T20 Blast Gloucestershire Guide to the Game by Sussex Cricket

SUN 01 JUN 2025

GUIDE TO THE GAME

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THE COUNTY GROUND

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THE SHARK ZONE SPECTATOR INFORMATION

A DEDICATED SPACE FOR SHARKS FANS TO TURN UP EARLY AND ENJOY THE BUILD-UP TO BLAST GAMES!

FREE FACEPAINTING

Show your support for the sharks with free facepainting for children (and adults!)

FOOD OFFERS

Great food and drink offers that won’t break the bank.

AND SO MUCH MORE AT THE

KIDS ACTIVITIES

Plus, plent of activities for kids while you soak up the atmosphere!

Club Shop

Keep an eye out for our brand new Club Shop, located in the Shark Zone for all your official club merchandise. The shop will be open from 110:30 until 1:15 before opening again at 2:30 until 5.15.

Freebies

Make sure you keep an eye out for all of the freebies we’ll have available to you. These include hairy headbands, Vitality Blast glasses and your 4 & 6 cards to help you celebrate every boundary. These giveaways can be collected in the Shark Zone.

Food and Drink

Alcohol is not permitted to be brought into the ground for the game. We have a wide range of amazing food and drink outlets, located and both the North and South ends of the ground, with so many options to keep you going during the action!

Check out the map on Page 3 to see where the food units are located.

Family fun

Kids can show their support for the Sharks by having their faces painted in Sussex colours, you’ll find the facepainting station located at the Cromwell Road End of the ground, located by the family and general stand. Children aged 5-14 can also join our Foundation coaches in the FamZone for a range of cricket-based activities.

Smoking and vaping

Spectators are not permitted Out of respect to fellow supporters we would remind you that smoking and vaping is only permitted in the outer perimeter road and strictly not within the seating areas of the venue. Thank you for your cooperation.

Cricket is for everyone Sussex is for everyone. Cricket is for everyone. Call it out! That’s why we are committed to our zerotolerance policy when it comes to discrimination, anti-social behaviour and abuse in all its forms.

If you witness racist or homophobic abuse, or any form of discrimination or antisocial behaviour, you can anonymously text ‘SHARKS’ to 07840852792, including any details of the incident.

Low Alcohol Stand

There is a low alcohol stand located in the north of the ground next to the family stand, which also includes a small section of seating where no alcohol is allowed. All tickets are allocated, and these areas need/should have been requested at the time of booking. Please contact a steward if you need assistance.

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THE BLAST IS BACK AND BIGGER THAN EVER

IT FEELS ONLY A SHORT TIME AGO THAT PAUL FARBRACE AND HIS SHARKS TOOK TO THE LUSCIOUS EDGBASTON LAWN LAST SEPTEMBER.

INDEED, THE RESULT AGAINST GLOUCESTERSHIRE WAS A DIFFICULT PILL TO SWALLOW HAVING BATTLED SO BRILLIANTLY THROUGHOUT THE CAMPAIGN. THIS YEAR THE AIM IS SIMPLE: GO ONE STEP FURTHER .

This season we shine the spotlight on another side: Sussex Women. Following an overhaul of the women’s game in the offseason, question marks were raised but we were delighted to have Head Coach Alexia Walker join us on a full-time role having worked at the club for a number of years previously.

In what has been a quick start to life for a very young team, Walker’s side have improved greatly over the past few weeks, and we’re truly excited to see what they can do in the upcoming T20 campaign. Captained by Chiara Green, there is talent in abundance with opener Mollie Adams, daughter of Sussex legend Chris, already scoring a century at Worcester this season.

There is a healthy blend of players both more and less experienced, but with the new structures in place it does provide the platform to perform. Walker’s team had to find their feet quickly, and they have impressed hugely in a short space of time.

