wickets at the top of the innings effectively ended Northants hopes of chasing the score down.

The biggest winner of the day was Blind Cricket, Sussex Cricket had promoted the game and there was an appreciative crowd soaking up the South Coast sunshine and enjoying a history making spectacle.

BCEW would like to sincerely thank Tom Belcher, Emma Brooke & the whole team at Sussex Cricket for staging such a terrific final. We would also like to thank The Primary Club without who our game couldn’t continue to grow.

Report provided by the BCEW

The Cup Final Records Sussex Smashed:

Highest Batter Score

154 Dan Field in 2023 for Sussex v Northants

150no Justin Hollingsworth in 2015 for Warwickshire v Metro

133 Matt Dean in 2015 for Metro v Warwickshire

Highest Partnerships

180 Dan Field & Si Ledwith in 2023 for Sussex v Northants

139 Nick Ebbeck & Prem Sellathurai in 2022 for Metro v Sussex

130 Justin Hollingsworth & Luke Sugg in 2015 for Warwickshire v Metro

Highest Team Totals

322/5 Sussex Sharks in 2023 v Northants Steelbacks

260/5 Warwickshire Bears in 2015 v Metro

260/9 Metro in 2009 v Essex Tigers

Sussex Cricket would also like to thank Webtrends Optimize, sponsors of the Sussex Disability Cricket teams. 

Sussex Sharks D40 vs Lancashire: Match Report

The Sussex Sharks D40 ran out comprehensive winners against Lancashire, winning by 9 wickets at The 1st Central County Ground yesterday.

In another historic weekend of disability cricket at The 1st Central County Grounds, the Sussex Sharks put together a batting and bowling performance against Lancashire that ensured the home side took away 30 points in the D40 Quest fixture. 

It was the visitors who claimed victory at the toss and decided to have a bat in the glorious Sussex sunshine, but the Sussex bowling attack ensured they were never able to post a significant total.

The Lancashire openers Adam Finneran and Krisitan Collinge made a good start, putting on 54 for the opening stand before Charlie Ferguson got the breakthrough for Sussex to halt them in their tracks.

From there on the Sussex bowlers took control of the innings, mainly down to the skill of Jake Vosloo, who picked up four wickets to dismantle the Lancashire top and middle order. He finished on figures of 4-12 from his six overs. 

Wickets for Stuart and Pyle ensured Lancashire were all out for 93, from just 22.5 overs. 

In reply, Sussex lost opener Scott Ridge for 5 runs, and at that point Lancashire might have fancied their chances, or at least to take a few more wickets.

However, Owen Piper (55) and Elliot Brown (27) ensured there were no more blips along the way to victory. Sussex chased down the total in just 19.2 overs, with Brown achoring the innings while Piper picked off 9 fours and 1 six. 

To view the full scorecard, please visit the Sussex Disability Play Cricket page.

Matchday Dining Returns | Saturday 18th May 

Sussex Cricket is delighted to announce that the Matchday Dining offer is once again available to book on Saturday 18th May (day two of Sussex vs Yorkshire) at The 1st Central County Ground.

Members and spectators are invited for a special two-course carvery at lunchtime during the second day of the Vitality County Championship in Cow Corner. 

Take your pick of either two meats or vegan option, as well as a dessert of the day for £28.50pp and enjoy while you sit back with perfect views of the pitch. Please note: price does not include a match ticket. 

To book your seat in Cow Corner, please contact 01273 827100. We look forward to welcoming you to The 1st Central County Ground.

Glamorgan vs Sussex: Day Three Match Report

Glamorgan secured a nine wicket victory over Sussex in the Vitality County Championship with Andy Gorvin starring on his way to career best figures of five for 40. 

Glamorgan were dismissed for 411 in the opening overs of day three to lead Sussex by 133 runs on first innings. 

A flurry of wickets at the start of the Sussex innings put them a long way behind in this contest and they never really recovered from that position as Glamorgan bowled them out for 188. Gorvin’s five wickets were supported by three for 34 from Mir Hamza and two for 21 from Mason Crane. 

Glamorgan needed 7.5 overs to reach their victory target to claim 23 points from this game with Sussex managing four bonus points.

The morning started with Glamorgan’s innings coming to an end thanks to a direct hit run out from Tom Haines with no runs added to the overnight total. From there it had a very familiar feel to the second morning of this match as the new ball wrought chaos with five wickets falling or 32 runs, three of those on the same score. 

Hamza claimed the first three wickets with balls that moved more than enough to have the Sussex top order searching for answers. Tom Clark and Tom Alsop were trapped lbw and the Pakistan international induced an edge to third slip from Tom Haines. 

At 32 for three the Sussex team were looking to the experienced pair of Cheteshwar Pujara and John Simpson to put together a rescue effort similar to what Colin Ingram and Kiran Carlson managed on the second day for Glamorgan. That didn’t transpire, Gorvin dismissed them both in his first over, with late movement once again the issue for the Sussex batters. 

There was a sizeable partnership that took Sussex back into the lead, with James Coles and Fynn Hudson-Prentice putting on a stand worth 118 which was impressive in its counterattacking nature. Hudson-Prentice took just 47 balls to reach his half century and the Sussex run rate was over four for most of the day. 

Hudson-Prentice fell when he chipped a ball from Gorvin to mid-wicket for 70. When Gorvin trapped Danny Lamb lbw he moved on to career best figures as Sussex were reduced to 164 for seven, just 31 runs in front of Glamorgan. 

Gorvin completed his maiden five wicket haul when he dismissed Jack Carson lbw for one but not long afterwards the players left the field for nearly two hours as a result of heavy rain. 

When play did resume there were 29 overs left in the day with Sussex 53 runs in front with two second innings wickets intact. It did not take long after the resumption for Glamorgan to wrap up the Sussex innings. Ari Karvelas was caught behind off Mason Crane and Jayden Seales launched the ball straight in the air off the next delivery and he was caught in the covers. 

This set Glamorgan a target of 56 to claim their first County Championship win since May 2023. Billy Root scored 36 of the runs that Glamorgan needed as they secured victory inside three days. 

Report provided by ECB Reporters' Network

Reaction from Paul Farbrace after defeat at Sophia Gardens