On October 2, 2026, Sussex announced that right-arm seamer Keith Dudgeon from Kent had been signed to a two-year contract. Prior to the 2027 season, the 30-year-old South African joins the team at Hove.
Keith Dudgeon played in 13 County Championship games over his two seasons at Kent, where he claimed 42 wickets at an average of 32.09 with top figures of 6/21 in 2026. As Kent gained promotion from Division Two, he was the county’s second-leading wicket-taker after Matt Milnes. Before a knee injury sustained during training ended his campaign, Dudgeon recorded figures of 7/36 in the first game of his first season at Kent against Northamptonshire.
Keith Dudgeon has taken 281 wickets at an average of 26.96 over his first-class career, which includes a significant amount of cricket played in his home country of South Africa. After Joey Evison, who is also from Kent, joined the Sussex team before to 2027, he is the second new player to join Hove.
What does Keith Dudgeon’s signing signify for Division One Sussex?
Keith Dudgeon has been selected by Sussex as a bowler capable of competing at the Division One level of the County Championship in 2027. Paul Farbrace, director of cricket, confirmed the deal and described Dudgeon’s anticipated role at Hove in both the Vitality Blast and the four-day format.
He is exactly the kind of player and person we have been searching for to support us as we continue to develop, compete in Division One of the County Championship, and strive for the Blast knockout stages. “This team needs Keith’s high level of skill, experience, and winning nature right now,” Farbrace stated, as reported by BBC Sport.
Paul Farbrace and Matt Walker were among the Sussex and Kent staff members Dudgeon thanked for their assistance in making the transfer possible. Before expressing his excitement for the transfer to Hove, he also paid homage to Kent, where he played for two seasons. I’m thrilled to announce that I will be attending Sussex for the upcoming seasons.
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Long-term county cricket has long been my objective, and I am appreciative of Sussex’s support in that regard. According to what I’ve been told, the guys in the locker room are fantastic, and I’m excited to join them, add some positive energy, and help the squad in any way I can. I want to express my gratitude to Matt Walker, Paul Farbrace, and the captains for making this possible. For the past two seasons, a big thank you to everyone at Kent.
I’m immensely appreciative of the events, people, and memories I’ve had along the journey. I will always have a particular place for Kent. It’s a fantastic club with wonderful people, and I am confident that it will continue to grow. In an official club statement, Dudgeon stated, “Now it’s time for a new challenge, and I’m really looking forward to what’s ahead at Sussex.”
