Sussex

The stars of Sussex County Cricket Club have made a declaration - that they very much like the new green way they have of getting to the green, green grass of Hove and it’s all thanks to Ford and to Apex Car Rental. Apex, Sussex CCC's new official vehicle partner, has provided the newly promoted LV= County Championship Division One side with a fleet of new Ford models for use by the players - including England star Monty Panesar, vice-captain Murray Goodwin and overseas star Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, as well as the County's backroom staff.

Sussex have signed Pakistan fast bowler Umar Gul to boost their Twenty20 campaign, where he will join forces with compatriot Rana Naved-ul-Hasan. Gul, 27, has played 34 Tests, 88 One-Day Internationals and 34 Twenty20 Internationals, playing a leading role in Pakistan's success in the 2009 ICC World Twenty20.

Sussex have included leg-spinner Will Beer in their 14-man squad to take on Hampshire in their LV= County Championship clash that gets underway at The Rose Bowl from 4th May. Luke Wright, who missed the CB40 win over the Netherlands, is included as the newly-promoted side aim to build on a start to the season that has seen them take a win, a draw and a loss from their opening fixtures.

Further to them receiving ECB grants, two Sussex cricket clubs have been able to make much needed improvements to their practice facilities. Both Findon Cricket Club and Horsham Cricket Club have redeveloped their net facilities, and received their grants partly on the basis that they are both progressive clubs in terms of developing cricket for women and girls.

Sussex have named a 12-man squad for the LV= County Championship clash with Durham, recalling Andrew Hodd after he made two centuries in a second XI game. Naveed Arif, who also scored a century and took five wickets in the match against Hampshire, is also in the squad as the team look to bounce back from a heavy defeat at the hands of Lancashire in their opening game of the series.

South African Kirk Wernars, a relatively unheralded all-rounder from Western Province, is heading into his first season of county cricket with Sussex in high spirits. He impressed the 2009 Twenty20 Cup winners when he played against them for a Cape Cobras Emerging Players side in 2010 in Dubai and subsequently signed for them along with Lou Vincent and Naved Arif.

All-rounder Kirk Wernars as well as fast bowlers Amjad Khan and Naveed Arif could all make their Sussex debuts during the season-opening LV= County Championship game against Lancashire at Liverpool. All three signed in the close season, with England-capped international Khan joining from Kent to boost the county's chances as they bid to build on their 2010 season, which saw them promoted from Division Two.

Sussex County Cricket Club’s playing squad, coaching staff and office staff all recently took part in NatWest CricketForce, the largest volunteering event in sport. Sussex focussed on six clubs across the County, with the dual aim of rejuvenating playing facilities and putting local clubs at the heart of communities, as well as the recruitment of much-needed volunteers.

Sussex County Cricket Club is pleased to announce a new chapter in the history of their Academy Ground at Blackstone with Sutton Winson, one of the largest insurance brokers in the South-East, becoming the new sponsor. From the 2011 season, for a minimum term of two years, the ground will be known as "The Sutton Winson Academy Ground".

Sussex have announced the signing of Naved Arif, Lou Vincent and Kirk Wernars ahead of the 2011 county season. Subject to ECB clearance, all three are set to join up with the Hove-based squad. Left-arm seamer Arif, 29, has previously represented Pakistan A and brings a wealth of first-class experience and has also played Lancashire League cricket for Rawtenstall. He intends to qualify as a non-overseas player through his Danish wife.

Experienced batter Caroline Atkins has been named as the new Sussex Women's captain ahead of the 2011 season, replacing Alexia Walker, who has announced her retirement. She has been promoted from vice-captain, a role which will now be filled by left-arm spinner and fellow England international Holly Colvin.

Sussex have announced the signing of South Africa left-arm fast bowler Wayne Parnell as their overseas player for the second half of the 2011 season. Parnell, who has played three Tests, 18 One-Day Internationals and 11 Twenty20 Internationals for the Proteas, will replace Pakistan international Rana Naved-ul-Hasan who is set to play for the first half of the season.

Sussex CCC have signed Pakistani quick bowler Rana Naved-ul-Hasan as their overseas player for the first half of the 2011 season, welcoming him back to Hove for a third spell at the club. 32-year-old Rana played for Sussex between 2005 and 2007 before returning in the early part of 2010, scoring a century against Leicestershire in the LV= County Championship.

Sussex CCC are delighted to announce a major new partnership with a UK leading Tax and Wealth Management specialist PROBIZ. As of the start of the 2011 season, PROBIZ has been awarded naming rights to The County Ground in Hove as their core sponsorship investment in cricket. The initial term will cover 2011 and 2012, with an option to extend for a further two seasons.

Sussex CCC have confirmed that they will be preparing for the 2011 county season with a pre-season tour of Dubai. The squad will fly out to the United Arab Emirates on Thursday 24th March 2011 to start preparing for the new season.

Sussex have revealed their Academy intake for 2011, with the four players being retained from 2010 joined by six who are new. Georgia Adams, Harry Finch, Matthew Hobden, Callum Jackson, Tim Moses and Abidine Sakande will join John Glover, Owain Jones, Jack Parsons and Hannah Phelps who have all retained their places.

Sussex have confirmed that 11 players will be heading to Port Elizabeth this weekend (8th January) for a four-week training camp, including new signing Amjad Khan. The team of players will be headed by coach Mark Davis and the intense camp will run from 10th January into early February, repeating a similar trip last year.

Left-handed batsman Ed Joyce has signed a one-year extension to his Sussex contract which keeps him at Hove until the end of the 2013 season.

Batsman Chris Nash has signed a new contract with Sussex that will keep him at the club until the end of the 2013...

Sussex County Cricket Club are delighted to announce that Mark Davis has been granted a Testimonial in 2011...