John Simpson’s unbeaten 129 and six second innings Worcestershire wickets kept Sussex in command on day two of the Rothesay County Championship clash at Visit Worcestershire New Road. 

A glistening fourth century of the season from the away side’s skipper saw Sussex add 122 runs to their overnight score, before they were bowled out for 350.

With a deficit of 227, Jake Libby (72) and Rehaan Edavalath (45) added a century stand for the first wicket to throw the Pears a lifeline.

Six wickets across the second half of the day however saw Worcestershire cling onto a slender lead of 43 runs heading into the third day with just four wickets intact. 

A resplendent morning at Visit Worcestershire New Road saw the home side land the first blow of the day when Tom Taylor bowled Jack Carson in the first over of the morning. 

A 53rd wicket of a remarkable season followed soon after for Taylor as Danny Lamb feathered a nick through to Rob Jones at second slip, to check the visitors progress at 245-7.

Not-out John Simpson registered his fourth hundred of a memorable Division One campaign, reaching the milestone in 138 balls and scoring 18 boundaries in the process, shortly after Ollie Robinson had departed for a brisk 24. 

Simpson kicked on as the visitors reached 350 and strengthened their grip on the match, before Matthew Waite’s introduction into the attack saw him take two wickets in four balls as he dismissed both Karvelas (20) and Unadkat (0), with Sussex all-out for 350 possessing a healthy lead of 227. 

Simpson finished unbeaten on 129, with his 19th first-class century the standout innings of the game. 

Jake Libby surpassed 1,000 first class runs for the season in the Rothesay County Championship early into the afternoon session as the Worcestershire reply got off to a cautious start.

The shackles were freed by Libby however, as he moved through the gears with some dismissive pull shots through midwicket as Sussex’s opening bowlers grafted to no avail in the sunshine.

Libby pressed on in fine style, reaching a third Division One half-century of the season in just 63 deliveries, as he and Edavalath added 113 for the first wicket on a pitch showing signs of flattening. 

Edavalath made 45 and Libby a superb 72, before the pair were dismissed inside four overs of one another, with Edavalath first LBW off a straightening Unadkat delivery and Libby following soon after having edged a ball behind to Coles at slip to give the Indian seam bowler his second of the innings. 

Ollie Robinson collected his first wicket of the innings when he hurried Isaac Mohammed with a short ball to dismiss the teenager for four. 

First-innings top scorer Dan Lategan and number five Rob Jones came together midway through the afternoon to add 63 for the fourth wicket with the hosts working hard to find a foothold in the game. 

Despite making it to the tea interval unscathed, Tom Haines ended the partnership in the 46th over of Worcestershire’s reply, as he pinned Lategan LBW for 30, with the hosts still 40 runs in arrears. 

Rob Jones produced a gritty knock of 46, with Worcestershire heading towards the close at parity, but his wicket and the dismissal of Ethan Brookes (29) handed Sussex back the initiative late on. 

Memberships Open for Renewals on Monday 

We’re delighted to announce that membership renewals for the 2026 season will open on Monday 29th September at midday.

Prices Frozen for 2026

We’re committed to keeping membership accessible, which is why all membership prices have been frozen for 2026. There will be no increase in cost this year, so renewing members can enjoy the same great value as last season.

Renewal Information

Renewals are open exclusively to existing members from midday on Monday 29th September. On the morning of the 29th, we’ll send an email to all current members with full instructions and further information about how to renew.

This information will also be available on the Sussex website at the same time. 

New Under 25s Membership

We’re also excited to announce the launch of a brand-new membership category for younger supporters. From this season, anyone under the age of 25 can join for just £125—half the price of a Sussex Membership.

General Sale & Early Bird Offer

Memberships will go on general sale from Tuesday 29th October. New fans purchasing their membership between 29th October and 19th November will be able to take advantage of our early bird price.

Sussex Cricket Foundation Launches First-Ever Sussex Cricket Coaching Badge

The Sussex Cricket Foundation recently celebrated the presentation of the first-ever Sussex Cricket Coaching Badges – a landmark moment for Coach Development in the county.

This programme, designed and led by Paul Farbrace (Sussex CCC Head Coach) and Chris Fox from the Sussex Cricket Foundation’s Coach Development team, brought together 12 established and experienced coaches, all qualified to Level 2 or Core Coach standard. The aim was to enhance their technical insight, coaching skills, and knowledge, supporting their continued development and raising the overall quality of cricket coaching across Sussex.

The course was delivered through a series of specialist modules created by Paul and his team, with valuable contributions from Ash Wright, Grant Flower, Luke Dunning, James Kirtley, John Simpson, Dave McElwaine and Paul himself.

Feedback from the coaches that took part has been overridingly positive, one coach spoke about their experience of the course; “Thank you for your efforts in getting this course off the ground and then delivered. The quality of the sessions has been incredible, so much knowledge shared from those at the top end of the game. It’s been a privilege to be part of the first group, hopefully of many more, who will get that experience.”

