Sussex hope to play at Arundel in 2021 - but nothing's certain

Sussex say they aim to play a county championship match at the Arundel Castle ground in 2021 - but it's too soon to guarantee it with uncertainty over the sporting summer remaining.
By Steve Bone
Published 23rd Dec 2020, 09:00 BST
The Arundel Castle ground is an idyllic spot for cricket / Picture: yasps.co.ukThe Arundel Castle ground is an idyllic spot for cricket / Picture: yasps.co.uk
The Arundel Castle ground is an idyllic spot for cricket / Picture: yasps.co.uk

Sussex’s 2020-21 season is starting to take shape with full details of their group games in the 2021 County Championship now released.

Hove is currently listed as the venue for all of Sussex’s home matches in the competition, but it is hoped that it will be possible to play one match at Arundel Castle - but Sussex state that at present, that is subject to the Covid-19 situation.

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Arundel missed out last year: its scheduled four-day Sussex championship match fell in the period when cricket was not being played.

They are playing alongside Glamorgan, Kent, Lancashire, Northamptonshire and Yorkshire in group three of the seeded group stage of the competition.

In 2021 Ian Salisbury’s men will kick off the campaign with the visit of Lancashire to Hove from Thursday 8 to Sunday 11 April.

A trip to Sophia Gardens to take on Glamorgan follows between Thursday 15 and Sunday 18 before Yorkshire come to Hove for the first time since 2015 from Thursday 22 to Sunday 25.

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The return fixture against Lancashire at Emirates Old Trafford takes place between Thursday 29 April and Sunday 2 May with a trip to Northants from Thursday 6 May to Sunday 9 May.

Consecutive home games at Hove against Kent (Thursday 13 to Sunday 16) and Northamptonshire (Thursday 27 to Sunday 30) are next.

Thursday 3 June to Sunday 6 sees Sussex head to Headingley to play Yorkshire, before the Championship pauses for the rest of June.

On June 20, Sussex Sharks will play Sri Lanka in a T20 tour match.

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Championship action restarts on Sunday 4 July when Glamorgan visit Hove for four days. The group stage concludes between Sunday 11 and Wednesday 15 July when Sussex meet Kent at Beckenham.

The top two teams from each group will go into division one, third and fourth into division two and fifth and sixth into division three for another four matches in August and September.

The winner of division one will be crowned 2021 County Champions, taking on the runners up in a five-day match at Lord’s.

Sussex’s fixtures for the 2021 Vitality Blast and Royal London Cup will be announced in the New Year. Matches at Horsham and Eastbourne may be on the intinerary, but that has also yet to be confirmed.

Related topics:SussexHoveArundel CastleArundelKentNorthamptonshireGlamorganLancashire