T20 Blast 2022: Sussex sign Tom Alsop for a permanent two-year deal
In the latest developments, the Sussex County Cricket Club has signed left-handed batsman Tom Alsop permanently until at least 2025.
Alsop, 26, was initially picked by Sussex on a season-long loan from Hampshire at the start of the 2022 summer.
However, his impressive performances in both the County Championship and the ongoing Vitality T20 Blast have prompted the think-tank to sign him permanently.
Alsop has scored 313 runs in 10 innings in the Division 02 County Championship at an average of 31.30. With the help of a couple of half-centuries and a hundred against Middlesex.
He backed it up with a match-winning 30-ball 65* against defending champions Kent to help Sussex win their first fixture in the T20 Blast.
Speaking on his permanent signing, Alsop expressed his delight and thanked the Sussex management for making him feel at home in such a short period.
He also thanked Hampshire for the continuous support.
"To sign permanently for Sussex is great news. I've thoroughly enjoyed my time with Sussex, and I'm glad that I have made a decent start to the season in both formats of the game," said Alsop in an official statement released by Sussex.
"I'd like to thank Hampshire, and I'd like to say a massive thank you to the coaching staff at Sussex for believing in me and to everybody else who has made me feel at home so quickly," he added.
Meanwhile, Sussex head coach Ian Salisbury said:
"Tom has fitted in brilliantly, so I aimed to get the best version of Tom Alsop, and I believe we are already starting to see that now,"
"If you make somebody feel valued and believe in them, then I believe you will see the best version of that person, and the best version of Tom Alsop is a fantastic cricketer,"
"We have a lot of young cricketers in the team, and Tom is someone who, in his mid-twenties, gives us some added experience. I am sure Tom will be a huge success in years to come."
Alsop has thus far featured in 45 T20s, scoring 896 runs at an average of 24.21 and a strike rate of 118.36 with 4 50+ scores.
The two-year permanent deal will come into effect from November 2022, when his current loan deal expires.
With three wins in 6 fixtures, Sussex Sharks are currently at the 3rd spot in the points table, and they will next face Surrey at the Kia Oval on Wednesday, June 08.
 "Yash Mittal")
