What the f*ck has happened to SCCC?

[Couldn't Be Hyypia]

Anyone? A league leading side in all formats a few years ago to this level of dross.

Is there a reason? A series of changes? Financial issues? Or is it just the cycle of change in cricket?

 

[jakarta]

The 2000's were an aberration, a totally underachieving County back where we belong...

 

[studio150]

Senior players retiring injured or elsewhere leaving younger prospects to play with better bowling prospects such as Archer and Garton who are more advanced than the batsman so we tend to score poorly and not apply scoreboard pressure. It may take a season or two more before we are able to mount a serious promotion challenge.

 

[ManOfSussex]

All the Spen Cama money has been spent.

 

[Pevenseagull]

Have a look at the players we had 13 years ago.

Have a look at the players we have now.

 

[bhanutz]

Barber out!

 

[Gazwag]

Division 1
Middlesex
Yorkshire
Somerset
Surrey
Warwickshire
Durham
Lancashire
Hampshire
Nottinghamshire

Take out Somerset and what do the others have in common, and there is your answer

 

[Couldn't Be Hyypia]

Division 1
Middlesex
Yorkshire
Somerset
Surrey
Warwickshire
Durham
Lancashire
Hampshire
Nottinghamshire

Take out Somerset and what do the others have in common, and there is your answer

But that hasn't always been the case. Durham are essentially bankrupt. Lancashire are serial under-performers. It can't be as simple as who has the internationals at their ground can it?

 

[brightonmark1234]

i feel something is not right behind the scenes at Sussex

 

[Moshe Gariani]

Division 1
Middlesex
Yorkshire
Somerset
Surrey
Warwickshire
Durham
Lancashire
Hampshire
Nottinghamshire

Take out Somerset and what do the others have in common, and there is your answer

Quite. Taunton has hosted ODIs I think. Also Somerset benefit from being the nearest first class county to significant minor counties territory in Cornwall and Devon.

Sussex successfully overcame their massive inherent disadvantage for a period thanks mainly to the Spen Cama money and the signing/retention of expensive players. To a certain extent there is still a legacy in the ground/facility improvements, and slightly more healthy balance sheet, that helps us compete closer to the middle/potentially upper echelon of clubs than we have for most of our history - but the future looks very challenging.

 

[Mr Putdown]

Have a look at the players we had 13 years ago.

Have a look at the players we have now.

Heartbreaking.

 

[Chicken Run]

Looking for positives they have only lost one game all season in the 4 day format, not many people seem to notice that!

 

[Durlston]

Wasn't it 2011 that Brighton, Crawley and Sussex CCC all won their leagues? What a marvellous time for the area and also the first matches at the AMEX.

 

[Mr Putdown]

Looking for positives they have only lost one game all season in the 4 day format, not many people seem to notice that!

Well that's really cheered me up.

 

[Buckley's Mad Eye]

We've got some promising young bowlers coming through which is a good thing. We'll need to pick up a couple of solid batsmen for next summer to fill the middle order. Nash and Wells opening are reasonably solid, Wright at 5 and Brown at 7 are adequate. We're short of a number 3, 4 and 6. One of those slots could be filled with an overseas player like Taylor which leaves us in the market for a couple of tough, gnarled professional batsmen who don't give their wickets away, two modern day Bill Atheys would be perfect.

 

[Gwylan]

The 2000's were an aberration, a totally underachieving County back where we belong...

Senior players retiring injured or elsewhere leaving younger prospects to play with better bowling prospects such as Archer and Garton who are more advanced than the batsman

Our success 10 to 15 years ago was down to one man really - Mushy. If you have a bloke taking near on 100 wickets every season, you're going to do well. He was backed up by two decent opening bowlers in Kirtley and Lewry and some OK, but not great batting (Goodwin apart). We've done well since Mushy retired but not won much - and not won anything since Goodwin went.

We've got decent opening bowlers now but don't have that spinner and don't really have a batter who scores heaps of runs every year.

I don't think we've lost any players to another county - only players (Rayner, Smith, Goodwin, Hodd, Crane whose contracts weren't renewed). It's not like 20 years ago when player after player went.

I'm relatively optimistic about the future: we're not in financial chaos; we have three terrific bowling prospects in Archer, Garton and Whittingham and some solid batters who are around for a few years yet (Nash, Wright and Brown). We should also have Jordan playing more often, a decent all-rounder in Robinson and another season out of the Goff. Three new players - two decent bats and a spinner will make all the difference.

 

[Shropshire Seagull]

Our success 10 to 15 years ago was down to one man really - Mushy. If you have a bloke taking near on 100 wickets every season, you're going to do well. He was backed up by two decent opening bowlers in Kirtley and Lewry and some OK, but not great batting (Goodwin apart). We've done well since Mushy retired but not won much - and not won anything since Goodwin went.

We've got decent opening bowlers now but don't have that spinner and don't really have a batter who scores heaps of runs every year.

I don't think we've lost any players to another county - only players (Rayner, Smith, Goodwin, Hodd, Crane whose contracts weren't renewed). It's not like 20 years ago when player after player went.

I'm relatively optimistic about the future: we're not in financial chaos; we have three terrific bowling prospects in Archer, Garton and Whittingham and some solid batters who are around for a few years yet (Nash, Wright and Brown). We should also have Jordan playing more often, a decent all-rounder in Robinson and another season out of the Goff. Three new players - two decent bats and a spinner will make all the difference.

I'd add that Grizzly's leadership also had a major influence on our success too.

 

[Gwylan]

The 2000's were an aberration, a totally underachieving County back where we belong...

Senior players retiring injured or elsewhere leaving younger prospects to play with better bowling prospects such as Archer and Garton who are more advanced than the batsman so we tend to score poorly and not apply scoreboard pressure. It may take a season or two more before we are able to mount a serious promotion challenge.

I'd add that Grizzly's leadership also had a major influence on our success too.

Yes, that's true, I think it's fair to say that none of his successors have really looked like dynamic skippers

 

[Brovion]

The 2000's were an aberration, a totally underachieving County back where we belong...

Sadly that is true. In that period everything came together: players, money and leadership. Since then we've struggled with all three and we've sunk back to our historic level. Maybe even a bit below it as in the Bad Old Days we could at least win the odd One Day trophy.

I disagree though with the poster who said it's all down to Test ground status. Durham are virtually bankrupt whilst others struggle with the sheer cost in bidding for and then hosting an international. Also how often are those grounds full for county games? That's why they want a franchise system. All that maintenance to keep those massive grounds operational for a few matches a year. (At least Middlesex are spared that as they don't own Lords). If ground size equalled success then Newcastle would be a top 4 PL side! And theirs is full for every game!

 

[ManOfSussex]

Hodd

Who's on the verge of winning his 3rd county championship title with Yorkshire, on top of the one he won with Sussex, been awarded his county cap by them and just signed a new 2 year deal. He's never looked back.