[2] Nicholls made his first-class debut for Sussex against Nottinghamshire in 1883 at Trent Bridge, with him making a further appearance for the county in that season against Derbyshire.
[3] While attending the University of Oxford, Nicholls played first-class cricket for the university cricket club, making his debut for the club against the touring Australians at the Christ Church Ground, during which he took seven catches at short slip.
[4][5] In 1885, Nicholls made four further first-class appearances for the university,[3] with him gaining an Oxford blue for his representation of the cricket club.
[1] Following the end of his studies, Nicholls made a further first-class appearance for Sussex in 1888 against Kent at Hove, before a thirteen-year gap before his final first-class appearance for the Marylebone Cricket Club against Oxford University in 1901.
[3] Nicholls married Violet Mary Osmaston on 26 April 1899, with the couple having three children (two daughters followed by a son).