We are proud to recognise the inaugural Sussex Cricket Coaching Badge recipients, listed here in alphabetical order:

• Dom Ashton
• Dave Beare
• Brian de Gruchy
• Jamie Hall
• Jamie Hamilton
• Alex King
• Ishwar Narayanan
• Jordan Shaw
• Bethany Tagg
• Paul Walker
• Matt Whippey

This initiative represents an important step in strengthening the coaching pathway within Sussex, ensuring the next generation of players benefit from high-quality, well-supported coaching.

If you would be interested in taking part in the second edition of the course over the winter, please complete the Expression of Interest form here. 

Please note that completing this form is not confirmation of a place on the course, full details are displayed at the top of the form.

Sussex Cricket Wraps Up 2025 Season with Awards Celebration

Sussex Cricket is delighted to announce that its annual End of Season Awards Night will take place on Sunday 28th September 2025 at the prestigious Grand Hotel, Brighton.

The evening will celebrate the achievements of Sussex’s Men’s, Women’s, Disability and Senior cricket teams, as well as recognise the dedication and contributions of the club’s staff.

In an exciting addition for 2025, Sussex Cricket Members and Supporters were also invited to join the event for the very first time, providing an opportunity for supporters to celebrate alongside players, coaches, and staff at the heart of the Sussex Cricket family.

Guests will enjoy an evening of reflection, entertainment and recognition, with awards presented across multiple categories to honour outstanding performances, team spirit, and commitment throughout the season.

The following awards will be presented throughout the course of the night:

• Player of the Year, sponsored by DentalBuild
• Sparkling Moment of the Year, sponsored by Roebuck Estate
• Most Improved Player of the Year, sponsored by the Aldridge Foundation
• Sussex Supporter of the Year
• Sussex Cricket Foundation Community Participant of the Year
• Sussex Cricket Staff Outstanding Contribution of the Year
• Sussex Cricket Staff Sparkling Moment of the Year
• The Frank Stonehouse Trophy

In addition to several awards determined by the Sussex Support Staff, many were decided by Sussex Members and Supporters. 

The winners of all awards will be officially announced following the conclusion of the ceremony, during the week commencing 29th September. 

Sussex Cricket would like to extend its sincere gratitude to our valued partners: DentalBuild, Roebuck Estates, and the Aldridge Foundation for their continued support.

Professional Cricket Counties Reject Proposed 

County Championship Reform

The ECB have today confirmed that the Professional County Cricket Clubs have rejected a proposal for a 13-match Rothesay County Championship.

Speaking on the announcement, Sussex Chair, Jon Filby said:

“Whilst we are disappointed at the outcome of the review, Sussex Cricket will continue to campaign for a change in the Men’s domestic schedule. 

"The majority of counties and the majority of players think that the current schedule can be improved. 

"We have made it clear that we would support a new structure in which the top division of 12 teams is split into two conferences, with the bottom division made up of 6 teams. 

"We believe this gives us the opportunity to make it the best red-ball competition in world cricket.”

FULL ECB PRESS RELEASE:

Rothesay County Championship format to be retained following PCCs vote

The Professional County Cricket Clubs (PCCs) have voted on the future format of the Rothesay County Championship.
A proposal to play a remodelled 13-match Rothesay County Championship did not receive the required majority of votes from the PCCs to affect change.

The decision follows a county-led review into the structure of the men’s county competitions.

The review, which was staged in consultation with the Professional Cricketers’ Association (PCA), made proposals for changes to the Rothesay County Championship, Vitality Blast men’s competition and Metro Bank One-Day Cup men’s competition.

The PCCs agreed, via a vote in July, to alter the format of the Vitality Blast men’s competition when the review’s proposals did receive the required majority for change.

From next season the Vitality Blast men’s competition will be staged over 12 group-stage matches with counties moving into three groups of six.

The competition will also be played in a block before The Hundred, to enable a better competition narrative, with the 2026 Vitality Blast Men’s Finals Day confirmed for Saturday 18 July at Edgbaston.

A second vote was held this week regarding the county-led review’s proposal to play a 13-match Rothesay County Championship – featuring a 12-county ‘Championship’ and six-county ‘Championship Two’ – which included increasing the men’s Metro Bank One-Day Cup to 10 group-stage matches.

The result of the vote means that the Rothesay County Championship will remain at 14 matches, with Division One consisting of 10 counties and Division Two consisting of eight counties.

The same promotion and relegation mechanic also applies with the bottom two counties in Division One relegated and the top two in Division Two promoted.

The Metro Bank One-Day Cup men’s competition also retains the same format with each county playing eight group-stage matches in two groups of nine.

The outcome of the vote was shared with the PCCs yesterday evening to ensure that all players, support staff and supporters were aware prior to the start of the final round of matches in the Rothesay County Championship.

Worcestershire vs Sussex: Match Preview 

And just like that, we reach the final Rothesay County Championship match of the season: a trip to one of the circuit’s most picturesque venues, New Road in Worcestershire. Our hosts are already resigned to Division Two cricket next year, while Sussex need only a handful of points to guarantee that top-flight cricket returns to Hove in 2026.

