Rookie Sussex spinner shares his unique journey into professional cricket on Windrush Day.
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Troy Henry has had an inspirational rise into professional cricket. The left-arm spinner signed a rookie contract with Sussex before the start of the 2025 season following a successful stint at the ACE Academy.
He captained ACE, the charitable organisation which provides a platform to players from African and Caribbean heritage to receive bespoke training and support in their development within cricket.
Henry, 20, was one of the first two players from ACE to sign a professional contract with an English country. He was joined by Amy Wheeler who also signed a rookie contract with The Blaze in partnership with the programme.
Despite not making his first-team debut just yet, he has had an impressive start to his life at Sussex following some impressive performances for the Second XI. In his most recent outing, the spinner took six wickets in a four-day game against Leicestershire, including 4-39 in the second innings.
Henry is extremely proud of his Caribbean roots and strong community currently prevailing in the country with his parents migrating to the UK from Guyana. Though not directly connected to the particular generation, the Sussex youngster’s journey has links with Windrush Day.
Marking its 77th anniversary in 2025, the day celebrates the arrival of immigrants from the Caribbean islands back in 1948. It is named after HMT Empire Windrush, the ship which brought the first wave of settlers from Central America.
Ever since their arrival in the United Kingdom, the Windrush generation has made a significant contribution to the economy and society in the country. They have also played an integral role in the sporting environment, including cricket.
The PCA continues to mark occasions like the Windrush Day as an opportunity to share stories of its members’ journeys in cricket and beyond. It allows other members to learn more about their peers and appreciate different cultural backgrounds in the game.
- Describe your rise in cricket, from your early days to signing your first professional contract with Sussex?
- Henry: I got into cricket through my dad. Since the age of two, I remember me and my mum going down to St. Albans West Indians to watch him play. I started playing adults cricket for them and moved into playing national counties in Hertfordshire.
- Coming to the end of age group cricket, I joined the ACE Programme just before COVID hit following a successful trial at the Kia Oval. Once the pandemic started to phase out, we got back to playing games at ACE against other county age groups, so we played against some very competitive teams. I was the first captain at ACE and led them for four years, right up until I signed for Sussex.
- My cricket was progressing very quickly due to the level of coaches at the ACE Programme. Later, the Head Director at the programme sent a few of us to open trials at Sussex. I actually had a wrist injury, so I was not able to bat but I had good little bowl and was pretty happy with how it went.
- A few weeks later, Sussex invited me again to train with a few contracted players. I went there for four sessions, and they were pretty pleased with what they saw and ended up signing me. So, things moved really fast and are going really well at the moment. I am just taking my opportunities where it comes and enjoying my cricket.
- Describe your Caribbean roots and how closely are you still attached to them?
- Henry: Both of my parents were born in Guyana and moved to the UK afterwards. We try and go back every year since we still have a lot of family who live out there. However, a few of them have spread across the Caribbean in Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago and also into the United States and Canada. One thing which is very important to me is culture. It is key to always remember where you come from. It is just little things and facts that you know which you can share with someone and educate them about something from where you come.
- What are your opinions on the Windrush generation and how important was this event in shaping the African Caribbean community in the country?
- Henry: It is massively important. It was a big step for people to leave their comfort zone and to come and try experience a better life. They arrived into a whole new environment where they were not used to the surroundings and this would have taken a lot of adjustment. It is hats off to them to how they came over. If you compare it to ease of traveling now on a flight, they all arrived on a boat which would have taken them number of weeks to come which is really fascinating.
- How has the Caribbean community in the UK helped you shape into the person and the player you are today?
- Henry: Caribbean cricket in general is an exciting form of the game. I think you can relate it to the people as well in terms of their joy and happiness and always wanting to see others do well. The support here is actually crazy. When I signed by contract, the amount of Caribbean people in the UK from playing against them or knowing through family congratulated me and said they are proud of me is something rooted deep within myself. The sense of community and belonging has helped me shape into the person I am today. It is also very similar with in the ACE Programme. It is not only about cricket. It is a massive family and a support group. Whenever you need to call anyone, they are always there to help, not only about cricket but anything regarding life. I have made some good friends there and they do play a big part in my life.
- Do you want to become a role model for people from the African Caribbean community to look up to?
- Henry: Without a doubt. I already try and get back to ACE as much as I can. Even on my rest days I will go and watch their games or coach and speak to the youngsters. But even if I am not coaching them, I would still try and give them words of wisdom to keep them pushing and encourage them to keep working hard because who knows where they could end up in the future. Coming from a similar background, there is almost no choice but to be proud of them especially to think where they come from and it could even be a relatable story to me – just starting in club cricket, developing themselves, working hard whilst with the ACE Programme and progressing from there.
- What is the one piece of advice you would give to a young and up and coming cricketer from the African Caribbean community?
- Henry: Just to keep working hard. You never know what chances are going to come at any given point in time so one should never stop working hard. You look at some of the giants in the game right now that have played for England with an African Caribbean background, like Jofra Archer, Chris Jordan and Tymal Mills. These are some big names who have worked really hard to get where they are now. You can follow in their footsteps by working hard and staying patient because you never know when that one opportunity is going to come from.
