County Championship 2025. Division 1. Sussex v Somerset 11^th, 12^th, 13^th and 14^th April. Hove.

Will Smeed was unavailable for selection due to injury.

Sussex. D.P. Hughes, T.J. Haines, T.G.R. Clark, T.P. Alsop, J.M. Coles, J.A. Simpson (c) (w), F.J. Hudson-Prentice, D.J. Lamb, J.J. Carson, J.N.T. Seales, S.F. Hunt.

Somerset. A.M. Vaughan, S.R. Dickson, T.A. Lammonby, T.B. Abell, T. Banton, J.E.K. Rew (w), L. Gregory (c), K.L. Aldridge, M. Pretorius, J.H. Davey, M.J. Leach.

Toss. Sussex. Elected to bat.

First day – A harsh lesson

This match was the start of a marathon for the Somerset players and travelling supporters. After the gruelling draw against Worcestershire in the first match of the season at Taunton, the match against Sussex at Hove was the first of three away matches in successive weeks with Hampshire at Southampton and Surrey at The Oval to follow. A 150-mile journey across country, with no direct route whether you travelled by car or train, was not the ideal way to begin such a marathon, especially after the draining experience of the Worcestershire match. Once this match was over I was due to travel direct to the Hampshire match, then home for two days before travelling to the Surrey one. Three away Championship matches in three successive weeks is one way to wake yourself up for the rest of the season.

It did not help that I developed a streaming cold the day before the first morning of the match. Shades of Kidderminster 2023. Nor did it help that I was staying in Shoreham-by-Sea, a five-mile bus ride from the ground, or that the bus stop was a mile and a half walk from my accommodation. An extra three quarters of an hour in bed helped with the cold but meant that I arrived at the ground three quarters of an hour late. It also helped that the sky was coated in the thinnest covering of white cloud, insufficient to prevent an unseasonably hot sun from bathing the ground for my arrival. It is surprising how great a lift a cricket ground bathed in sunshine after a long winter can give to a sick cricket lover. The buzz of a large, buoyant crowd helped too and the lack of a bag search on the gate was a reminder of old times.

Sussex had won the toss and elected to bat. For Somerset, Lewis Gregory had bowled Tom Haines for 14 and Sussex were 43 for 1 when I arrived. Early April it may have been but, given the heat of the sun, I sat in the shade at the top of the Sharks Stand at the Sea End, keeping a seat or two between me and others as I nursed my cold. In the middle, Josh Davey, Sea End, and Gregory were continuing their opening spells. My first impressions were of bowlers making no impact, and two left-handers, Daniel Hughes and Tom Clark looking untroubled. As I settled in, they played some sumptuous straight drives to the Sea End off Davey and, after him, Kasey Aldridge which only served to confirm my initial impression. Very quickly, Gregory had demonstrated his penchant for bowling no balls, three coming in the remainder of his spell, a pattern continued from earlier seasons, the line being overstepped by Somerset 12 times in the Sussex innings.

Somerset had left out Craig Overton, which was a point for discussion throughout the day among the large number of Somerset supporters who had travelled. Some agreed with the decision. The next two matches, at Southampton and The Oval, would be particularly difficult, perhaps the most difficult of the season, and Overton had played at Taunton against Worcestershire and given his all in the heat of that long Worcestershire second innings. It would be tempting injury they thought to attempt to play him in four consecutive Championship matches. Others thought that, after the Worcestershire draw, he should have played because of the importance of getting Somerset’s season moving with a win at Hove. Such is the importance of Overton to Somerset’s prospects in the Championship that, at the start of this match, they had not won a Championship match without him since 2019. For supporters it was a point of discussion. For coaches, a decision had to be made.

