England · Bowler

Henry Crocombe: Age, Stats, 9/69 and England Call-Up

Henry Crocombe is an English fast-medium bowler from Eastbourne who developed through Sussex's age-group system and made his first-class debut at 18. He was 24 on 24 August 2026. His strongest season to date brought career-best first-class figures of 5/33 and 9/69 in the opening Championship match, a Sussex county cap, an England Lions appearance, and a call into England's Test squad as cover. Crocombe remained a Sussex player through the 2026 season, represented London Spirit twice in The Hundred, and is due to join Surrey for 2027.

By StumpScope Cricket Desk · Edited by StumpScope Editorial Team

Right-handedRight-arm fast-medium bowlerBorn 20 September 2001

Current squadSussexEnglish domestic cricket · Final Sussex season in 2026; Surrey move begins in 2027

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Full nameHenry Thomas Crocombe

Age24As of 24 August 2026

Date of birth20 September 2001Eastbourne, East Sussex, England

Batting styleRight-handed

Bowling styleRight-arm fast-medium

Career overview

Henry Crocombe cricket career

Born in Eastbourne on 20 September 2001; aged 24 on 24 August 2026.

Right-handed batter and right-arm fast-medium bowler.

Came through Sussex's pathway after joining the county set-up at Under-12 level.

Took 5/33 and 4/36 for match figures of 9/69 against Leicestershire in April 2026.

Reached 100 first-class wickets and received his Sussex county cap in May 2026.

Joined England's Test squad as cover in June 2026 and will move to Surrey for the 2027 season.

Career story

Henry Crocombe career and playing journey

Who is Henry Crocombe?

Henry Thomas Crocombe is an English pace bowler born in Eastbourne, East Sussex, on 20 September 2001. Sussex lists him as a right-handed batter and right-arm fast-medium bowler. He wears number 5 for the county and has spent his entire senior career to date within the Sussex system.

His 2026 season changed the scale of his career. Crocombe began the year as an established county seamer, then produced his first five-wicket innings, passed 100 first-class wickets, played for England Lions and entered the senior England Test squad as cover. London Spirit added a first Hundred opportunity before Sussex announced his move to Surrey for 2027.

How old is Henry Crocombe?

Henry Crocombe was 24 years old on 24 August 2026. He was born on 20 September 2001 in Eastbourne. His age will change after his next birthday, but the date and place of birth remain the stable identity details published by Sussex and major cricket databases.

Crocombe was only 18 when he made his first-class debut in August 2020. That can make his career seem longer than his age suggests: by the time of his England call-up in 2026, he already had six seasons of senior experience and more than 100 first-class wickets behind him.

What type of bowler is Henry Crocombe?

Crocombe is a right-arm fast-medium bowler rather than a spin bowler or batting all-rounder. Sussex's player record uses fast-medium, while some statistical pages reverse the wording to medium-fast. Both labels describe the same right-arm pace role; the club's current description is used here.

His best first-class work has come when he can threaten the stumps and outside edge rather than relying only on short bowling. Sussex's report of his 5/33 against Leicestershire described a spell in which he removed three middle-order batters in 13 deliveries, then finished the innings with two wickets in two balls. Pace mattered, but so did movement and a full enough length to force defensive mistakes.

How did Henry Crocombe enter the Sussex pathway?

Crocombe joined the Sussex set-up at Under-12 level and later attended Bede's School. Sussex described him as one of its homegrown players when he renewed his contract in 2021. The county's 2020 annual report also recorded Crocombe accepting a professional contract after progressing through its age-group and academy structure.

The route was local rather than a late transfer from another county. Crocombe played club cricket in Eastbourne, moved through Sussex age-group teams and reached the first team while still a teenager. That continuity explains why his planned departure after 2026 carried more weight than an ordinary end-of-contract move.

When did Henry Crocombe make his first-class debut?

Crocombe made his first-class debut for Sussex against Hampshire on 1 August 2020 in the Bob Willis Trophy. The competition replaced the normal County Championship structure during the pandemic-affected season. Sussex later described him as 18 at the time of the match.

His T20 debut followed in June 2021 and his List A debut came against Lancashire on 23 July 2021. Those three debuts established a multi-format county career, but his principal role developed in red-ball cricket. He had 106 first-class wickets by 1 July 2026, compared with smaller List A and T20 samples.

How did Crocombe develop between 2021 and 2023?

Availability was an early part of Crocombe's value. When Sussex extended his deal in November 2021, the club noted that he had been available for every match that summer and had taken 20 County Championship wickets in nine appearances. For a young pace bowler, sustaining fitness through a full programme was an important foundation.

A further two-year extension followed in July 2023. Sussex reported 52 wickets from 27 first-class matches at that point and said he had already taken 14 Championship wickets in the season. The figures were not yet those of an England candidate, but the workload gave him repeated chances to improve his control and learn how to build spells.

What did Henry Crocombe do in Sussex's 2024 promotion season?

