Outdoor Cinema Spectacular Kicks Off New Era for 

The 1st Central County Ground

This August, The 1st Central County Ground will transform into an open-air cinema for a full weekend of film, fun and festivities — and it’s completely free to attend.

On Saturday 9th August, enjoy an afternoon screening of Wicked, followed by a dazzling evening showing of Mamma Mia!. Then on Sunday 10th August, families are invited to a magical afternoon screening of Disney’s Frozen — the perfect summer day out for children and musical lovers alike.

This isn’t just about the movies — it’s a full-day celebration for the whole community, with additional family-based entertainment provided prior to the screenings, such as: 

• Face painting
• Interactive games and family activities
• Live pre-show entertainment
• A wide range of food and drink from local vendors

Hosted by BBC Sussex, Surrey & Kent’s Allison Ferns, this cinema weekend also marks the start of an exciting new chapter for The 1st Central County Ground, as it continues its evolution into a vibrant, year-round community venue. 

While cricket remains at the core of the ground’s identity, this is the first of many non-cricketing and community-focused events set to bring more people into the heart of Hove.

Pete Fitzboydon, CEO of Sussex Cricket, said: "This is a really exciting step for us. We want The 1st Central County Ground to be more than just a brilliant place to watch cricket — we want it to be a place where the whole community comes together to share amazing experiences. The outdoor cinema weekend is just the beginning."

To find out more and for information on how to claim free tickets, please visit: https://sussexcricket.co.uk/2025-summer-cinema

Lord March’s Racing XI to play Sussex Cricket Foundation in Alan Lee Memorial Match at Qatar Goodwood Festival

• The Alan Lee Memorial cricket match to take place on Tuesday 29 July after racing at Qatar Goodwood Festival, presented by Visit Qatar.
• Lord March's Racing XI will play Sussex Cricket Foundation’s Select XI in Twenty20 charity game.
• Funds raised will go to Sussex Cricket Foundation to support its programmes, making cricket more accessible to the local community.

Goodwood is delighted to announce that this year’s charity cricket match, which takes place during Qatar Goodwood Festival presented by Visit Qatar, will be between Lord March's Racing XI and Sussex Cricket Foundation.

The Alan Lee Memorial Trophy will be played at Goodwood Cricket Club on Tuesday 29 July from 5.30pm, in aid of Sussex Cricket Foundation. The Foundation works to help increase awareness and grow the game from grassroots level, making it accessible to all and supporting diversity while raising funds for its local programmes.

Lord March's Racing XI will comprise of a number of horseracing personalities. Meanwhile, Sussex Select XI will feature members of the Sussex Women's Team, Sussex Disability Cricket Team, ex-professionals and local club cricketers.

The match is played every year in front of Goodwood House in memory of racing and cricket journalist Alan Lee, who passed away in 2015.

Cricket is the oldest of the sports played at Goodwood and has been supported by all the Dukes of Richmond. It has been associated with Goodwood since at least 1702. The earliest known written laws of cricket were drawn up for a game between the 2nd Duke of Richmond and Mr Broderick of Peper Harow in 1727.

Gary Wallis-Tayler, Community Cricket Director at Sussex Cricket, said: "I am delighted that Goodwood has chosen to support the Sussex Cricket Foundation this year. It gives us the perfect opportunity to showcase the work of the Foundation, strengthen our links with the local community and showcase players from our various Sussex teams. I hope this is the start of a successful long-term partnership with Goodwood and I am extremely grateful for its support.”

James Crespi, Goodwood Racecourse Director, said: “Renowned as England’s greatest sporting estate, a love of sport is at the heart of all that we do here at Goodwood. We want to ensure that sport is accessible to all, whether that’s horseracing, golf, motorsport, or cricket. We are proud to be raising money for Sussex Cricket Foundation as they play Lord March’s Racing XI after a superb afternoon of horseracing at Qatar Goodwood Festival presented by Visit Qatar.”

Before the charity match gets underway, Sussex Cricket Foundation will host a girls’ softball tournament between 3pm and 5.30pm. at Goodwood Cricket Club. For more information and entry details about the 6-a-side Dynamos Softball, contact lara.johnson@sussexcricket.co.uk.

Tickets

Tickets, dining, and hospitality are on sale for Qatar Goodwood Festival presented by Visit Qatar. Visit Goodwood.com or call 01243 755055 to find out more. 

