Horsham hopeful of county cricket return
Officials at Horsham Cricket Club are hopeful Sussex will return for a one-day match in 2021 – but nothing is certain.
The England & Wales Cricket Board has released the counties’ one-day fixtures and although venues for Sussex’s home games in the Royal London Cup are all listed as Hove, it is hoped to be able to play matches at Horsham and Eastbourne.
It will depend on the effect Covid has on the county season.
Sussex’s long history of playing at Horsham, stretching back more than 100 years, came to an abrupt end in 2015 because of difficulties in obtaining sponsorship.
Horsham Cricket Club was delighted to announce the county would be returning with a Royal London Cup 50-over game against Gloucestershire last August, only for that to fall victim to the pandemic.
Hove was originally designated as a hub venue for the women’s version of The Hundred, which would have given Sussex outgrounds the possibility of further county fixtures, but that arrangement has been discontinued.
Horsham, though, remain hopeful of staging popular Sussex cricket matches again.
HCC’s Chris Shambrook said: “We’re looking forward to seeing some cricket and I’ve spoken to Sussex CEO Rob Andrew. We’re all very keen to have the county back here,
but until the lockdown restrictions are eased, unfortunately it’s not possible to add to the county’s statement.”
Horsham CC chairman Richard Marshall added: “We’ve only just had the county one day fixtures, and we’re now waiting for the government’s
announcement later this month on how sport might be able to proceed.
“However, we are hoping for a full season of Sussex League matches at the club.
“And I’m very pleased to say the MCC are sending men’s and women’s sides to play us on
Tuesday, August 10.
“We’re enthusiastic at the prospect of our programme of representative matches.”
The full Sussex schedule can be seen at wscountytimes. co.uk/sport – Sussex are due to begin their county championship campaign against Lancashire
at Hove on Thursday April 8, with the Vitality Blast T20 campaign starting with a trip to play Gloucestershire on Friday June 11.
Sussex’s Royal London competition gets under way when Durham come to Hove on Thursday, July 15.