Crocombe helped Sussex secure promotion from County Championship Division Two in September 2024. In the decisive innings victory over Gloucestershire at Bristol, he took 4/22 from 6.1 overs and claimed the final wicket. Sussex won by an innings and seven runs and guaranteed promotion with one match still to play.

The spell came at the sharp end of the season rather than in a low-pressure fixture. Crocombe removed Tom Price, Zafar Gohar and Zaman Akhter during the collapse before trapping Dom Goodman to finish the match. Sussex later connected that late-season form with his first England Lions call-up.

When was Henry Crocombe first selected for England Lions?

Crocombe received his first England Lions call-up in October 2024 for a development tour of South Africa. Sussex's announcement placed him among six players experiencing the Lions environment for the first time. The squad combined training with a four-day match against South Africa A.

He returned to the Lions conversation in May 2025 after taking six wickets for Sussex against Hampshire. Selection for two four-day matches against India A showed that the first tour was not a one-off reward. By 2026, Crocombe had moved from development camps to producing a full Lions match performance.

Why did Sussex extend Henry Crocombe's contract in 2025?

Sussex extended Crocombe's contract in February 2025 through the end of the 2026 season. The club pointed to his contribution to promotion and his 4/22 at Bristol, while head coach Paul Farbrace credited work with bowling coach James Kirtley for improving consistency without sacrificing pace.

That deal is important to the later transfer chronology. Crocombe did not leave midway through the extension: he remained contracted for 2026 and agreed to join Surrey only after the season. Reports that call Surrey his current county during 2026 collapse two different contract periods into one.

How did Henry Crocombe take 5/33 against Leicestershire?

Crocombe took a career-best 5/33 from 12 overs against Leicestershire on 4 April 2026. Sussex had made 361 before Crocombe and Ollie Robinson each took five wickets to bowl Leicestershire out for 245. Crocombe's return was his first first-class five-wicket innings.

The wickets were not simply late-order clean-up. Ian Holland edged to third slip, Rehan Ahmed was caught behind by a ball that moved back, and Lewis Hill was bowled by one that straightened. Crocombe later removed Sam Wood and Yadvinder Singh with consecutive deliveries. The sequence showed why 5/33 is more revealing than a bare career-best number.

What are Henry Crocombe's best match figures?

Henry Crocombe's best first-class match figures are 9/69. After taking 5/33 in Leicestershire's first innings, he returned 4/36 in the second. Sussex won by 222 runs after setting a target of 481, completing a dominant start to its 2026 Division One campaign.

The distinction between innings and match figures matters. The 5/33 is his best return in one innings; 9/69 combines both innings of the same match. Neither figure should be added on top of his career wicket total because all nine wickets are already included in that aggregate.

When did Henry Crocombe reach 100 first-class wickets?

Crocombe reached 100 first-class wickets during Sussex's home match against Leicestershire in May 2026. The milestone arrived in the same match in which Sussex presented him with his county cap. Sussex reported 19 wickets for the season when announcing his subsequent Lions selection on 15 May.

A county cap is a formal club honour, not an international cap. Crocombe's cap recognized his contribution to Sussex, while the 100th wicket marked a career statistical threshold. They happened close together, but each has its own meaning and source.

How did Henry Crocombe perform for England Lions in 2026?

Crocombe joined England Lions for the second four-day match against South Africa A at Beckenham, starting on 29 May 2026. He took 4/65 in the visitors' first innings. Sussex referred to the spell when bringing him back into its Blast squad two days later.

The match strengthened his case because the wickets came against senior opposition in a representative setting. It still remained a Lions appearance, not a Test match. First-class databases include the game in his wider career totals, which is why club-only and all-first-class numbers can differ at the same date.

Was Henry Crocombe called up by England?

Yes. England added Crocombe to its squad for the second Test against New Zealand in June 2026 as cover for Ollie Robinson, who had reported knee soreness. Sussex removed Crocombe from its Championship match against Glamorgan after he had taken two first-innings wickets so that he could join the national squad.

Crocombe did not make his Test debut in that match. A squad call-up recognizes that a player is close enough to provide cover, but it does not create a cap, appearance, run or wicket. His senior international record therefore remained empty even though the selection was a major career step.

Why is Henry Crocombe joining Surrey?

Sussex announced on 1 July 2026 that Crocombe would join Surrey after completing the season. The club did not publish the length or financial terms of the Surrey contract. It described the move as the end of a long home-county chapter that had begun at Under-12 level.

The timing avoids a common source error. Sussex was still Crocombe's county for the rest of 2026, while Surrey becomes his county from the 2027 season. Historical Sussex performances, London Spirit appearances and future Surrey membership all belong to one career, but they do not make him simultaneously active for both counties.

What did Henry Crocombe's 2026 Championship figures show?

