S'hampton Seagull
Well-known member
His body is creaking and less said about his captaincy the better.
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[Cricket] LV= County Championship Division One, Yorkshire v Sussex at Leeds, Sep 22-25, 2015
- Thread starter 8ace
- Start date
mona
The Glory Game
It might sound obvious but the Sussex batsmen are too easy to get out in four day cricket. They rarely wear down the opposition bowling attack. The four day game is not about breezing in hitting 30 at a run a ball and then giving someone else a knock. Sussex deserve to be in Div 2 for not getting their batting tactics right.
Harsh on Nash too. He had an average of 33 this year, that's not a shocker (better than Joyce and Wells for example). I'm all for clearing out a couple of players but let's not go mad - we've lost RhB, Prior and Yards in the last year, we don't want to get rid of everyone. My beef is with the one-day specialists (who aren't that special): we're too small to support the likes of Piolet, Beer and Liddle (and probably Cachopa and possibly Mills)
Lifelong Supporter
Well-known member
We need to face the fact that it is very hard in the First Division for teams who are not at Test playing grounds. Cricket may well be more enjoyable in the Second Division where they will be more comfortable.
Papa Lazarou
Living in a De Zerbi wonderland
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Totally agree. Some say that one day cricket is killing 4 or 5 day cricket, and Sussex is one county where either the players have forgotten how to play a county innings, or were never capable. Our batting seems far too cavalier.
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Got to disagree with you on this. We didn't need a test ground when we won the title three times last decade and a test ground can be a financial millstone of your don't get the international games to fill the ground. We can be competitive, but there seems to have been an element of complacency over the last four or five years.
Lifelong Supporter
Well-known member
Well unfortunately that was then and this is now. The top 5 teams in the Championship are all from Test playing grounds being, Yorkshire, Middlesex, Notts, Durham and Warwickshire. Surrey and Lancashire are replacing Sussex and Worcs. That means only Somerset of non Test playing grounds are in the First Division. All Second Division teams are not Test playing. I see this as an obvious divide that has arisen.
Papa Lazarou
Living in a De Zerbi wonderland
I can't deny the strong correlation as you point out.
Albion Robster
Well-known member
Spot on IMHO.
Agree with this 100%.
Yesterday we could have knuckled down, left - yes, left - anything that didn't need playing, and used the experienced heads in our squad to play a true long-format innings.
(And perhaps even then decided halfway through the day whether to see out the draw or go for the win.)
Instead we flapped around, didn't do one or the other, gave away wicket after wicket and - at 60 odd for 5 or whatever it was - had said more about this season's feeble lack of focus and grit than even the worst pessimist could have feared.
BensGrandad
New member
As I have said previously as the Albion took time to replace 1 Murray so Sussex have not replaced the other Murray........ Goodwin.
Working class pride
Banned
- Feb 14, 2010
- 4,932
Sussex used to play "The rest of England" and are the oldest County Club. Shameful for the most historic club to be in Div 2. That is Sussex sport, both football and cricket. Mediocrity on the field is the norm.
We have not exactly set 20 or 50 over cricket alight though. We have been poor all round. Time for change but somehow I doubt that will happen.
BensGrandad
New member
That doesnt appear to be the problem who is released more a question of finding a replacement for Murray Goodwin who can hold the batting together mid order.
Batting all the way down the order was the problem. We found ourselves at about 40/3 FAR too many times this season.
BensGrandad
New member
Do you agree we need somebody to come in at 3 or 4 who can stay and build an innings in a 4 day game?
smiler
Well-known member
I can understand Liddle and Piolet being released but Zaidi has been given little chance and has been magnificent with the bat recently
Magnificent is a bit strong. He did well but he was there primarily as a bowler and was outbowled by Wells. Sussex must have given Beer a new contract; that surprises me - if he's not good enough to play f/c cricket then he's a bit of a luxury
Papa Lazarou
Living in a De Zerbi wonderland
We need a decent spinner.
So, who's left?
This is the squad list from the Sussex site:
Ed Joyce - past it? Is he carrying on next season?
Ajmal Shahzad - decent when not injured
Ashar Zaidi - released
Ben Brown - - keeper / batsman - had a good season
Callum Jackson - who?
Chris Jordan - With England aspirations would he want to play Div 2 cricket?
Chris Liddle - released
Chris Nash - still CAN do it, but not enough this season. No longer seen as an opener though.
Craig Cachopa - Is he still here?
Fynn Hudson-Prentice - who?
George Bailey - T20 only
Harry Finch - squad?
James Anyon - injured or not good enough?
Lewis Hatchett - might get a chance in Div 2
Luke Wells - Needs to kick on and become the opener we all hope he is.
Luke Wright - Please make him skipper in all formats
Matt Machan - Needs to learn to play for solid inniings.
Matthew Hobden - not sure.
Michael Yardy - retired
Ollie Robinson - decent at times - worth a go next season
Steffan Piolet - released
Steve Magoffin - wrap him in cotton wool - could get a lot of wickets in Div 2.
Tymal Mills - injury restricted him to one day stuff.
Will Beer - wasted talent - or not good enough?
Yes. We also need a batting coach, a half decent spinner and two other batsmen in addition to this Goodwin replacement you speak of.
To be honest, a lot of things have gone wrong over a lengthy period of time.