Unless you closely follow local cricket you may not have known that Lindfield Cricket Club, meeting on the Common, has recently celebrated a young junior player at the academy going right through to England U18s and a professional contract with Sussex. Here is Abi’s story in his own words…

By Abi Sakande
My journey towards becoming a professional cricketer for Sussex began on the Common at Lindfield when I was around 10 years old. I was introduced to the game of cricket by one of my best friends – Geoffrey Lawrence. Our endless games of backyard cricket during the 2005 Ashes sparked my interest, and his late dad (and former Chairman) Mark convinced me to join Lindfield, sending me to my first Sussex Junior Trials. Without Geoff’s infectious love of the game and Mark’s steady advice - to my parents to get me some kit as an U12 – I would never have begun on the path that has led to me representing Sussex in 24 professional fixtures over the last 3½ years.

To read more about Abi, what it’s like to live a day in the life of a Shark (not the swimming kind) and what Abi’s plans might be for the future, find the full article on page 40 of September’s Lindfield Life magazine.