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Post by moderator1 on Mar 17, 2017 13:32:58 GMT
Following jonboy's comments in this thread unofficialsussexccc.freeforums.net/post/23802/thread perhaps we should all go out on a limb, or be Manx and go out on three limbs, and nominate where we think Sussex will finish in each tournament: Championship, T20 Blast and 50 Over Cup? Discussion suggests that we have entirely different strengths, and perhaps the squad that looks to be over-heavy with bowlers may deliver appropriately with up to three different attacks. Batting, too, may be a very different look in T20 from Championship. Nominations now, please, right up until the start of the first match.
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Post by Wicked Cricket on Mar 17, 2017 16:51:37 GMT
To echo our club Chairman, "being a professional optimist" I firmly believe that 2017 will be a BIG improvement from the underwhelming and disappointing 2016... so long as Sussex CCC can avoid the player injury-curse that has bedevilled the club in recent years.
So, with an injury-free Luke Wright; seamers that don't drop like flies; batsmen who avoid broken fingers, tendonitis and goodness knows what else; a batting coach who doesn't pass on crease-like body-ticks; and a Head Coach that takes control of his fellow Saffers... here we go. ______________________________________________________________
Championship: 2nd (promotion) T20: QFs 50 Over: Not the wooden spoon this season but the side remain ineffective. ______________________________________________________________
Much relies on how the youngster seamers fair. I would not be surprised if Magoffin gains an early injury which puts him on the sidelines for part of the season. And much depends on how the South Africans fair. Can they quickly become accustomed to English conditions especially during the earlier part of the season. Inconsistency may prove the downfall as a new team emerges and bonds together and why coming second in the Championship is ultra optimistic. One could see another fourth or even third place; but I do believe Sussex will be contenders. Learning how to win again can take quite a few seasons as the previous golden decade side discovered.
Although, it is essential the club improve this year not only for the standing of Mark Davis but also for the growing off-the-field developments. It will be interesting to see the influence Rob Andrew has not just over the team but the club in general. Perhaps, 2017 will be the season he finds his feet only?
Overall, one feels a lot more optimistic than 2016 where expectations, in hindsight, were hopelessly OTT.
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Post by hhsussex on Mar 20, 2017 9:19:29 GMT
I'm staggered nobody else seems to want to commit to this thread? What are you all afraid of, being laughed at if you are wrong? Here are my thoughts, with a note of the runners and riders in each competition.
Championship: Kent, Notts, Durham, Worcs, Leics, Glos, Glam, Northants, Derbys Hard to see beyond Notts and Sussex here, with Kent seemingly floundering over coaching non-appointments and having failed to retain Viljoen, who was the only strong foil to Coles as the spearhead of their attack last year. Sussex to win the 2nd Division if all the batsmen stay fit and in form, otherwise the bowlers and late-order hitters should get enough points to come 2nd. Brown and his bowlers will need to come to an understanding over the lengths they bowl and where they want him and the close field to stand to avoid giving away 20-30 runs in extras every innings.
RAL: Middx, Som, Glam, Kent, Surrey, Essex, Glos, Hants Davis obviously thinks Philander will be the key player in this tournament and his record in 50 over Internationals is exceptional: 41 wickets at 24.04 with a strike rate of 31.2 balls and an economy rate of 4.62. And yet in all list A matches these slump to a dismal overall average of 32.21 and a strike rate of 41.2 with economy almost unchanged. That suggests he tends to save his more penetrative spells for Internationals. Jordan should be available for these games, and Garton could play a big role. There are some heavyweight teams and players in this division but one would hope that Sussex should qualify for the quarter-finals at least.
T20: Glam, Hants, Glos, Kent, Middx,Som, Surrey, Essex More of the same opposition here, but Salt, Garton, Archer, Mills, Wright and Taylor should all excel. Sussex to go through to the finals here.
