v Durham (H) Mon 24th June to Thu 27th June CC

Can we avoid the follow-on? Just 34 more runs required. Most interesting to see what JG does about this disturbing top order problem.

edit: Make that 3 with one wicket remaining.

Haines batted at 7, cause when the game started he and Abi Sakande were still at Hove and had to drive to Essex, so please do not blame the coach or anyone else for putting him at 7.

I think chickens are coming home to roost in this game. Our position of joint second in Division Two is, I believe, a false one and the fact that we have the most batting points is more indicative of the wickets we have played on and the rescue acts performed by our middle and lower order. Our top three is arguably the weakest of the 18 counties right now. Players do lose form and can benefit from a few games in the second team, but the fact of the matter is there are not too many players in the second team pushing for a first team place.

You could argue that crashing to 2 for 3 will happen once in a while, but, to me at least, it did not come as too much of a surprise. It's been on the cards all season. The batting has not only underperformed against Durham, it looked wrong before they had even walked to the crease. Whilst having a leg spinner who has not commanded in a first team place in years at the Club might have served well once at Arundel, it is not really an answer while Salt is injured. Wells and Finch are both clearly struggling and wondering whether they will get double figures let alone three figures when they go out to bat.

Fortunately, Ben Brown and David Wiese are in good form. Delray Rawlins, after a shaky start, did better than most, although I have to confess I had always seen him as a batsman who can bowl a bit, whereas he was batted at nine and took three wickets cheaply.

We are on course to get beaten by a team that has a batsman that would make a difference to us. Bancroft was ably supported by Eckersley and one partnership of 282 when the other nine wickets produced 102 runs is likely to be enough. Of course, if Sussex skittle Durham out for 102 in the second innings and the middle/lower order scramble us to victory, I will be delighted, but it will be papering over the cracks yet again. I somehow doubt this outcome though.

People talk about the batting but what about the bowling and fielding which in this game have also been absolute rubbish. The fielding in particular has been poor in this game with two drops costing Sussex 211 runs and meaning Durham got 384 instead of 173. Catches win matches! We won't another game this season playing this garbage. Forget giving the players time off. They should be brought in for double or even treble practice sessions because they need it. As well as Bancroft and Eckersley batted after their reprieves Sussex are an absolute shambles. I question whether the players want it because there is a complete lack of desire and application. To the players do you want to be a professional cricketer or would you rather be flipping burgers in McDonalds? Finch and Wells deserve to be dropped and Beer is not an opener. What about giving Haines and Rawlins a go? I expect Northants to put in on Sunday to keep the pressure on the batsmen. Our batsmen don't have the gohones required to play professional cricket.

Finch averaging 14.63 , that’s the worst average of anyone in the team including all the bowlers!

Wells and Finch have been blown apart. No confidence , no application- the top order has never, ever looked looked such a complete shambles. This is so embarrassing and its frankly beyond words - these are professional sportsmen who seem to have given up completely on even attempting to try and perform . Disgraceful application- this season is a disaster ..