Worcestershire’s 2026 cricketing summer got off to an encouraging start at Hove this week, with the 13-man squad enjoying some valuable playing time during a two-day tussle against Sussex.
With Alan Richardson ensuring all players enjoyed meaningful game time as opposed to prioritising the result, Worcestershire declared on 119-2 on the opening day, with Jake Libby’s unbeaten 66 the highlight of the opening exchanges.
Two wickets apiece for Ethan Brookes and Fateh Singh helped force Sussex to declare on 217-8, before the visitors ended the match 79-runs in front with the game plateauing at the end of day two.
With time of the essence, the sides shook hands with the match at a stalemate, as Alan Richardson’s players returning for tomorrow’s clash against Glamorgan at Kidderminster.
After an uncontested toss, Gareth Roderick and Jake Libby made their way to the middle on Sunday morning, making a cautious start under gloomy skies.
The pair added 39 for the first wicket, before Roderick was caught at second slip for 17.
Libby, Worcestershire’s leading run scorer in the 2025 Rothesay County Championship, picked up where he left off, making a fluent 66 from 79 deliveries, caressing 12 boundaries in the process of anchoring the Pears innings.
Kashif Ali (10) and Rob Jones (21*) helped the visitors up to 119-2 and saw Brett D’Oliveira’s side declare after just 30 overs, with the bowling unit readying themselves for a first outing of the year.
It was Harry Darley (1-44) who broke the deadlock in the second innings, as his nip backer dismissed Charlie Tear LBW and caused Sussex to lose their first wicket of the day.
Ethan Brookes returned economic figures (6-1-15-2), with his victim’s including top-scorer Tom Clark for 47, as the all-rounder showed his bowling acumen once more.
He was aptly supported by youngster Fateh Singh (2-25) with the off-spinner the beneficiary of some sharp reflexes by both Adam Hose at slip, and Roderick behind the stumps, with both fielders playing crucial roles in either dismissal.
Matthew Waite, Jack Home and Brett D’Oliveira shared one-wicket each to keep their side well within reach throughout, with Sussex eventually declaring on 217-8, holding a modest lead of 40 midway through the second day.
With a re-jigged batting order to accommodate those who hadn’t featured at the crease in the first-innings, Brett D’Oliveira and Adam Hose made their way to the middle to resume the Worcestershire pursuit.
Hose (1) would return for a second bite at the cherry later on in the day, making a punchy 41 from 70 deliveries in his first appearance back since his severe leg injury last summer, after being invited to bat again.
D’Oliveria (34), Brookes (35) and Waite (41) all made excellent starts before retiring out to keep the pace of the game moving, with the trio showing signs of composure and seniority to help stabilise a solid Worcestershire second-innings effort.
177-6, and with a short turnaround before starting tomorrow’s contest with Glamorgan at Kidderminster, the players shook hands at Tea having enjoyed a successful and worthwhile first outing of the summer.
