Northants v Sussex 23rd September

Mags is a fairly fit 35 year old though but we still need to get him some help. If we can reduce his workload by getting another seamer in, there's no reason he can't do 2 or 3 more seasons. I believe, at some point next year he qualifies as a domestic player doesn't he? To have him around playing and passing on his experience to our younger bowlers would be a huge bonus. What better role model could they hope for.

Third is a great achievement under the circs but we have rather come to expect such success, haven't we?

In fact, since the championship was split into two divisions in 2000, Sussex have been the most consistently successful county - which is a staggering achievement for a non-TMG club.

It started badly when in 2000 Sussex finished 18th. But the following year Sussex were promoted as Div Two champions and since then have been placed 6; 1; 5; 3; 1; 1; 6 ;8; 10; 5; 4 ;4; 3.

Of the other 17 counties, only Warwickshire comes anywhere near matching that level of consistency.

It's interesting to compare the make-up of div one in 2000 and div one now. Assuming Lancs do not bring off their great escape, only four counties that played in the inaugural div one in 2000 will still be playing in the top flight in 2015.

The split into the 'haves' and 'have nots' that is now so marked is something that has escalated dramatically since the introduction of the two divisions. I'm not sure that was foreseen at the time of its introduction, although now we can surely see that it was inevitable. Extraordinary to think that as recently as the 1990s, three of div two's 'bottom-feeders' of 2014 - Essex, Glamorgan and Leics - won the championship five times between them in just eight seasons.

That's cos I posted it here first and then thought it deserved a thread of its own so cut and pasted it into its own rightful place!

Not quite a career-best for Azarullah but at least he got something out of that orgy of bat-throwing and that will improve his figures for this season. As for Wells, the end-of-season form-finding came close to reaching an improbable thousand, eerily mirroring Wright's loss of form thatleft him a little short of what would have been a very well-deserved milestone. Still, a good finish for Sussex batting and now we can see if the massed ranks of the left arm pie-throwers can do something unlikely in the time remaining.

First, Somerset won't win. Have you seen their score?* And second they would gather 209 points if they did. So,
Sussex have come third with 210 - their highest Division 1 points total, I believe, since they won the Championship in 2007.

Many congratulations Sussex CCC.

Perhaps, 2014 will be remembered as the roller coaster ride of all roller coaster rides. The 'Big Bertha' of recent seasons. In
future, all Sussex Members should be given a large sick bag as part of their Membership fee.


* Somerset require 182 to win and are presently 84-6. Three wickets fell on 83. Trego got a golden. 

I think the Somerset game shows just what I was saying about this season. If they win they leap from seventh to fourth (and only one point off third - although I think Sussex would keep it on games won). Only one really consistently good team and one consistently bad team, the rest could have been put in a bowl, shaken and drawn for places.
Somerset 110-7 but probably not enough time for Yorks to win, a bit harsh for Somerset, they have only lost two games this season (three is they lose today), they just cannot win (apart from against us), they look like they are a bowler or two short as well. Competition is going to be tough.

Jim,

I could not agree more. Given the problems faced by the team and club both on and off the field
this season, 3rd position is an outstanding achievement. Congratulations to all concerned.