Jofra Archer is not the only Sussex connection to England's World Cup challenge.

An inspired catch or run out might make the difference in Thursday's semi-final showdown against Australia at Edgbaston.

If that turns out to be the case then Carl Hopkinson will have played a part.

The all-rounder was plucked from Sussex 18 months ago to become England's lead fielding coach.

His drills and attention to detail have helped turn Eoin Morgan's side into a formidable fielding unit.

Hopkinson, 37, was no slouch himself in the field during a long career with Sussex.

The batsman and medium pace bowler worked his way through from the under-ten's to the first team, making his debut in 2001.

He went on to play a role in the Championship winning sides of 2006 and 2007 before moving into coaching as an assistant, then in charge of the second X1 and eventually the Academy.

Richard Halsall, Hopkinson's Academy successor, knows Hopkinson well from his time at Sussex and as his former teacher.

Halsall said: "I was his teacher at Brighton College Sixth Form for PE. He was in the same set as Matt Prior and John Hart who captained Wasps (rugby).

"I'd known him before that through age-group sides at Sussex in the late 1990's.

"He certainly thought his way through his sport, very deliberate, a really good thinker, and a fantastic work ethic.

"He was a good fielder. It was his movement really. He was a really good athlete plus he loved doing it."

Succeeding Hopkinson at Sussex was a role reversal for Halsall.

He was England's assistant Coach and lead fielding coach when they won the ICC World Twenty20 in 2010 and during three Ashes series victories both at home and in Australia before becoming Bangladesh's number two.

Halsall said: "It's become a focus (fielding), so as soon as any professional body pays attention to anything people get better at it. Players have generally got more athletic from one to 11.

"You have still got outstanding fielders like Stokes, Maxwell etc, it's just the fact that it's one to 11 now, it's what is expected of them.

"With England we have got an outstanding fielding unit. It's very rare to have people that are non-fielders now and it becomes very obvious when they are and is highlighted by the media and commentators.

"You can't hide any more. It's not seen as acceptable just to be a fast bowler or outstanding spinner or batsman who cannot then contribute in creating pressure in the field.

"The expectancy has changed and the focus and the physicality."

The Argus: The involvement of Archer (above) and Hopkinson with England at the World Cup is a boost for Sussex as they try to get back on track in the second division of the Championship under Australian coach Jason Gillespie.

Halsall said: "For people to go on from Sussex to test themselves at the highest level is aspirational for everyone else at the club.

"It's not a big club, but you think of the likes of Matt Prior and Peter Moores, Michael Yardy and Carl Hopkinson now and Jofra.

"Ollie Robinson has just been called up to the England Lions. It creates aspiration within the club and that asipration is a healthy one, because people are trying to get better all the time."