[Cricket] The bad old days of Sussex cricket

[Gwylan]

John Spencer might not have been an exceptional cricketer, but he was a really good geography teacher

He wasn't a bad cricketer though - more than 500 wickets at 26 is a decent return, not the worst batsman either

He must have been a decent coach - he set Matt Prior and Sarah Taylor on their way

 

[East Staffs Gull]

Oi ! WE were his favourites, not you !

I was with a mate at Ilford in 1983 and he agreed to our request and came over to join in with us playing cricket against a tree on the far end of the ground.

We bought him a pack of cigars as an end of season present the year before !

I played a few matches with him and used to open with him. He promised me a new bat if I ever scored a ton. He delivered on his promise.

 

[Mackenzie]

He wasn't a bad cricketer though - more than 500 wickets at 26 is a decent return, not the worst batsman either

He must have been a decent coach - he set Matt Prior and Sarah Taylor on their way

He was an excellent coach (you can add Clare Connor to that list). It’s funny though, I can’t remember him ever bowling a single ball at school and was quite shocked to learn that he was a bowler more than a batsman.

Jerry Morley ended up being the groundskeeper, a really decent, quiet bloke.

 

[Miximate]

Mendis was our batting coach as juniors going to nets each week in the tea room nets .

 

[Eeyore]

He moved to Lancashire because of Barclay's disgusting declaration when Gehan was on 98 not out and had made 5 centuries in his previous 6 innings, equaling the record. He should definitely have played for England. Yes, I'm biased because I was a first year at BH&S Grammar when he was a sixth former but his record as an opener deserved selection.

Should have played for England, certainly after the rebel tour in 1982.

Of course, Gehan could easily have represented Sri Lanka at that time. The problem was he would then have become an overseas player. The chances are that would have lost him a living and international cricket wasn't as appealing for that reason. Rotten situation to be in.

 

[knocky1]

He spent his sixth forms at BHASVIC. I think that he moved there from Knoll or the Nevill.

Oh I remember it well!

You’ve got it. I played and talked cricket with him at Goldstone Junior School in the late ‘60s. His 6 was for Knoll against Hove Grammar....

 

[East Staffs Gull]

Oh I remember it well!

You’ve got it. I played and talked cricket with him at Goldstone Junior School in the late ‘60s. His 6 was for Knoll against Hove Grammar....

You must have been a contemporary of Steve Knight at HGS?

 

[Gwylan]

He moved to Lancashire because of Barclay's disgusting declaration when Gehan was on 98 not out and had made 5 centuries in his previous 6 innings, equaling the record.

Barclay wasn't playing in that game - Gunner Gould was the captain by then. It's a bit harsh on Gould too, he delayed as long as he could. In reality, he should have declared about 20 minutes earlier.

 

[knocky1]

You must have been a contemporary of Steve Knight at HGS?

Yes. My class. Another cricket addict.

 

[Seagull58]

Barclay wasn't playing in that game - Gunner Gould was the captain by then. It's a bit harsh on Gould too, he delayed as long as he could. In reality, he should have declared about 20 minutes earlier.

Barclay was run out for 0 in the first innings when Mendis made 109
http://static.espncricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1980S/1985/ENG_LOCAL/CC/HANTS_SUSSEX_CC_10-12JUL1985.html

 

[nwgull]

Bowling went to crap after winning the Natwest in 86.

We lost Adrian Jones to Somerset and Garth Le Roux (I think) at the end of that year. Reeve left for Warwickshire the following year and Imran's heart wasn't really in it when he came back in 88. Think he mainly played one day cricket that year.

Sadly, we had much further to fall before the glorious renaissance - but it was worth the wait!

Le Roux was still there in ‘87. I remember him single handedly winning the one-day game v Hampshire at Horsham that season. We needed a six off the last ball and he dispatched it over the score box somewhere in the vicinity of the railway line.

 

[Seagull58]

If ever Mendis was to have gained selection for England it should
have been during the 1985 season, his last with Sussex. He was at
his prolific best accumulating 1756 runs (avg. 47.45) inclusive
of six centuries, four of them scored in six innings. Therein
lies an unhappy story. Mendis came close to joining the small
number of batsmen who have scored five first-class centuries in
six innings. He was on 96 against Hampshire at Portsmouth when
John Barclay, the Sussex captain declared. Mendis had faced only
four balls in the preceding five overs.

`Wisden' said: "The Sussex captain explained that he was scheming
to beat Hampshire and that a declaration was due, but Mendis was
upset at missing such a rare opportunity''.

https://wisden.com/stories/county-c...t-best-player-fast-bowling-international-call

 

[Eeyore]

Barclay was run out for 0 in the first innings when oMendis made 109
http://static.espncricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1980S/1985/ENG_LOCAL/CC/HANTS_SUSSEX_CC_10-12JUL1985.html

United Services Ground. Name from the past. My dad was familiar with that in his naval days. Always pointed it out when we went past on the train.

 

[Gwylan]

Barclay was run out for 0 in the first innings when Mendis made 109
http://static.espncricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1980S/1985/ENG_LOCAL/CC/HANTS_SUSSEX_CC_10-12JUL1985.html

Sorry yes, you're right. I thought Gould had taken over the captaincy then and I was a bit premature.

I still don't think he can be blamed for the declaration, he delayed too long if anything

 

[zamora the merrier]

Yes. My class. Another cricket addict.

I was 3 years behind you then

As for Allan Green - lovely guy and at one stage a brilliant opening batsman. Sad but he lost all confidence

 

[Garry Nelson's teacher]

United Services Ground. Name from the past. My dad was familiar with that in his naval days. Always pointed it out when we went past on the train.

Dreary ground though. Anorak note: I saw Jim Parks score his 30,000th run in 1st class cricket there. (Lofted on-drive I think.)

Great thread BTW.

 

[stewart12]

one of my first seasons following Sussex was a bit naff- it was the mid 90's, I believe the season before Chris Adams took over as captain so I assume the 1997 season?

Anyone else remember this or am I making up how bad we were?

 

[Saladpack Seagull]

Fantastic thread, this! So many memories being prompted by these posts! I've followed Sussex since 1967 just shy of my 11th birthday, and Tony Greig was my first sporting hero! Mine was the first name in the Book of Remembrance at Hove when he died. Wonderful cricketer who introduced a rather weedy 10 year old to a lifetime of Sussex cricket. Forever grateful!

 

[zamora the merrier]

Did Sussex ever have Imran, La Roux, Wessels and Miandad on the staff at the same time or is my memory failing me?

 

[Neville's Breakfast]

Did Sussex ever have Imran, La Roux, Wessels and Miandad on the staff at the same time or is my memory failing me?

No, Wessels and Miandad were 1970s and Imran 80s. Garth Le Roux may have crossed over with the other three though. I seem to remember him and Imran bowling in tandem which was an incredible opening attack. Imran’s batting is what I remember most though. In particular one game where he just kept hitting sixes. We kept moving as we actually thought we were going to be hit but wherever in the ground we ended up seemed to become the next target.