A dozen overs into the innings Somerset were still attacking and still had four slips, but with Sussex responding in kind, the slips were soon reduced to three. When Clark cut Pretorius backward of point and drove him through the covers to the Pavilion, both for four, the fifty partnership for the second wicket was registered from 62 balls. In Aldridge’s next over, Sussex kept the pressure on, Haines driving him through extra cover for three while Clark turned him behind square and clipped him square to the Pavilion, both for four. That took Sussex to 87 for 1 at the end of the 17^th over. Five runs an over in the first hour or so of a Championship match is a stunning start. The impression from beyond the boundary was of a Sussex team, fresh from promotion from the Second Division, determined to make their mark, and Somerset bowlers and fielders looking flat, something virtually unheard of for a Somerset team, having come to Hove off the back of what must have been a soul-destroying draw at Taunton.

From the crest of that wave, Sussex coasted to lunch. Four boundaries and 35 runs came in the final 13 overs but, crucially, no wickets. There were two or three appeals, but none were convincing. Three of the boundaries were driven through cover or extra cover, two by Clark, to the side of the ground, opposite the Pavilion, which is lined with marquees. The marquees were primarily for hospitality, although one is a bar, with the remainder of the crowd, which was large for this match, located in the other three quarters of the ground, the Pavilion having barely an empty seat. With the school Easter Holidays in full swing there were numbers of schoolchildren in attendance providing some high-pitched chatter which floated above the general hum of the Championship crowd. As the score reached 114 for 1, one satisfied Sussex supporter said, “That’s not bad at all.” Then, with the announcement, “Spectators will not be permitted on the outfield during the lunch interval,” the players walked off to some smiling Sussex faces with the score on 122 for 1 from 30 overs, the momentum clearly with their team.

I walked twice around the ground during my lunchtime circumnavigation, anticlockwise as always and the large number of travelling Somerset supporters was noticeable. It was a successful circumnavigation insofar as it continued into the afternoon session as I paused to watch the cricket, and that Somerset took two wickets before I regained my seat. Clark was the first to go, caught behind off Pretorius, although not before he had turned him behind square for two to register the century partnership from 150 balls in 90 minutes. The wicket came from a hurried defensive stroke and flew straight into Rew’s waiting gloves. Sussex 127 for 2. Clarke 49. I was near the players’ dressing rooms as he climbed the steps, close enough to see that he looked even more disconsolate than most dismissed batters as he walked up the dressing room steps, doubtless being out on 49 hurts even more than the norm.

An over later, I was continuing my circumnavigation behind the Pavilion when I heard cheers from the Somerset team and their supporters followed shortly afterwards by applause from Sussex supporters. They were the tell-tale signs of a wicket. As I emerged from behind the Pavilion into the gap next to the Sharks Stand, the scoreboard, on the far side of the ground among the marquees, revealed the departure of another left hander, Tom Alsop for 0. He had been caught off his second ball by Aldridge, reaching low to his right at second slip to scoop up the catch which had taken the edge of a straight defensive bat. Sussex 134 for 3. Gregory the bowler. That became 134 for 4 as Dan Hughes, who had been at the crease since the start and was also on 49, was leg before wicket through a defensive bat to a ball which cut in a trace and struck his pad in front of middle. After a disappointing morning, Somerset supporters were now regaining their spirits, but John Simpson, Sussex captain, another left hander, and often the bane of Somerset in his Middlesex days, was walking out to join James Coles. Simpson soon announced himself with a four driven through the covers off Pretorius. But the Somerset bowlers, looking sharper, were in full flow now, and in the next over, with three slips still in place, Coles attempted a straight drive to a straight ball from Gregory, connected only with the inside edge and was caught behind by Rew moving a foot or two to leg. Sussex 142 for 5. Coles 1, and for the first time in the match, the edge seemed to be with Somerset.