At Sussex's 1 July transfer announcement, Crocombe had taken 21 Division One wickets in 2026 at an average of 28.61. The 9/69 against Leicestershire supplied nearly half of those wickets, but the England call-up followed a broader opening block rather than one spell alone.

His first-class career snapshot at that date stood at 48 matches and 106 wickets, with one five-wicket innings and no ten-wicket match. The batting record included 498 runs and a top score of 54. Those figures describe a specialist bowler who can contribute down the order, not an all-rounder.

How did Henry Crocombe perform in the 2026 Vitality Blast?

Crocombe's available 2026 Blast series snapshot records three wickets from 18 overs at a cost of 250 runs. His best return was 1/25. The season was demanding: Essex's Simon Harmer struck 31 from the final over of the 3 July match as Sussex lost by 100 runs.

The modest wicket return sits alongside the opportunity it created. The Hundred's wildcard system was designed to reward current Blast form, and London Spirit selected Crocombe in June. That selection reflected pace potential and recent county work, but it should not be rewritten as a dominant Blast campaign that the figures do not support.

How did Henry Crocombe join London Spirit?

London Spirit selected Crocombe in the 2026 Vitality Wildcard Draft. The Hundred listed him as one of two men's wildcard additions for the team alongside Kiran Carlson. Wildcard places were filled after the Blast had begun, allowing squads to respond to domestic form and availability.

The official squad list did not attach a public price to Crocombe's wildcard entry. A pre-season longlist or base value is not proof of the final amount paid. His London Spirit membership can be stated confidently; a salary cannot be derived from the roster.

What did Henry Crocombe do in The Hundred 2026?

Crocombe made two recorded appearances for London Spirit in August 2026 and took one wicket in each. He conceded eight runs from five balls against Birmingham Phoenix on 9 August, then took 1/26 from 20 balls against Welsh Fire on 12 August. London Spirit won both matches.

The sample is too small to treat as a complete judgement on his short-format bowling. Twenty-five balls can show that he entered the competition and contributed two wickets, but it cannot establish a stable Hundred average or long-term role. His career page therefore keeps the two-match Hundred block separate from the older T20 aggregate.

What are Henry Crocombe's career statistics?

The dated first-class snapshot records 48 matches, 498 runs and 106 wickets at 36.02, with best innings figures of 5/33 and one five-wicket haul. His List A record through 17 July stood at 34 matches, 201 runs and 45 wickets, while the T20 snapshot showed 33 matches, 55 runs and 32 wickets.

Those rows use different cutoffs from the later August matches. Crocombe subsequently played two One-Day Cup games and two Hundred matches, so the August competition blocks are shown separately rather than silently changing only some career cells. This keeps match totals, statistical scope and source dates visible to the reader.

What happened in Henry Crocombe's August 2026 List A matches?

Crocombe returned from London Spirit availability to play two One-Day Cup matches for Sussex. He took 3/44 from ten overs against Derbyshire on 2 August and 1/56 from ten overs against Worcestershire on 7 August. Those four wickets moved the dated List A baseline from 45 to 49 wickets across 36 matches.

Sussex lost both games. Derbyshire made 325/7 before dismissing Sussex for 137, while Worcestershire chased 334 with ten balls remaining. Crocombe's 3/44 was the stronger individual return, but the match context prevents a wicket tally from being presented as a team success.

What are Henry Crocombe's main records and achievements?

Crocombe's clearest individual records are his 5/33 innings and 9/69 match against Leicestershire, his 100th first-class wicket and his 4/65 for England Lions. His Sussex county cap and senior England squad call-up are selection honours rather than statistical records.

His team achievement is Sussex's 2024 promotion to Division One, secured in the match where he took 4/22 and the final wicket. The achievements connect across two seasons: promotion put Sussex back in the top flight, and his early Division One form in 2026 led to Lions and England recognition.

What are Henry Crocombe's salary and net worth?

No dependable public document gives Crocombe's annual Sussex salary, the terms of his Surrey contract or a final payment for his London Spirit wildcard place. The Hundred roster identifies him as a wildcard but does not display a price beside his name. Converting an auction longlist value into confirmed earnings would be inaccurate.

There is also no audited public record of Crocombe's assets, liabilities or net worth. Generic estimates cannot account for private contracts, taxes, expenses or investments. The honest financial summary is limited: the teams and contract timing are public, while his personal wealth is not.

What is known about Henry Crocombe's family and relationship?

Reliable cricket sources describe Crocombe's Eastbourne background, Bede's education and long Sussex pathway. They do not establish a spouse, girlfriend, children or current relationship status. Search suggestions and repeated biography-site claims are not enough to turn private information into fact.

His public career can be explained without guessing about family wealth, a home address or personal relationships. If Crocombe later discusses a relevant part of his life in a dependable interview, it can be added with context. Until then, the cricket record is the appropriate boundary.

Henry Crocombe records

Henry Crocombe career statistics and records

Batting, bowling and fielding figures are kept separate by competition and format.

First-class career (1 July 2026 snapshot)48matches