Sussex Cricket are delighted to announce that wicket-keeper batter, Charlie Tear, has signed a one-year contract extension with the Club.

The 22-year old has featured across all three formats for Sussex this year, most recently impressing in the Metro Bank One Day Cup at the top of the order, where he scored 379 runs at an average of 47.37, including two centuries.

It has been a standout year in a Sussex shirt for Tear, with a string of fine performances. Since making his Sussex debut back in 2022, Tear has featured for the county in six First Class matches, 20 List A matches and, as of this season, three T20 matches.

Called up to represent Scotland at the 2024 ICC T20 World Cup, the rising star has represented his country on 28 occasions in white-ball cricket, with 20 ODIs and eight T20Is to his name.

Just over a year ago, Tear made history by scoring a remarkable 317* - a record individual score for Sussex in the 2nd XI Championship.

On signing a new deal, Tear said: "I am delighted to be extending my time at my childhood club. I love representing Sussex alongside my teammates and I am grateful for the opportunity to keep doing so."

Paul Farbrace, Head Coach and Director of Cricket at Sussex, said: "I am delighted that Charlie has extended his contract with us at Hove.

The last month, Charlie has really shown his quality with both bat and gloves, and is growing in confidence all of the time. He was our standout player in the One Day Cup, and his hundred at Durham against a top-class cricket team was very impressive."

The Rothesay County Championship returns tomorrow (20 August), as Sussex make the trip to the Midlands to face Warwickshire at Edgbaston.

It has almost been two full months since that crazy contest against Hampshire at Hove, in which the visitors claimed the victory. It hasn't rained a day in those two months, except today, on the eve of the return of the red-ball game - typical!

While the forecast doesn't look too clever for the opening day of the contest at Edgbaston, the weather should clear to allow Paul Farbrace's side the opportunity to make their return to the whites a positive one. Heading into a tireless final block of six matches in six weeks, Sussex have realistic ambitions of winning Division One, as they currently sit 5th, 11 points behind the leaders Nottinghamshire. Of course, without the points deduction at the start of the campaign, it would have been Sussex sat in pole position at this moment in time.

There will also be an air of caution for Farbrace and co, with the bottom two sides in Hampshire and Leicestershire - both currently on 72 points - victorious in their most recent matches in what is an incredibly well-contested County Championship this year.

Team News

It is a much-changed squad from the 14 that were named against Hampshire two months ago. Dom Goodman and Tom Price miss out through injury. We send our congratulations to Jack Leaning and his partner who are celebrating the birth of their first child. Leaning therefore, will not make the trip to Edgbaston. Tom Alsop and Oli Carter also miss out on a place in the 13-player squad.

In terms of incomings, it was announced earlier today that Ari Karvelas has re-joined Sussex and he has been named in the squad alongside the returning Tom Clark, James Coles, Daniel Hughes and Jaydev Unadkat.

Squad: Carson, Clark, Coles, Crocombe, Haines, Hudson-Prentice, Hughes, Hunt, Ibrahim, Karvelas, Simpson, Tear, Unadkat.

The Opposition

Just six points separate Warwickshire from Sussex, with tomorrow's hosts currently 3rd in the tightly-packed table.

June's back-to-back matches saw Warwickshire draw against Yorkshire at Scarborough and against Somerset at Taunton, picking up 25 points in the process

Sam Hain, as ever, has led the way with the bat for the Bears, scoring 622 runs at an average of 62.2. Ethan Bamber is the second-highest wicket-taker in Division One, having picked up 37 wickets this season at an average of 25.16.

How to Follow

You can watch every ball, free of charge, via our Match Centre. You will need to register for a free account to access the stream, statistics, replays and live scorecard. 

Follow our social media channels for behind-the-scenes content and post-match interviews. 

Sussex Cricket are pleased to announce that seamer Ari Karvelas has re-joined the club for the last six Rothesay County Championship matches this season.

The 32-year-old left the Club following the expiration of his contract at the end of last season, having spent four seasons on the South Coast. He has spent the 2026 season as part of the coaching staff at Sussex, working closely with the Club's young seamers.

Karvelas has taken 47 First Class wickets in 16 matches for Sussex, and was a part of the side that gained promotion from Division Two in 2024. The season prior, in 2023, he claimed his best bowling figures in an innings for the county: taking 4-14 against Leicestershire.

The seamer most recently featured in the EUT20 in Belgium, where he played for JB Bruges.

Sussex U18s have reached the ECB 50-over Plate final at Kibworth CC on Monday, 31st August, 10.45am start, where they will face a Cumbria side who knocked out Nottinghamshire in their recent semi-final.

The previous three rounds have seen Sussex beat Berkshire at Finchampstead by 26 runs, Cricket East at Blackstone by five wickets and Hertfordshire at Blackstone by seven wickets.

Notable performances from Charl Spies and Adam Ibrahim saw the pair both record scores of 95 against Berkshire, whilst Dan Burton claimed four wickets.

