Sussex name hat-trick bowler Henry Crocombe red-ball player of the season

Henry Crocombe, the seamer who took hat-tricks in successive County Championship games this summer, is Sussex’s men’s red-ball player of the season. The club gave out its end-of-season awards at the County Ground in Hove, on a night hosted by Adrian Harms.

Crocombe’s first hat-trick came against Somerset at Hove. His second came eight days later against Essex at Chelmsford, where he took five wickets in 14 balls and finished with 5-39. That made him only the seventh player in the history of first-class cricket, and the second man this century, to take hat-tricks in successive games. He had never taken one at any level before. He also won a second award, for those consecutive hat-tricks.

“I think getting a hat-trick in general is pretty mental,” Crocombe said after the Essex match. “I’ve never done it before in anything, at any cricket at any level.”

With three rounds left he had 40 Division One wickets, 16 more than the next Sussex bowler. The same week, England called the 24-year-old into their one-day squad to play Sri Lanka. He will not be at Hove next year: Sussex announced in July that he would join Surrey at the end of the season.

Charlie Tear was named men’s white-ball player and the men’s most improved player. Mollie Adams was the women’s T20 player of the season and Izzy Collis the women’s One Day Cup player. Si Ledwith was disability cricket player of the season.

Chiara Green won an award for her maiden century, against Gloucestershire. In disability cricket, Dave Daniels was recognised for a spell of 6-95 from 14 consecutive overs. Anna Buckle and Eddie Spence were the most improved players in the women’s and disability teams.

Steve Pickup won the staff award for outstanding contribution. Pauline Warren presented it. She sponsored the night in honour of David Warren, who, like her, was a Sussex member for more than 30 years.