About Goodwood Cricket Club
Cricket is the oldest of the sports played at Goodwood and has been supported by all the Dukes of Richmond. It has been associated with Goodwood since at least 1702, as evidenced in a receipt for brandy. The oldest set of cricket rules still in existence were written for a match between the 2nd Duke and Mr Brodrick of Peper Harow, near Godalming. They are today kept with the Goodwood collection in the West Sussex Record Office in Chichester. A replica is on display in the pavilion at Goodwood.

The Goodwood Cricket colours (red and yellow) originate from the Duke’s Racing Colours. Sometime after their use on the Estate the MCC also used the same colours. The 4th Duke had been a backer of Thomas Lord and was a prime mover in the foundation of the MCC. James Lillywhite Jnr, England’s first ever Test captain, was born and played his cricket at Goodwood, whilst Hilda, the 8th Duchess played for the White Heather Ladies Cricket Club, the first ever women’s cricket club. Today the cricket ground is used by The Staff XI, Goodwood CC and Chichester PPCC.

About the Qatar Goodwood Festival presented by Visit Qatar
The Qatar Goodwood Festival presented by Visit Qatar is one of the undisputed highlights of the British flat racing season. Affectionately known as ‘Glorious Goodwood,’ the world-famous five-day festival is a sporting and social occasion like no other, unrivalled style, superb racing, and hospitality experiences to savour mean it’s not to be missed. The 2025 event takes place from Tuesday 29 July to Saturday 2 August. The week is headed by three Group 1 races, including the £500,000 Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup, the £1 million Qatar Sussex Stakes, and the £600,000 Visit Qatar Nassau Stakes.

About Sussex Cricket Foundation
As Sussex Cricket’s charitable arm, the foundation’s aim is to actively change lives through cricket across the community. Using the game and the Sussex Cricket brand to deliver accessible and enjoyable opportunities that grow the sport, tackle inequalities, improve health and wellbeing and enable people to fulfil their potential.

Through activities, SCF looks to make cricket accessible to all, no matter what type of cricket experience you are looking for. Cricket relies on the contribution and support of volunteers, who keep clubs running, officiate at matches, coach and develop players of all ages and prepare and keep the grounds we play on. SCF offer’s support and training to help these volunteers continue to develop the clubs they love.

Sussex Cricket Foundation’s 2024 Impact Report: sussexcricket.co.uk/sussex-cricket-foundation/impact-report-2024

It's out with the red ball, and in with the white ball as the Vitality Blast returns for its final group stage leg. And for the Sharks, who have played excellently in their opening seven matches, make the short hop over the county border into Kent for an evening clash under the Canterbury lights.

The Sharks headed into the short white ball break on the back of a defeat at Surrey, but are currently placed in third having played a game fewer than those around them. Four wins, two draws and a no result hand Paul Farbrace's side 18 points thus far. The same number, in fact, of tonight's opponents...

The Opposition

Whilst their red ball campaign may not quite be what Head Coach Adam Hollioake would have wished for in his first season at the club, their white ball cricket has been very impressive indeed. Despite setbacks at home to Gloucestershire and away to Surrey - where they lost on the final ball - the Spitfires have acquired excellent victories over Somerset and Hampshire. They sit in fourth, where a victory would take them above the Sharks.

The two sides are yet to meet in any competition this season, but will face off twice in a five-day period as the Spitfires head to Hove on Wednesday evening. Kent have strengths in plenty of departments, with captain Sam Billings a perennial threat with the bat and behind the stumps. Tawanda Muyeye continues to shine out in the middle, whilst the overseas seamer, Tom Rogers, has excelled in his second spell with the club.

Previous Encounters

In the Blast last year, it was the Sharks that commandeered both group stage matches, winning both in fairly serene style. 

Over the years, the two counties have met on 36 occasions in T20 cricket. Sussex have won 16 of the matches, including the previous three meetings, whilst Kent just about have the head-to-head edge, claiming 17 victories. There have been two no results, and one tie.

Team News

Paul Farbrace has named a 14-player squad for the trip to Canterbury. Tom Alsop and Harrison Ward both return to the squad following their injuries, whilst Fynn Hudson-Prentice returns to the squad following his loan move to Derbyshire.

Alsop, Carson, Clark, Coles, Crocombe, Hudson-Prentice, Hughes, Lamb, McAndrew, Mills (c), Robinson, Simpson (wk), Thomas, Ward

Start Time

Tonight's match will commence at 6.30pm.

How to Watch

You will be able to watch every ball, free of charge, of the Kent clash 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.