Against Cricket East, Ollie Kirtley took four wickets in the same match that Finn Roberts blasted 94 and Zan Copleston hit an impressive score of 82.

The following game witnessed excellent bowling by Tom Bailey, who claimed figures of 3 for 30 before Arthur Hanson (62) and Louie Lawrence (60*) saw Sussex complete the victory over Hertfordshire.

Moving into this recent weekend, and it was time for the semi-final against Wiltshire at Royal Wootton Bassett CC.

Sussex batted first after winning the toss and posted an impressive total of 380-9, with Louie Lawrence scoring 155 off 104 balls and Arthur Hanson 67 of 60 deliveries as the two main contributors.

The bowlers restricted Wiltshire to just 197, as Adam Ibrahim took wonderful figures of 5 for 41 and Rupert Anderson chipped in with a handy 3 for 29. Victory, then, was secured by a margin of 183 runs.

This competition runs alongside the U18 County Championship and, with two games to go, Sussex are currently top of the table with maximum points having secured victories over Middlesex, Essex and Kent. This week, they travel to Basingstoke to face Hampshire for a three-day match, starting on Tuesday.

Head of Talent Pathway, Keith Greenfield, said: We have played a lot of very good cricket across this summer with our batting unit functioning very well having all of our top 6 having scored hundreds and this backed up by a a solid bowling unit led by leading wicket taker Alfie Smethurst and over the next three weeks we are hopeful to push on and win both of these competitions."

VI Sharks Claim League Title for Third Consecutive Year

This year's campaign for the BCEW National League Division 1 title has been closer than anyone might realise when looking at the final table. Going in to the weekend's fixtures all four sides could mathematically win the title and three of the four could still be relegated.

At the Blackstone Academy Ground Sussex welcomed London Metro as 1st played 4th but with four first team players unavailable, the Sharks had to reach deep into their squad whilst Metro were nearly at full strength. Stand in Skipper Ian 'Tiny'  Morris won the toss and asked Metro to have a bat.

Metro started strongly and it was the 7th over before Mo Galib (38) was excellently caught down the leg side by Si Ledwith off a  turning ball from Mark Bond. The Metro innings was excellently marshalled by Tom Froud (101 off 61 balls) who looked a class apart from everyone else. With limited sight available in the field Morris opted to bowl the father and son Daniels duo in an unbroken 22 over spell. 

With the Metro score progressing steadily they reached 200 and claimed full batting points around the 30th over and most expected them to declare and try to push for the win. However, when the sides came off for drinks after 32 overs news from the other fixture was that Northants had been skittled for 47 and Lancashire had already won, Northants getting no points at all. This meant that should Metro get a draw this would give them a straight shoot out with Northants in a fortnights time to avoid the drop.

Metro chose to bat on and were eventually all out for 235 in the 37th over. Dave Daniels figures were an incredible 5-95 off 14 overs whilst Phil Daniels took 3-53 in 13 overs.

This sent the Sharks statisticians racing for their phones and it was clear that a win or a draw would see the Sharks retain their title and if they could score 150 or more they would have sufficient bonus points to do enough even if they lost. After their prolific run-fest last weekend Callum Weir (52 not out) and Si Ledwith (82) showed they were still very hungry for more, and in a measured display  took the score to 149 before the first wicket fell, a wide took the score to 150 and the title was assured, the Sharks innings closing  on 163-2.

This was an incredible turn around as at the half way stage the Sharks sat bottom of the table. Lancashire's big win saw them secure second spot, with Metro earning no bowling bonus points they are dead level with Northants on points, therefore whomever gets the better of their game on the 29th August stays up and the loser drops to Division 2 to be replaced by Yorkshire who sealed the title to join the top tier.

The VI Sharks' focus now switches to the BCEW Primary Club Heindrich Swanepoel Memorial Cup where they host Northants in the final at The County Ground, Hove on Saturday 5th September. Entry to the ground will be free on the day with tickets available to book soon.

Full scorecard can be viewed here.

Match report courtesy of Ian 'Tiny' Morris

Alexia Walker's Sharks head to Horsham looking to boost their chances of reaching the latter stages of the Metro Bank One Day Cup with Derbyshire Falcons making the journey south.

So, it comes down to this. Very much in the hunt for a place in the semi-final, Sussex will need to win and hope results elsewhere go their way on Sunday - and indeed in early September - to book a coveted spot in the knockout stages.

For the Sharks, this is to be the final group game with them having played a game more than every other county minus Glamorgan. It's been a wonderful campaign with some excellent cricket played. Captain Chiara Green recorded a magnificent century last Saturday at Cheltenham College, putting on a 199-run partnership with Nancy Harman to get them within sight of victory, only for a late flurry of Gloucestershire wickets to condemn the Sharks to narrow 12-run defeat.

Now, as Sunday hastily approaches, the Sharks must win at Horsham to keep the hopes of silverware alive. 

