Sussex have postponed pre-season training as the club mourns the tragic death of fast bowler Matt Hobden.

The county were due to resume their preparations for the 2016 season following a Christmas break today but head coach Mark Davis has confirmed the players will be given all the time they need to come to terms with Hobden’s shock death at the age of 22 on Saturday.

Tributes have flooded in from all over the world for the former Eastbourne College student while England players wore black armbands on the second day of the second Test against South Africa yesterday.

Davis admitted the tragedy brought back painful memories of the death of former Sussex all-rounder Umer Rashid who drowned on a pre-season tour in Grenada in 2002 and Surrey batsman Tom Maynard who was hit by an underground train in 2012.

He said: “When I heard the news my immediate thoughts were of Tom and Umer. I was still playing when Umer died in Grenada and it brings those feelings of utter desperation flooding back. It is unbearably sad and I just feel for his family and loved ones.

“We are all devastated by the news. The players were in a state of shock when we met up yesterday because Matt was such a big character at the club, a gently giant who was genuinely liked by everyone.

“The players are coming in again this morning just to chat about what has happened but we won’t be playing any cricket for a while as everyone needs some space to deal with what has happened.”