Ticket Information

Limited tickets remain available for this evening's clash in Canterbury, and can be purchased from the Kent Cricket website by clicking this link.

Warwickshire batted through a rain-affected final day to draw their Rothesay County Championship match with Sussex at Hove.

Tom Latham led the way with 69 and there were half-centuries for skipper Alex Davies and Sam Hain with Warwickshire on 260 for four, a lead of 142, when the players shook hands at 4.50pm. Sussex took 14 points, Warwickshire 13.  

After only 21 wickets had fallen on the first three days there was little likelihood of a clatter on day four, and the already slim odds on Sussex forcing a victory lengthened when 18 overs were lost to rain and bad light before lunch.

Sussex employed spin for most of the day with Ollie Robinson even bowling two overs of off-breaks to support the efforts of off-spinner Jack Carson and slow left-armer James Coles, who bowled 53.3 overs between them.

There was some occasionally sharp turn out of the rough and with men clustered around the bat Warwickshire’s batters needed to be diligent and they were. The only disappointment was that neither Davies nor Latham, who were well set, could convert their hard work into a century. Hain’s unbeaten 53 came off 170 balls and he didn’t hit a single boundary.

Warwickshire began on 88 for one, still 30 runs behind, and they knocked off 20 of that deficit in the 25 minutes before bad light followed by rain forced the players off.

When they returned Coles struck with his third ball, which spun a little and Davies edged it to slip where Tom Haines held a reflex catch to his left. Davies’ 58 – his fifth fifty of the season – included nine fours.

Carson had been expected to bowl from the sea end, where Warwickshire’s off-spinner Corey Rocchiccioli had taken his six wickets, but it was Coles who settled into a long spell up the slope instead. Robinson, hoping his higher release point might disconcert the batters, gave him a brief respite before Coles returned in the 58th over to pick up a second wicket with his third ball back.

Latham, having played well for 69, clipped a ball to short leg and Dan Ibrahim clung on to the ball at chest height. The New Zealander had batted for more than three hours and looked good for a few more.

At one stage Coles bowled to a ring of four fielders 15 yards from the bat on the off side before going off halfway through his 21st over. Carson, meanwhile, was into his 31st over before getting a belated reward for his efforts when Zen Malik (44) was caught at leg slip off bat and pad.

When Carson came off Fynn Hudson-Prentice bowled some off breaks of his own and even opener Dan Hughes turned his arm over before a halt was called.

By ECB Reporters Network, supported by Rothesay 

James Coles made 150 to help Sussex to a first innings lead over Warwickshire in their Rothesay County Championship match at Hove. The visitors ended day three on 88 for one, still trailing by 30 runs.

Coles’ second successive Championship hundred helped Sussex take a first-innings lead of 118 after their first innings ended on 433, 20 minutes after tea on day three.

It left Warwickshire with 24 overs to get through to stumps and they closed on 88 for one, losing Rob Yates for 11 when he inside-edged a fine ball from Ollie Robinson onto his middle stump.

Off-spinner Jack Carson nearly broke through late on but Daniel Ibrahim put down a tough chance at short leg to reprieve skipper Alex Davies, who has so far added 66 with Tom Latham as Warwickshire closed 30 runs in arrears. But the effects of a slow pitch and the Kookaburra ball are likely to ensure a stalemate, especially with some rain in the forecast on the final day.

Coles, 21, made an unbeaten 148 against Durham last week and followed it up with his sixth first-class hundred, sharing stands of 73 with Dan Ibrahim (36), 59 with John Simpson (30) and 50 with Fynn Hudson-Prentice (45) before he was sixth out, caught behind via an inside edge off Ethan Bamber.

He had to be patient for long periods. Even without Chris Rushworth, who injured his hamstring after sending down just three overs on the second day, Warwickshire bowled diligently and fielded well. Coles, unbeaten on 50 overnight, brought up his hundred with an edge to the third boundary just before lunch, but it was one of the few unconvincing shots he played in nearly six-and-a-half hours at the crease when he faced 294 balls, an outstanding effort on another day of sweltering heat at Hove. He hit 19 fours and pulled a six into the pavilion off Oliver Hannon-Dalby.

Warwickshire’s hard work in the field was epitomised by Rocchiccioli, the Western Australian who arrived in England for his first taste of county cricket last month having taken 84 Sheffield Shield wickets since the 2023/24 season. Here he followed up his six wickets on debut against Somerset at Edgbaston last week with six more. Three came on the second day and he had to plug away from the sea end until his 18th over today for further reward when Carson (28) was smartly taken at leg slip.

