Surrey welcome Sussex to the Kia Oval this weekend as the Three Feathers search for their first win of the 2026 campaign
Undefeated Surrey have drawn their opening three matches, sitting sixth in Division One of the Rothesay County Championship. Sussex sit undefeated in fourth, having won two matches and drawing one.
HOW CAN I KEEP UP WITH PLAY?
The best way to keep up with play is by joining us at the Kia Oval. Tickets for the Sussex fixture are available to buy here.
The match will be broadcast live on the Surrey YouTube channel, with a link placed on the Kia Oval Match Centre and Club’s social media channels. Video highlights, a written match report and the Oval & Out podcast will be available at the end of each day of play Regular video clips and match updates will be available on the Club’s social media channels.
With ultrafast Wifi7, plus food and drink on hand, why not work from the Kia Oval? Desks are available in the Tenison Terrance, which is accessible via Block 5. There’s not better office than the Kia Oval.
SQUAD NEWS
Both Ben Foakes and Tom Lawes will miss the game versus Sussex after picking up soft tissue injuries against Essex. Upcoming scan results will determine when they can return to play.
Dan Worrall is also unavailable due to injury.
As an ECB centrally contracted player, Gus Atkinson is rested for this match.
LAST TIME OUT VS SUSSEX
Surrey and Sussex met last season for the first time in five years in first-class cricket, playing out a high-scoring draw at Hove.
After winning the toss, the hosts posted 435 with Tom Haines scoring a classy 174. The returning Gus Atkinson took four wickets for the Three Feathers. Centuries from Ollie Pope (103) and Dan Lawrence (117) took to a first innings lead of 55 with a score of 490.
Rain took time out of the game, and Surrey were unable to break the opening partnership of Hughes (49*) and Haines (69*) before both teams shook hands with Sussex 132/0.
SUSSEX
Previewed by Bruce Talbot, ECB Reporters Network, supported by Rothesay
Captain: Ollie Robinson
Head coach: Paul Farbrace
2025 finish: 4th
2025 highest run-scorer: John Simpson (1,086 runs)
2025 highest wicket-taker: Ollie Robinson (39 wickets)
Key winter moves: Sussex added three red-ball players to their Rothesay County Championship squad and have given themselves more options in two key areas: the top order and the all-rounder slot. Jack Leaning is back working with Paul Farbrace, the coach who knows him best, while Tom Price is a genuine all-rounder who will relish the step up to Division One. Seamer Dom Goodman has followed Price from Gloucestershire and will offer good back-up to Ollie Robinson and the other quicks.
What we’re looking forward to seeing: James Coles is likely to get the chance to showcase his undoubted talent in the top four and it’s unlikely to faze him. Can the experienced Jack Leaning rediscoverer his best form after linking up with Farbrace again and how will Ollie Robinson, who now has the twin responsibilities of leading the seam attack and captaining the team, handle the extra responsibility? Tom Price adds beef to an already strong lower-middle order and is a potential match-changer with bat and ball.
Aiming to catch Test selectors’ eye: If Coles makes his England debut this summer it’s likely to be in one-day cricket after he picked up a £390k contract at The Hundred. But the 21-year-old has all the skills to develop into a Test batter too. He scored four centuries last season – his first in Division One – and is capable of kicking on this summer.
Final thought: Sussex start the season with a 12-point deduction for financial misdemeanours, but Farbrace thinks his squad is strong enough to be considered title challengers. Although opener Daniel Hughes is back from Australia, there will be no overseas bowler until Jaydev Unadkat arrives in June and that might stretch bowling resources in the first half of the season. But if they can keep their key players fit and utilise the squad depth, Sussex can improve on last season’s fourth place.