But then, in fits and starts, Sussex began to regain the initiative, led as so often in his Middlesex days by their captain, Simpson. He was supported initially by all-rounder Fynn Hudson-Prentice who, curiously, has a batting average of 28 but, after 70 first-class matches, no century. Hudson-Prentice began by on driving Gregory to the Pavilion but was beaten by him twice, suffered a leg before wicket appeal and missed a drive. Steadily though, he and Simpson established themselves, pushing the Sussex score along at three an over. A pull for three from Simpson off Gregory was stopped just short of the midwicket boundary. “Didn’t go for four,” said a surprised Sussex supporter. “Ball is getting softer,” the reply. A Hudson-Prentice on drive did cross the boundary in front of the park benches at the Cromwell Road End next to the dressing rooms, from where it was thrown back by the non-playing Overton. Simpson meanwhile took a liking to Aldridge’s bowling and, in successive overs, drove him straight and pulled him just wide of a diving midwicket fielder, both for four, the boundary taking Sussex to 173 for 5 and a semblance of respectability.

Then, when Aldridge beat a straight defensive stroke from Hudson-Prentice, Rew seemed to duck away from the ball which flew past his retreating head and crossed the Sea End boundary. Worse it seemed, there was an audible snick which must have been heard all around the ground. It was only when Hudson-Prentice looked around at his, still perfectly erect, stumps and walked off that it became apparent that Rew had been ducking a bail which the ball had struck and propelled towards him. Sussex 180 for 6. Hudson-Prentice 15. Danny Lamb joined Simpson and was immediately the subject of a leg before wicket appeal. Two balls later, he was beaten onto the pad again, and this time the umpire’s finger was raised. “Yes!” I said, half punching the air, for suddenly the Somerset bowlers were coming back at Sussex for a second time. “I wish he’d had a slog at it,” the despondent comment of a Sussex supporter. Sussex 180 for 7. Lamb 0.

Again, with backs to the wall, Sussex counterattacked. This time in the guise of Jack Carson, Simpson still directing operations from the other end. Carson was beaten by Pretorius, “Pretorius has extra pace,” someone thought, and then by Aldridge, but before Aldridge’s over was out Carson had twice clipped him off his toes through deep square leg and midwicket, both to the Pavilion boundary. “Beautiful!” someone said after the first. In the next over, he drove Pretorius over the long on boundary in front of one of the marquees. “He’s playing his shots,” the comment. In Pretorius’s next over, as if in confirmation, he repeated the stroke. A two turned to midwicket off Aldridge by Simpson took Sussex past 200. When Leach replaced Pretorius at the Sea End he was promptly driven back over his head for six. When Gregory replaced Aldridge, Simpson drove him crisply straight and then through extra cover, both for four. “We’ve seen some excellent drives today,” said a satisfied Sussex supporter. With tea approaching, Leach replaced Pretorius at the Sea End. Three balls later, Clark came forward to defend with a straight bat and edged the ball straight to Gregory at slip. Sussex 233 for 8. Carson 30 from 44 balls in 48 minutes. From there Simpson and Jayden Seales, Sussex’s West Indian Test pace bowler, saw Sussex to tea on 242 for 8. They had lost seven wickets in the afternoon session, but after being 142 for 5, it felt to a Somerset supporter like a recovery.

The tea interval was spent undertaking a relaxed walk on the outfield with hundreds of others. Spectators were permitted right up to the cut square and knew the point beyond which they should not stray. Some schoolchildren were playing cricket and Josh Davey was having a practice bowl, one steward having been deputed to keep people clear of Davey’s run up and line of fire. Old times indeed. And then, I set off to complete my circumnavigation. While I was behind one of the marquees Somerset took another wicket. I would rather not know the number of wickets I have missed over the years while walking behind a stand or marquee or other obstruction, and they are not always opposition ones. Here, Simpson had tried to chip a ball from Davey through midwicket, been tucked up in the attempt, and an outside edge instead chipped the ball to Tom Abell at cover. Perhaps that bit of teatime practice had paid off. Sussex 242 for 9. Simpson 47 from 87 balls in ten minutes over two hours. In comparison with the rest of the Sussex innings Simpson’s had been slow, but during the time he was there, 108 runs had been added, and Sussex had had time to develop an at least serviceable total.