Rocchiccioli then polished off the innings by removing Gurinder Sandhu and Henry Crocombe with successive deliveries. The 328 balls he sent down was the most in an innings by a Warwickshire bowler since Ashley Giles bowled 68.3 overs against Yorkshire at Headingley in 1996. He just about had the strength to doff his cap to acknowledge the appreciative applause of the crowd after he’d sent down his 50th over.

Bamber was the pick of Warwickshire’s seam attack, picking up Ibrahim who played around a straight one as well as Coles and there was a wicket apiece for Yates and Ed Barnard. 

ECB Reporters Network, supported by Rothesay

Half-Price Entry: Day 4 vs Warwickshire

Entry to the fourth and final day of Sussex vs Warwickshire in the Rothesay County Championship Division One is half-price for all spectators. 

The game is evenly poised going into the final day, with both sides still hopeful of victory. Click here to purchase your half-price tickets for the game. 

The Sussex Cricket Foundation Welcomes Ron’s March to Hove

The Sussex Cricket Foundation and the Sussex Seniors proudly joined forces yesterday to support Ron’s March—a special initiative in aid of the Bob Willis Fund, which raises awareness and vital funds for prostate cancer.

Over 40 members of our Sussex Seniors teams, alongside Katie Willis—daughter of England cricket legend Bob Willis—embarked on a meaningful walk from Portslade Cricket Club to The 1st Central County Ground in Hove.

The march aimed to shine a light on the importance of early detection and support for those battling prostate cancer. It also served as a fundraising effort for the Bob Willis Fund, which continues to make significant contributions in the fight against the disease.

Katie Willis shared her thoughts after the event: “It’s been an incredible day at Sussex Cricket for Ron’s March, raising vital funds and awareness for prostate cancer in support of the Bob Willis Fund and Prostate Cancer UK. 

"This disease, which tragically took my dad’s life far too soon, affects so many families, and it’s so important that we continue to fight it. 

"We’re hugely grateful to Sussex Cricket for hosting us and for their generous support of our cause. Wonderful to see the cricket community coming together once again to make a difference. Thank you to all involved.”

After completing the walk, participants were invited to enjoy Day 2 of Sussex’s Rothesay County Championship match against Warwickshire. The group was also surprised with a special visit from Sussex Director of Cricket Paul Farbrace and Club Captain John Simpson, who thanked them for their efforts and support.

Gary Wallis-Tayler, Sussex Cricket’s Community Cricket Director, added: “We are delighted to have supported Ron’s March to continue raising awareness of the Bob Willis Fund and raising vital funds to support it. 

"Supporting our communities is extremely important to us at Sussex Cricket, and we hope to have raised some awareness locally of the fund and how people can support their efforts in helping fight the disease.”

Anyone wishing to donate to the cause can do so via the official fundraising page: Support Ron’s March for Prostate Cancer

Daniel Hughes made a season’s best 151 before departing to the last ball of the second day as Sussex made a strong response to Warwickshire’s 415 in the Rothesay County Championship.

The 36-year-old Australian left-hander was lbw to off-spinner Corey Rocchiccioli off the penultimate delivery of the second day as Sussex reached 278 for three.

Hughes had shared an opening partnership of 98 with Tom Haines and then added 142 with James Coles as the combination of a flat pitch, a Kookaburra ball doing little off the straight and the pitiless Hove heat made it a tough day for Warwickshire’s attack.

Rocchiccioli toiled away manfully, bowling unchanged for two sessions apart from a solitary over, from the sea end to pick up all three Sussex wickets for 94 from 35 overs.

Both Hughes and Coles’ scoring options were limited after tea when Warwickshire skipper Alex Davies employed as many as eight leg-side fielders as he rotated his seamers while Rocchiccioli wheeled away at the other end. It looked like being a fruitless session for the Bears until Rocchiccioli, armed with the new ball, skidded a quicker delivery onto Hughes’ pads for a belated but deserved reward. Hughes' 151 came off 260 deliveries with 26 fours.

Hughes had only previously passed fifty three times this season, although 60 against Durham last week hinted at a return to form. Here, the majority of his boundaries came through his strong areas between extra cover and mid-off. It was an impressive physical effort too, given the scorching temperatures.

Warwickshire wicketkeeper Kai Smith was convinced Haines had edged a ball from Rocchiccioli in his fourth over but the umpire was unmoved and in his next over Haines lofted Rocchiccioli for six, necessitating a ball change. It did the trick as Rocchiccioli got enough grip to knock back Haines’ off stump and end an opening stand of 98 in 22 overs.

