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Post by longstop on May 1, 2018 18:53:33 GMT
Cricket is often about ifs and buts. If we had taken those last four Gloucestershire wickets, we would be sitting at the top of the Division Two County Championship table. After three games, though, there is no real indication of how Division Two will pan out this season. Sussex face Middlesex with both teams on 29 points, Sussex from three draws and Middlesex from one win, one draw and one defeat. Middlesex are many people’s favourites for a quick return to Division One, but they were comfortably beaten by Derbyshire just over a week ago.
A win over Middlesex would be a cause for optimism, particularly as Jofra Archer and Chris Jordan would be back from the IPL after one more game. It’s not likely to be an easy game though, particularly as Dawid Malan is back from his England duties.
Our last two CC encounters with Middlesex were in 2015 in Division One. We lost both games narrowly, falling just 20 runs short in the more recent game at Lords. In that game, Dawid Malan’s 120 not out in Middlesex’s second innings meant that the chase of 265 was just too much despite 50s from Ben Brown and Chris Nash. Earlier Steve Magoffin had taken 9 Middlesex wickets.
Middlesex have not started this season as well as they might have hoped. Their most recent game against Glamorgan was severely disrupted by the weather, but there was time for Stevie Eskinazi to score a rapid 93 and Tim Murtagh to take all four Glamorgan wickets before the rains came.
In Middlesex’s opening game, they beat Northants comfortably, mainly due to the bowling of James Harris and Tim Murtagh.
Sussex are likely to go into the game with a similar squad. Hopefully, Ishant Sharma will be fit despite his shoulder injury when fielding against Gloucestershire. George Garton may be set to return.
The weather looks good. Is there even a chance that spectators might be moaning about it being too hot after the freezing weather at Hove on Sunday? It would be a good game to win. Is that likely? We will see.
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Post by grandavefan on May 2, 2018 8:44:02 GMT
Interesting game.
Having seen the teams/squads selected by Mr Gillespie he's been more attacking than previous coaches.
Picking Beer in the 1st 2, I'm sure he'd have been involved against Gloucs if not injured, Briggs must be in with a chance, if Beer is still not ready.
I like this 4 bowlers and 7 batters, as opposed to 2 batters, 7 all rounders and 2 bowlers.
I'm wondering why some want Garton back? His potential is, potential, even in 2nd team he's hardly been the star performer? Are they getting carried away
with England selections?
Don't get me wrong, he has potential. He's got all season to get some games. 50 over I think will be his development area.
I think HowardH? will get his wish and his boy Stu will play in this game. Conditions should favour seamers (Shock & awe)
That will keep his heart rate and hatred under control.
Wells has started OK. I still want him batting, 1200 runs and Sussex will compete. 600 runs and 20 wickets and they won't. Please understand some of you
his job is to get runs, lots of runs, NOT wickets. Any he may get are a bonus.
Wiese, a revelation. Is his contract up this year?
Overall, a good start Mr Gillespie, a squad that seem motivated and a team. What a transformation.
We'll find out more on Friday about them with a stern test.
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Post by joe on May 2, 2018 9:29:34 GMT
I think you’ll find Beer only played because Briggs was coming back from injury. Beers figures of 1-88 compared to Briggs 2-8 says it all.
The only reason I would pick Garton over Whittingham is because left arm gives a different angle of attack. Both played in the recent 2nd XI friendly v Hants where Garton took 3-65 and Whittingham 0-55.
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Post by howardh on May 2, 2018 12:12:53 GMT
Interesting game. Having seen the teams/squads selected by Mr Gillespie he's been more attacking than previous coaches. Picking Beer in the 1st 2, I'm sure he'd have been involved against Gloucs if not injured, Briggs must be in with a chance, if Beer is still not ready. I like this 4 bowlers and 7 batters, as opposed to 2 batters, 7 all rounders and 2 bowlers. I'm wondering why some want Garton back? His potential is, potential, even in 2nd team he's hardly been the star performer? Are they getting carried away with England selections? Don't get me wrong, he has potential. He's got all season to get some games. 50 over I think will be his development area. I think HowardH? will get his wish and his boy Stu will play in this game. Conditions should favour seamers (Shock & awe) That will keep his heart rate and hatred under control. Wells has started OK. I still want him batting, 1200 runs and Sussex will compete. 600 runs and 20 wickets and they won't. Please understand some of you his job is to get runs, lots of runs, NOT wickets. Any he may get are a bonus. Wiese, a revelation. Is his contract up this year? Overall, a good start Mr Gillespie, a squad that seem motivated and a team. What a transformation. We'll find out more on Friday about them with a stern test. We shall see. "Heart rate" and "hatred"? Now I am lost. "Heart rate" - well, I am just off to have a blood pressure check! "Hatred"? That hurts. "Hatred"? I just want to see all players given the chance they deserve. I thought that in part JG was brought in to encourage those with potential.
