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Metro Bank One Day Cup Preview: Sussex Sharks v Somerset
THE MATCH
Somerset take on Sussex Sharks in the Metro Bank One Day Cup at the 1st Central County Ground, Hove tomorrow, Thursday August 21st.
Play is due to get underway at 11am.
Tickets for this match are still available:
HOW CAN I KEEP UP TO DATE?
You can keep up to date using the dedicated Match Centre on this website which will feature a live stream of the action courtesy of Sussex CCC.
In-play updates will also appear on our X feed (formerly Twitter).
In addition to this, a report on the day’s play along with quotes will be posted on this website.
THE OPPOSITION
SUSSEX SHARKS
Captain: John Simpson
2024 Position: Ninth (Group B)
2024 Most Runs: Tom Haines (326)
2024 Most Wickets: Henry Crocombe (10)
Overview: Sussex regard the Metro Bank One-Day Cup primarily as a development competition and the focus will again be on giving youngsters opportunities. Many will be better for the experience they had in 2024, even though they only won one game, and if they can make a good start they could make the knockout stages, as they did in 2022 with a similarly inexperienced team.
Player to watch: Henry Crocombe was one of the stars of Sussex’s Vitality Blast campaign with 15 wickets in his nine games and he was their leading wicket-taker in the One-Day Cup last season. With his strong action, the 23-year-old is capable of bowling with serious heat and will relish his likely role as leader of the seam attack.
Young gun: George Thomas has had few opportunities since his winter move from Somerset, but the opening batter offered glimpses of his potential when he broke into the Vitality Blast team. He made his maiden hundred in this competition last year for his former county and a run of games will offer the 21-year-old an opportunity he should relish.
Final thought: Batting coach Grant Flower will be in charge for this competition, and it will be interesting to see his approach. Sussex only won one game last year, but they lost twice by one wicket and were competitive in most. John Simpson, who missed three games last year, will be captain for the tournament which is a welcome development. So is the return to Arundel which stages its first one-day game since 2013 against Kent as part of a four-day festival of cricket
TEAM NEWS
Somerset have named the following squad for the match:
VIEWS FROM THE DRESSING ROOM
Ahead of the match, Somerset CCC Interim Head Coach, Paul Tweddle said: “We need to be able to learn from each game and move on. Despite the last result we can still take heart from the things that we’ve done well so far and we travel to Sussex in good spirits. We have high expectations of ourselves and we’ve been working hard this week.
“Sussex are always a good white ball side and it’s always a difficult place to go and play.”
CLASSIC MATCH
We go back to 1990 for the classic List A match between the two sides at Hove.
Somerset travelled to Sussex for a 55-over match in the Benson & Hedges Cup and returned to the South West with a victory by 107 runs thanks in no small part to a century from Jimmy Cook.
Chris Tavare won the toss and elected to bat first.
Cook and Peter Roebuck (91) shared an opening stand of 194, with Cook going on to make 177 as the visitors posted 321 for five from their allotted overs.
Chasing 322 for victory, the hosts slipped to 96 for six. Colin Wells made 101 but lacked support as Sussex were bowled out for 214 from 46.2 overs. Graham Rose was the pick of the bowlers, claiming four for 37.
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW
If you are planning to attend the match, all the information you need can be found on the official Sussex CCC Website.
NEXT MATCH
Somerset’s next match in the competition is against Kent Spitfires at the Spitfire Ground, Canterbury on Sunday August 24th.
Somerset’s next home match is on Tuesday August 26th when we take on Northants Steelbacks in the Metro Bank One Day Cup.
This match is also the first ever Somerset Introducing Music Festival. Headlined by the brilliant China Bears, the event will also feature a number of the region’s best up-and-coming acoustic talent.
As a ‘thank you’ for your incredible support in 2025, we have added this match to our Members Mates Rates initiative. 2025 Members can therefore now buy discounted tickets.
