How Mitchell Johnson and the Ashes have inspired Sussex's new seamer

The 19-year-old left-arm seamer, who was Surrey academy player of the year in 2019, told the Sussex website: “This is quite a young side and opportunities will be there.

“It’s good to go somewhere where there is a good chance of you playing and improving instead of sitting on the side-line and maybe playing the occasional game. Getting a good opportunity to break in and then consistently play obviously helps you more.

“Obviously, it was quite hard thinking about not playing for your boyhood club. [But] once I settled down a bit, I was very excited and obviously you can’t say no to such a good deal”.

Hunt is in Adelaide playing grade cricket and takes inspiration from the Aussie pacemen he watched growing up, like Mitchell Johnson.

“I watched him [Johnson] in the Ashes a few times and loved the way he bowled: quick and quite aggressive. I aspire to be like that. I don’t quite have the pace yet, but hopefully I might one day.”

The seamer may be one for the future, but there is no doubt Sussex have a talent on their books. The 6ft 5in bowler can swing the ball both ways and adds more depth to a seam bowling battery that is already well stocked with the likes of Ollie Robinson and another left-arm seamer George Garton.

Hunt said: “Ollie Robinson has been away with the Test squad and I can imagine he is learning a lot from the likes of James Anderson and Stuart Broad.

“I’ll pick his wisdom, James Kirtley’s and George Garton as well. It will be good to pick their brains and learn as much as possible.”

Kirtley, co-head coach at Sussex, said of Hunt: “We like the option of a left-armer, he can open the bowling. He’s tall. He bowls his overs, and he keeps picking up wickets in the Academy“. “Having options with bowlers is important.”