Last week’s draw with Yorkshire all but secured Sussex’s safety, but the path to this point has been anything but straightforward. Three wins in the opening block of Championship fixtures had Paul Farbrace’s side sitting comfortably in the top three by the end of May. Since then, however, victories have proved far harder to come by.

Having said all of that, it's been another season for followers of Good Old Sussex by the Sea to be proud of and they'll be looking to finish on a high and secure those much-needed 5 points as quickly as possible. 

The Opposition 

Despite a hard-fought, high-scoring draw against Durham last week, Worcestershire’s fate was sealed by results elsewhere. With just a single win all season, they are now destined for Division Two cricket in 2026 — a scenario all too familiar to Sussex supporters.

When the two sides met back in May, it was Sussex who edged a thrilling contest by 47 runs, a match that swung back and forth in the finest traditions of County Championship cricket.

This time, Sussex will be aiming for a more straightforward victory. The Pears, however, will be determined to restore pride in front of their home crowd in what will be their final outing of the season.

Timings

The first ball will be bowled at 1030am tomorrow morning. 

How to Watch

As always, you can watch every ball, free of charge, via our Match Day Centre. You will need to register for a free account to access the stream, statistics, replays and live scorecard. You can find information on how to register here.

Sun Sets on Splendid Sharks VI Season

Fresh from their League and Cup double the Sussex Sharks VI travelled to Wolverhampton to try and secure the elusive treble and win the BCEW David Townley Memorial T20 Cup.

It was a repeat of the Cup Final as the Sharks faced London Metro but this time Metro won the toss and asked the Sharks to have a bat. The Sharks started very brightly and an opening stand of 95 was broken when Dave Daniels (40) was clean bowled. Mark Bond (28) departed soon after and the Sharks were looking on for a big total when the rain closed-in, in the 17th over with the score on 145-2.

When the rain stopped falling Metro were set a revised target of 102 from 12 overs. After 2.3 overs with the score on 18, the rain came in again and the players left the field. With just the minimum 5 overs, Metro were set 52 to win - meaning a challenging 33 off 15 balls was required, when only 3 boundaries had been scored all day. However the rain never stopped and the match had to be abandoned.

It was a sad end to an excellent Sharks season, going the whole season unbeaten was a significant achievement and the highlight was undoubtedly the last ball win at The 1st Central County Ground. With the rain falling, the end of season awards were presented with the Sharks taking Partially Sighted Bowler, Phil Daniels and Totally Blind Bowler, Dave Daniels to keep it a family affair.

The Sussex Sharks VI would like to thank everyone involved with Disability Cricket at Sussex, particularly Webtrends Optimize for their generous sponsorship and Tom Belcher and his team. 

It will be 2026 before the Sharks get the chance to complete the treble, so it is duly noted there are only 32 weeks before the season starts again!

Report written by Ian 'Tiny' Morris - Sussex Sharks VI player

Freya Davies has announced her retirement from cricket at the age of 29.

The tall fast bowler debuted for Sussex back in 2010 at the age of just 14 in a T20 against Middlesex; her 50-over debut coming two years later against Somerset. She was an integral part of the 2013 Sussex side that lifted the County Championship, and would go on to make 86 appearances for her birth county.

Freya completes a fine cricket career having featured heavily for England since her call-up in 2019. Despite not having played for Sussex for a short while, she has since starred for London Spirit, Welsh Fire, Southern Vipers and Hampshire. 

And as she calls time on a wonderful career, we wish Freya all the very best in her future endeavours.

Sussex Cricket Confirm Squad Departures

Sussex Cricket can today announce that five players will be leaving the Club when their contracts expire at the end of the season. 

Ari Karvelas, Bertie Foreman, Archie Lenham, Zach Lion-Cachet and Henry Rogers will all leave Sussex at the conclusion of the 2025 season. 

Lenham, who made his debut in T20 cricket for Sussex at the age of just 16, went on to play 59 matches for the Club in all formats, taking 51 wickets, also amassing 449 runs. 

Foreman, like Lenham, came through the Sussex Academy Pathway, featured in 11 matches, taking 8 wickets and making 239 runs. 

Rogers, also a product of the Sussex Academy Pathway, made 7 List-A appearances for the Club, scoring 91 runs.

Zach Lion-Cachet joined Sussex from Oxfordshire Cricket as a result of the talent development partnership between the two clubs. He made 6 List-A appearances, scoring 92 runs. 

After making his debut for Sussex in spectacular fashion at Lord’s, Ari Karvelas would go on to make 42 appearances across all formats, taking 89 wickets. 

Speaking on their departures, Director of Cricket, Paul Farbrace, said: “It is always a sad day when any professional cricketer leaves a club, and this is no different with five very good people moving on from Sussex. 

“All five have been great to work with and have made an excellent contribution to Sussex cricket on and off the field. 

“They are all welcome back at any time, and they go with all of our best wishes with whatever comes next in their careers and their lives.”

Everyone at Sussex Cricket wishes the players the best for their future careers.