Team News

Eve O'Neill returns from her time in The Hundred with Birmingham Phoenix, and is included in Sunday's squad to face the Falcons, with the spinner replacing Darcey Clarke in the only change from last weekend's narrowly-defeated squad at Cheltenham.

Squad: Mollie Adams (wk), Anna Buckle, Izzy Collis, Kali-Ann Docherty, Chiara Green (c), Nancy Harman, Bella Johnson, Anna Lewis, Faye Mullins, Eve O'Neill, Shristi Patil, Talitha Stanley, Poppy Tulloch, Phoebe Wilkinson. 

The Opposition

A difficult campaign for the Falcons in both the Vitality Blast and Metro Bank One Day Cup, Derbyshire head down to Horsham looking to avoid two bottom-placed finishes in 2026.

With the Falcons still with two matches to play, there is still time for them to finish on a positive, having won their first game in the competition last time out in an impressive win over Leicestershire Foxes.

Recording comfortably their highest total of the campaign - a score of 272-8 - that saw Frances Lonsdale strike a wonderful 106 from almost as many deliveries, it was also the first time in the tournament that they'd manage to take ten wickets. Malisha Tennakoon, with four to her name on this occasion, set the tone from the off as they travel down on a high.

How to Watch

Entry is FREE for this One Day Cup clash.

You can watch every ball, free of charge, via our Match Centre. You will need to register for a free account to access the stream, statistics, replays and live scorecard. 

The game gets underway at 10:30am at the Cricket Field Road, Horsham.

Sussex 2nd XI Championship fixture with Middlesex 2nd XI, scheduled to begin on Monday, 17 August, will now begin on Tuesday, 18 August.

This is due to Middlesex's progression in the Metro Bank One Day Cup, with Monday now acting as a reserve day for them.

The revised match date will now be Tuesday, 18 August - Friday, 21 August. 

Sussex Cricket has been made aware of an incident that happened during yesterday’s Metro Bank One Day Cup match against Middlesex at Radlett.

The club would like to place on record that it strongly condemns all forms of discrimination and abuse. We will continue to work in full cooperation with Middlesex Cricket and the Cricket Regulator on the ongoing investigation.

Sussex Cricket has no further comment to make at this time.

Sussex all-rounder Danny Lamb has been forced to retire from professional cricket at the age of 30 after suffering a disc herniation in his neck, which resulted in a spinal cord injury whilst playing earlier this season. 

Lamb underwent urgent neck discectomy and fusion surgery last month but, following medical advice, he has been forced to retire due to the ongoing effects of the injury.

A consistent all-rounder, Lamb came through at Lancashire ahead of a move to Sussex's south coast in 2023. A key part of Sussex's success in both the County Championship and Vitality Blast in 2024, Lamb registered 375 runs at an average of 37.50, along with claiming 13 wickets, on the Club's route back to Division One.

However, due to injury, Lamb has not featured since June 7, where Sussex earned their lone home win of the Vitality Blast campaign against Kent. Lamb has played an important role in all three formats for Sussex since his arrival, marking the end of a successful career that has seen him feature for Lancashire, Gloucestershire and Somerset.

On his decision to retire, Lamb said: “It is incredibly difficult to have my career end through injury but, after taking medical advice, I know it is the right decision for my long-term health.

From signing my first scholarship with Lancashire in 2015, to my first professional contract in 2016 and making my senior debut in May 2017, it has been a privilege to spend over a decade in the professional game. I am extremely grateful to have represented both Lancashire and Sussex. Lancashire gave me the opportunity to fulfil a lifelong dream, and I will always be thankful for everything the club did for me in my development. My time at Sussex, although shorter than I had hoped, was incredibly special, and I am especially grateful for the way I was welcomed in, the support I received, and the opportunity to be part of such a great environment and group of people.

I was never the most naturally gifted player, but I always tried to give everything for the team and do whatever was required to help us win. I have been fortunate to experience some incredible moments that will stay with me forever, including winning the Second Division Championship twice with both clubs and playing in two Finals Days with Lancashire, as well as the more personal highlights of sharing dressing rooms with outstanding teammates and building lifelong friendships.

I would like to thank all my teammates, coaches, staff, members and supporters at both counties, as well as my family and friends, for their unwavering support throughout my journey. While this is not the ending I had hoped for, I leave the game with immense pride, gratitude, and memories that will stay with me forever. I am now looking forward to the next chapter beyond cricket."

Paul Farbrace, Head Coach and Director of Cricket, said: "It is always a sad day when any professional athlete has to retire from the sport they love, it’s even harder when it is because of injury. 

Danny [Lamb] sadly is not able to continue his career and I would like to thank him for his high level of commitment and skill that he has dedicated to his time at Hove. Danny played a leading role in our promotion to Division One in the County Championship and us getting to Finals Day in the Blast. 

Danny leaves Hove with our very best wishes and thanks for his commitment to the club on and off the field, and will of course be most welcome back at all times."