Sussex stalwart Kirtley leaves coaching role

James Kirtley, Sussex’s bowling coach for seven years, will depart his role at the end of October after a storied career with the club. Kirtley, who spent 16 years as a player at Hove—winning three County Championship titles and three white-ball trophies—transitioned to a full-time coaching position in 2019.

His tenure saw the development of England stars Jofra Archer and Ollie Robinson, as well as Lions bowler Henry Crocombe, who delivered back-to-back Championship hat-tricks this season. Kirtley’s departure follows a period of restructuring for Sussex’s coaching staff, with incoming head coach Matt Walker leading the search for a replacement amid broader staffing changes, including Paul Farbrace’s move to Lancashire and Grant Flower’s switch to Surrey.

The club also faces financial constraints, operating under a salary cap imposed by the ECB until 2028, which has led to the exits of key players like Crocombe, John Simpson, and Fynn Hudson-Prentice.

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