Sussex head to Edgbaston for the opening round of the Rothesay County Championship 2025 in what is their first taste of Division One in a decade.
The south coast Club achieved promotion last September having won eight and losing only two of their 14 games under Director of Cricket Paul Farbrace in his second season since leaving Warwickshire.
Friday’s curtain raiser also sees a swift return to Edgbaston for Mark Robinson who landed a short-term coaching role with his former side just weeks after leaving as Bears’ First Team Coach.
Division Two promotion
Sussex’s promotion push was led by captain and wicketkeeper John Simpson who scored 1,197 runs (74.81 ave) – the third highest in Division Two.
He was an ever present in the red ball side alongside opener Tom Haines (819 runs) and Tom Alsop (799 runs) who both returned averages over 40.
With the ball, off spinner Jack Carson took 50 wickets, while 33-year-old England bowler Ollie Robinson claimed 39 scalps.
India internationals Jaydev Unadkat and Cheteshwar Pujara also played important cameos in the charge to the Division Two title.
Fast bowler Unadkat took 22 wickets in five games at 14.40 apiece, while 37-year-old Pujara – who has more than 100 Tests to his name – hit 501 runs in nine innings at an average of 62.62.
Undakat has agreed to return to Hove this summer but will only be available for the season run-in.
Sussex’s other overseas signings for 2025 are Aussie opener Daniel Hughes (pic above) who averaged 56.66 in six innings last season and will be available for the whole campaign.
West Indies quick Jayden Seales bagged 24 wickets in six games for Sussex at the start of last season and is expected to line-up against the Bears.
But fellow seamer, Aussie Nathan McAndrew who took 11 wickets in just two games for the visitors last term, does not arrive until June.
Sussex’s only domestic captures are that of rookies George Thomas – the 21-year-old who’s made 19 List A appearances for Somerset – and teenage fast bowler Nantes Oosthuizen who is yet to make a senior start.
Pre-season build-up
Sussex arrive at Edgbaston on the back of four two-day red ball warm-ups in March against Kent, Surrey and home and away to Hampshire.
Simpson hit an unbeaten 72 at Kent’s Spitfire ground, while Oli Carter and Haines put on 160 for the first wicket at home to Surrey. However, Sussex’s bowlers struggled against the title holders as they racked up 360/4 in 60 overs.
Most recently (29-30 March) Tom Clark fired an unbeaten century at Hove against Hampshire in a 129-run second wicket stand with Hughes.
2025 Membership
It’s an historic year for the Club in 2025, as Bears Men and Women will compete side-by-side. Bears together.
Join the journey with Memberships available, including 1882 Full Club (all domestic cricket), our new B5 White Ball (T20, 50-Over and The Hundred) and Junior Bears (U16s).
