Sussex spinner Sean Hunt thrilled by T20 Blast breakthrough in 2026

Sussex paceman Sean Hunt returned from a year of injuries to take 2-37 and 3-9 in his maiden T20 Blast appearances.

T20 debut success Sean Hunt, Sussex’s left-arm pace bowler, marked his first outings in the T20 Blast with figures of 2-37 against Leicestershire on Friday. He then produced an even more impressive return of 3-9 against Kent two days later. These performances came in his very first matches in the format, which he had never played before this month. His bowling spell of 3-9 was recorded as the third most economical four-over effort in Sussex’s 23-year history in T20 cricket. ## Relief after tough period After enduring a frustrating stretch over the past year, Hunt expressed deep relief at being back on the field. He admitted the last few months had been difficult, saying, 'It was a long few months but I'm so happy to be back out playing cricket.' The 24-year-old’s return followed a lengthy layoff caused by a shoulder injury sustained in April 2025 during a County Championship game against Somerset. That injury cost him three months of action and forced him to miss Sussex’s final fixture of 2025 at Worcestershire. ## Road to recovery Hunt underwent surgery early in 2026 after struggling to recover in time for the start of the current season. He used Sussex’s final two T20 Blast matches as match fitness preparation, seizing the opportunity to rebuild his rhythm in the format. His confidence grew quickly, leading to standout performances with the new ball in both outings. Sussex’s coaching staff have noted how his red-ball experience has translated well to the shortest format. ## Focus on fundamentals Hunt credited sticking to his core skills and basic bowling methods for his immediate success. He said, 'It all feels a bit surreal,' while highlighting how the early movement in the new ball suited his style of bowling. His experience opening the attack in red-ball cricket appears to have given him an edge in T20 conditions. The rapid improvement has left him optimistic about continuing his upward curve.