Nash dedicates ton to fallen teammate

Sussex veteran Chris Nash has posted an emotional hundred in his first match of the English county season, dedicating the innings to the memory of his late teammate Matthew Hobden.

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Hobden, 22, was found dead at a private property on January 2 this year after celebrating New Year's Eve with friends.

The promising right-arm quick, tipped as a future England international, debuted for Sussex in 2014 and was honoured during an emotional ceremony at The County Ground in Hove on Sunday ahead of the match against Essex.

A tree was planted on the grassed area at the Sea End of the ground before players and spectators took part in a short ceremony and a minute's silence.

All of Sussex's players will wear shirts bearing Hobden's name and the number 19 during the match, before the number is retired as a tribute.

Nash, who embraced Hobden's mother shortly after the pre-match ceremony, then produced the ultimate tribute by posting his 20th first-class century.

The opener coincidently departed 19 runs after notching three figures as the home side finished the day on 8-355.

"We had the memorial ceremony to remember Hobsy and for a lot of people it was still very raw," Nash said after play.

"To see his family there, see how they dealt with it and to speak to them afterwards was quite emotional for a lot of the lads.

"It was a very, very tough day to start with. Throughout the day it's been with us. We were wearing his shirt, his family and friends were here ... What it does do is put things in perspective, made us realise it was just a game of cricket.

"We were playing out there for Hobsy today, as we will all season."

Hobden's family and friends had said their goodbyes at the start of February with a thanksgiving service in his home town of Eastbourne, which followed a private family funeral.

News of his sudden passing at the start of the year had shocked English cricket and England's players wore black armbands on day two of the second Test against South Africa, a day after he passed away.

Hobden's brother George thanked Sussex for their support.

"We've had such lovely support from not only all our family and friends, but the club here at Sussex," he told the BBC.

"It's just been overwhelming how much support we've had and how much Matthew was loved.

"We always knew the support was there for Matthew. It's helped us immensely.

"We spent our whole childhoods playing cricket together and that's why today is an emotional day. It was always a dream for one of us to play for the club - we basically spent our whole childhood in the garden playing cricket together.

"I remember being down here as a 12-year-old kid and imagining if one of us did play here. Matthew did manage to do it. We were hoping that he was going to progress and play for England.

"It was a dream for Matthew to play here. It's just a shame it's been cut short so tragically."