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Post by theleopard on Mar 20, 2017 11:19:35 GMT
Championship: Sussex to be champions - I can't see beyond them and Notts. In theory Notts, with an attack of Broad, Pattinson, Ball and Gurney, must be respected, but how often will that combination actually take to the field? Ball will surely be away for long spells and although Broad can in theory play for the first 8 matches, will England allow that ahead of a schedule where he will be expected to play 7 home Tests followed by the Ashes tour?
Royal London Cup - no idea to be honest. By the way, there are no quarters as such this year. The group winners go straight through to the semis, presumably with a home tie, while 2nd and 3rd from the two groups play-off three days before for places in the semis. Obviously giving whoever wins the two groups a big chance to reach the final. All I can say is that I would be mildly surprised if Sussex won the tournament, as there are Division 1 Championship sides who ought to have the edge.
T20 Blast - again this looks very hard to predict. Last year the southern group proved weaker, with no sides from it making Finals Day. If Glamorgan could somehow finish 2nd, then Sussex should fancy their chances of a top 4 finish - but so will everyone else. Again I think the northern group looks stronger, with Northants having mastered the art of Blast cricket through a huge amount of hard work, meticulous research, belief and no little skill.
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Post by joe on Mar 20, 2017 11:32:58 GMT
I think you've hit the nail on the head there theleopard, BELIEF!
I would hope there would be a renewed energy around Sussex this season with a younger average age and some good quality signings. We should see competition for places which is always a good thing and far better than trawling through the dregs to put out an XI as we were forced to do last season.
I can see us challenging for the top two spots in the Championship if, as HH says, everyone is fit and firing.
I predict a semi final spot in the RLC and silverware from the Blast.
GOSBTS!!
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Post by jonboy on Mar 21, 2017 10:56:11 GMT
Not recruiting a second overseas for the T20, maybe suggests we don't think we can win it. I'm not sure we have enough firepower
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Post by theleopard on Mar 21, 2017 12:54:57 GMT
My view, for what it's worth, is that recruting overseas big names, particularly for short periods, is vastly overrated.
Just look at last year's winner, Northants, and losing finalist, Durham. Neither went down that road. Much more is about having a group who know what their roles are as a team, plus preparation. Northants prepare a dossier on the opposition for every game (maybe all the others do, but if they don't, they are operating at a great disadvantage). They also look to empower the players at the club rather than turn to an star outsider to win matches.
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Post by hhsussex on Mar 22, 2017 7:51:01 GMT
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Post by philh on Mar 23, 2017 17:23:20 GMT
Championship: 4th T20: Almost qualify for quarter finals or losing quarter finalist 50 Over: Win a few, lose a few
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chrisc
2nd XI player
Posts: 14
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Post by chrisc on Apr 3, 2017 11:26:05 GMT
Championship: 3rd or 4th (wish I could say 1st or 2nd but I fear there will be the same sort of problems as last year, competition is strong and fixture list hasn't helped us) 50 over: group stage, just fail to qualify T20: group stage, just fail to qualify
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jimbon
2nd XI player
Posts: 126
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Post by jimbon on Apr 7, 2017 9:52:22 GMT
Championship runners-up Royal London 50 semi-final 20/20 quarter-final
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Post by fraudster on Apr 8, 2017 8:18:01 GMT
Bottom of the Championship, judging by our current eleven against these university plum-suckers. What an appalling squad this blithering 'coach' has put together.
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Post by deepfineleg on Apr 8, 2017 16:40:40 GMT
CC 3rd T20 3rd RLC 7th
But hopefully much better!
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Post by Wicked Cricket on Apr 17, 2017 11:09:47 GMT
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Post by hhsussex on Apr 17, 2017 12:48:13 GMT
"....they need performances on the pitch, not paper - as well as some luck with injuries. If Philander can get their campaign off to a flyer and the likes of Archer, George Garton and Ollie Robinson step up to provide support for Magoffin, they should push for promotion."
Let's just tot it up, shall we? Luck with injuries - nil points Philander to get off tto a flyer - nil points Archer - Yes, magnificently Garton, Robinson supporting Magoffin - not so far Performance on the pitch, not paper - nil points
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