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Sussex Signs English Spinner Danny Briggs In Rare 'Player-Coach' Role For T20 Blast

Soumyajit Dutta

Danny Briggs in new role [Source: @WarwickshireCCC/X.com]Danny Briggs in new role [Source: @WarwickshireCCC/X.com]

Spin bowler Danny Briggs is set to rejoin Sussex from Warwickshire on a three-year contract starting after the 2025 season concludes. The 34-year-old returns to Sussex, where he previously played from 2016 to 2020, taking on a dual player-coach role and will be available for the T20 Blast.

Danny Briggs is the all-time leading wicket-taker in the Blast with 246 scalps, including 29 last season which helped Warwickshire reach the quarter-finals. He began his career at Hampshire, playing a key role in their six successive Finals Day appearances between 2010 and 2016.

What is the Player-Coach Role Under Which Briggs Has Been Signed?

A player-coach is someone who plays and coaches a team at the same time. This dual role involves both participating in games and handling coaching tasks like training and strategy. It was more common in the past but is now rare in professional sports. 

With Danny joining in the role for Sussex, it is bound to take a toil but might also benefit the team with Briggs bringing in hands-on experience from the field straight to the strategy table.

Expressing his enthusiasm for the new role, as per BBC, Briggs hoped for maximum contribution to the team.

"I'm really looking forward to coming back to Sussex, it's a really talented and exciting squad playing some great cricket. Hopefully I can help contribute to plenty of wins and trophies along the way. Hove is a special ground and I can't wait to return."

Who Is Danny Briggs?

Danny Briggs, a skilful left-arm spinner, made his mark in English domestic cricket as the leading wicket-taker in T20 Blast history. While his international career was short-lived, playing just one ODI and being part of the 2012 World T20 squad, he shone in white-ball formats. He played a crucial role in Hampshire’s white-ball success from 2009 to 2015, taking 119 T20 wickets for them. 

Briggs later had productive stints at Sussex and Warwickshire, becoming the first player to cross 200 T20 Blast wickets in 2022. Although his red-ball opportunities were limited, he scored a maiden first-class century in 2017 and contributed significantly to Warwickshire’s Championship survival in 2022 with both bat and ball.