So, whilst the red ball takes a rest and the whites are replaced by the blues, it’s time to take the shackles off and unleash the true power of the sport. It comes at a good time, too, with Farbrace’s side reaching the mid-point of County Championship season, and what an excellent start it has been since life back in the top division.

If momentum pays dividend, then the next few weeks should be something to savour. Sussex roll into the T20 on the back of a fine win at Hampshire that sees them settled in 3rd at the halfway stage.

Nine victories in the group stage last season was an excellent achievement, and three more than the season prior. What’s more, Hove was far more of a fortress, with just the one win at home in 2023 significantly bettered a year later. All of this culminated in a memorable quarter-final victory against a very strong Lancashire team – a night that should live long in the memory.

THIS YEAR THE AIM IS

SIMPLE: GO ONE STEP FURTHER.

The result at Finals Day wasn’t what we wanted or indeed expected, but over the course of the campaign there remained much to be positive about. Finishing in second place a mere two points behind a very strong Surrey side was a fantastic achievement, and there’s no reason why it can’t be the same story again this season.

The squad is shaping up in a similar way, with Dan Hughes and Nathan McAndrew the overseas players returning – both of whom have already been a part of the red ball success this season. Hughes was the leading run scorer in the Blast last season, pipping some supreme players to the post. Hughes racked up 596 runs at an average of just below 40 – and we are delighted to have him back in the Sharks top again.

With the ball in hand McAndrew is another fantastic re-addition to the attack. This is his third season with Sussex now, and the impact he has on and off the pitch is always first class.

The Aussie bowler has been consistently brilliant in the Sheffield Shield, and last year was the leading wicket taker in the competition. Alongside Ollie Robinson, Tymal Mills, Brad Currie, Danny Lamb and Jack Carson, with others hastily knocking at the door, it remains a formidable bowling attack for the forthcoming campaign.

Mills keeps his captaincy after a successful stint in the role last season, and the left-arm quick continues to work immensely hard behind the scenes to ensure he and his team are ready for the white ball campaign. It’s not just a case of looking after himself, though, as there is an abundance of work going on off the field to ensure that everything is in pristine condition ahead of the tournament. Team strategy, analysis and conversations have been going on since the aftermath of that semi-final defeat to Gloucestershire, and with the squad shaping up in similar fashion, it shows there weren’t too many areas to improve in.

similar to last year. We went into the T20 having won our last championship game. We then won the Championship game during the T20s. So, you keep that momentum going. Even though it’s two different captains and two different colours of ball, the momentum is really important for us as a group of players.”

Offering his thoughts on the T20 to come, Farbrace said: “We’re excited. We found a formula playing at Hove, which was important not only for us to win games, but also to get people in to watch the games. Last year, we had some fantastic games –thriller against Gloucester, beating Lancashire in the home quarter final, which made a significant difference financially to the club as well.”

He continued: “Millsy [Tymal Mills] last year was outstanding as captain, and I think we’ve got the nucleus of a very, very good team. We signed George Thomas who we expect to be there or thereabouts in terms of the starting XI. But players have got better. They’ve worked hard again over the winter, and I think it’s a brilliant opportunity for players now to go and show their skills.”

“We’ve got 15 or 16 names and any of them can play and help make us a very good team. It’s lovely going into it having won your last championship game – that’s

The short format at Hove always provides the fizz and noise. For many, this is how they fell in love with the sport. It is a spectacle unlike any other, and with supporters continually flocking through the gates they deserve a winning team. You could hardly be prouder of what Farbrace and Walker have achieved in a remarkably short space of time.

Excitement is building as we approach Blast Off at the 1st Central County Ground with a doubleheader against Gloucestershire – importantly handing a stage for our women’s team to shine in front of what is expected to be a strong crowd.

But the fun begins on Thursday – another doubleheader, this time at Lord’s – with the fireworks loaded and the playlist sorted. We’re back for more sixes, for more cartwheeling stumps. And we can’t wait for you to be with us again as we aim to go one step further this time around.