It was even more serviceable by the end of the innings. Seales and Sean Hunt added 52 runs in ten overs for the final wicket. While I had been on the outfield, a Somerset supporter approached me, or my white broad-rimmed hat with a wyvern crest, and said, “I thought this might be our year until we lost Henry,” the loss of the New Zealand Test bowler before the start of the season still being felt. Perhaps he was being missed now, because the Sussex numbers ten and eleven seemed to be in no trouble at all. By the time I reached the Sharks Stand they had added 25 to rising cheers and applause. As I sat down, Seales played a back foot cover drive off Pretorius which raced to the boundary, In the next over, Hunt drove Gregory three times. The first and third flew through the off side for four. The second was intended to go the same way but took the edge and flew like a rocket over the slips for four which brought the sort of laughter which follows a tailender having some luck with an edged boundary. In Gregory’s next over, Hunt drove square and through mid-off. Two more fours, the second of which registered the fifty partnership bringing cheers and loud and long applause from the Sussex crowd. Then, two balls later, Hunt unleashed a mighty heave and had two of his stumps flattened. The crowd were buzzing though, and someone said incredulously, “From 180 for 7!” It had been a tremendous end to the innings. It had transformed the feel of the day and the Sussex crowd applauded their batters off. If momentum means anything in cricket, it was now undoubtedly with Sussex.

In response, with the crowd still bubbling after that last wicket partnership, and after a steady start, the loss of Archie Vaughan apart, the Somerset innings can only be described as a procession. Vaughan began with three boundaries in the first three overs, one driven through the covers off Hunt, one a guided hook to fine leg off Seales and one off the edge between the three slips and gully off Seales. He did not survive the Seales over. Trying to clip him into the on side he got an outside edge and the ball flew low and wide of third slip from where Coles took off low and long to take an excellent catch, the crowd buzz turning into cheers. Somerset 14 for 1. Vaughan 14. Deficit 280. Tom Lammonby joined Sean Dickson, who had opened with Vaughan, and they took Somerset forward with some sharp running, pushed and guided singles, too many edges for comfort and a cut and a late cut from Lammonby, both off Hunt for four. It was an anxious time for Somerset supporters, and the Sussex bowling and Somerset edges made 294 look a decent score.

A change of bowling brought the Sussex breakthrough with Dickson being forced to hurriedly adjust his stroke as a full ball just outside off stump moved away late and Dickson edged it wide of third slip, Coles taking another excellent low diving catch some way to his right. Somerset 40 for 2. Dickson 8. Deficit 254. And so began the procession. Abell was leg before wicket to his first ball, a near yorker from Hudson-Prentice and walked off the second the umpire’s finger was raised. Somerset 40 for 3. That brought huge cheers, applause following in their wake. “That’s the first one he’s given all day,” said one observant Sussex supporter.

The newly arrived Tom Banton, as he is inclined to do at the start of an innings, drove Hudson-Prentice’s last ball straight back to the Cromwell Road boundary. At the start of his next over, there was a shout of, “Let’s have another one!”. Before the over was out, Hudson-Prentice had answered the call, Banton caught behind pushing at another ball that moved away. Somerset 46 for 4. Banton 6. Deficit 248. The more than competent Davey came in ahead of Rew as the night watch but did not quite survive the five remaining overs. He fell, leg before wicket, another wicket for Hudson-Prentice, this time as the inswinger beat a defensive bat onto the pads. Somerset 58 for 5. Davey 6. Deficit 236. Two runs later, Sussex walked off with the game firmly in their grasp and their supporters full of smiles. Somerset meanwhile faced the prospect of a hard fight if they were to avoid one of their habitual early season defeats. It had been a harsh lesson for Somerset against a newly promoted side, a hard day for their supporters and my cold was still streaming.

Close. Sussex 294 (D.P. Hughes 49, T.G.R. Clark 49, J.A. Simpson 47, L. Gregory 4-90). Somerset 62 for 5. Somerset trail by 232 runs with five first innings wickets standing.