Rocchiccioli had a second wicket in the 32nd over when the out of form Tom Clark, who’d faced 28 balls for his five, was held low down at slip pushing forward by Tom Latham. Clark made 140 when the teams met at Edgbaston in April but his last 11 Championship innings have yielded a meagre 79 runs.

Sussex scored 140 in the afternoon session with Hughes reaching his tenth first-class hundred by taking two boundaries in three balls off Ethan Bamber.

The runs dried up after tea, though, as Warwickshire went on the defensive and Rocchiccioli plugged away trying to force a mistake. Even Coles, who likes to get on with it, was becalmed for long spells as 78 runs were scored in the final session. Coles was still there at the close, though, having passed fifty for the fifth time this season just before stumps.

Earlier, Warwickshire’s last three wickets added a further 43 runs in just under an hour.

Ollie Robinson struck in the second over of the day when he found Smith’s inside edge and Gurinder Sandhu also claimed his third wicket of the innings when he had Chris Rushworth caught behind. Jack Carson trapped Bamber in front with a ball which kept a shade low to end the innings.

Sam Hain and Ed Barnard, with a fifth wicket stand of 151 in 32 overs, gave Warwickshire the advantage on the opening day of their championship match against Sussex at Hove, before the home side fought back to achieve parity at the close.

Hain played a particularly exhilarating innings, using his feet and wrists to play a medley of inventive strokes to unsettle the Sussex bowlers.  He reached his half century for the fifth time in as many championship innings and went on to make 87 from 118 deliveries, with three sixes and seven fours.  Barnard, impressive in a support role, made 66.

It would have been worse for Sussex but for Henry Crocombe, their fastest and best bowler yesterday in only his second game of the season.  Crocombe missed the start of the summer with injury but took six wickets in the win over Hampshire in May.   Here, he took three wickets for 73, bending his back and achieving some pace. 

Sussex and Warwickshire started the match without the respective services of Jofra  Archer and  Jacob Bethell, but with the shared hope that both players might be available for the last two days of the game if not selected by England for the second Test against India at Edgbaston; Crocombe replaced Archer from the side that drew with Durham last week, while Zen Malik came in for Bethell in the side that had a similar stalemate with Somerset. Chris Rushworth also came in for Che Simmons.

The warm weather and the Kookaburra ball helped persuade Warwickshire to bat first.  But the cloud cover and the grassy pitch still offered encouragement to the Sussex seamers.

The first session went Warwickshire’s way, their batsman exploiting the short boundary on the pavilion side of the ground as  Sussex struggled for penetration.

Yates, who has suffered indifferent form since his century in the opening match of the season, looked in particularly good form as he shared an opening stand of 79 with his captain Alex Davies.  Davies gifted Sussex their first wicket in the 18th over, looking in two minds as he uppercut a short delivery from Crocombe to Fynn Hudson-Prentice on the deep point boundary.  But Warwickshire lunched on a comfortable 113 for one.

The second session, when the sun came out and the ball turned soft, promised further riches for the batting side.  But Sussex, protecting their seven bowlers from the heat with short spells, and backing them up with spirited fielding, fought their way back onto level terms.

Warwickshire lost their second wicket on 174 when Tom Latham edged one down the legside from Crocombe, ending a second wicket stand of 95.  And one run later, in Crocombe’s next over, Hudson-Prentice produced an excellent reflex catch, hands above his head at backward square-leg, to dismiss Yates, who had struck 15 fours in his impressive 93 from 142 deliveries.  Six overs later the challenging Gurinder Sandhu moved one away from Malik, for John Simpson to take the regulation catch behind the stumps, and Sussex were on top, with Warwickshire 189 for four, though they recovered to 242 for four at tea.

Sussex took the new ball at 308 for four and took three further wickets. Crocombe (who will make way if Archer joins the game) almost had Hain caught at mid-on by Ollie Robinson, who finally had the batsman well caught at leg gully by Tom Haines. Then Barnard and Corey Rocchiccioli fell near the end.

Sussex World Blog: Bertie Foreman

In the next edition of our player blogs written for Sussex World, Bertie Foreman talks about his memories of growing up with dreams of following in the footsteps of his cricket heroes, and what it will mean to the young players to be playing for their country in the England U19 v India U19 ODI series.

Read the full blog on the Sussex World website.