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Post by philh on May 2, 2018 14:02:11 GMT
It's an interesting fixture that lies ahead on Friday. Looking at the weather forecast, there seems to be a good chance of a result. It's easy to say that an individual game could make an impact on the whole season, but a win here would do wonders and a defeat, whilst not being the end of the world, would leave us struggling in the table, particularly as other games are likely to produce results as well.
For Middlesex, two consecutive defeats might dent their aspirations and others' expectations of a gentle canter back to Division 1. I just hope we bat well and give ourselves a chance of winning.
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Post by joe on May 3, 2018 17:33:50 GMT
We have a squad. Sharma is side-lined with a shoulder injury.
Brown, Briggs, Finch, Salt, Wright, van Zyl, Wells, Robinson, Wiese, Burgess, Whittingham, Garton, Sakande.
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Post by coverpoint on May 3, 2018 19:36:14 GMT
Wells
Salt
Van Zyl
Finch
Wright
Brown (c, +)
Burgess
Robinson
Wiese
Briggs
Garton / Sakande / Whittingham
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Post by joe on May 3, 2018 20:10:02 GMT
I’ve got a feeling we may go with 5 bowlers for this one and leave out Finch, so my guess would be
Wells
Salt
van Zyl
Wright
Burgess
Brown
Wiese
Robinson
Briggs
Garton
Whittingham
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Post by jonboy on May 4, 2018 21:45:37 GMT
So all our old failings there, plain to see, dropped catches, Failing to finish off the tail, and our ridiculously fragile top order Sigh
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Post by Wicked Cricket on May 5, 2018 6:12:04 GMT
Gillespie has a lot of work ahead. Yesterday was the day when it must have finally hit home. The one positive is that we have a growing
star called Ollie.
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Post by jonboy on May 5, 2018 6:23:50 GMT
Will he act though? He seems oblivious to the problems, problems that were clearly there last season Any coach, doing his homework, will have seen what was needed
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Post by coverpoint on May 5, 2018 8:56:22 GMT
Catches win matches!
Sussex missed their first chance when Stevie Eskinazi, on 28, was dropped by Phil Salt at backward point off George Garton.
Eskinazi had added ten runs before he was dropped again, this time in the slips off Robinson.
Sussex put down their third catch when Hilton Cartwright, on two, was dropped behind, a difficult diving attempt to the wicketkeeper’s left off David Wiese.
Holden, dropped on 28 was the most expensive drop of the lot.
Sussex can't bat, can't bowl and can't field!
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Post by joe on May 5, 2018 9:32:44 GMT
Have to feel sorry for young George Garton, he had Holden, Eskinazi and Cartwright dropped off his bowling. br]
Robinson was superb and gave the Sussex supporters something to cheer. Wiese didn’t trouble the Middlesex batters at all and Briggs bowled a good first over but then became canon fodder.
Browns keeping was very hit and miss, he missed at least 3 balls which beat the bat off Briggs first over.
The top order looked flaky again to anything of good line and length.
Today is another day and there’s nowhere more splendid to be than Hove in the sunshine.
GOSBTS!
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Post by deepfineleg on May 5, 2018 15:24:19 GMT
Sussex can't bat, can't bowl and can't field! Maybe the lower order can bat! We've been there before. |
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Post by Wicked Cricket on May 5, 2018 15:47:46 GMT
What an all-round performance from Robinson. Besides Archer, Ollie could become the best signing for Sussex in many a year. And for the doubters of Harry Finch, what a way of proving them wrong with a century. What a slapstick sport cricket can be. A twenty minute tea break, the players and batsmen then return to the wicket and outfield, and one ball later they're all off again. Try explaining that to an American tourist!  |
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