v Surrey (A) Sun 6th Sep to Wed 9th Sep BWT

I think Finch has just signed his own marching orders.

This was oh so predictable as for the fourth consecutive match in this competition from a good position we capitulate batting in our second innings. Are any of us really surprised?

Well played Stuart Meaker, but it does beg the question if our batting is as much about lack of mental strength and application as much as ability and technique. Despite a deteriorating wicket, this was not a 62 for 8 track and we desperately needed some of our top order to stand up and be counted.

Despite the commentators assertion, I can't believe Surrey will have any difficulty in knocking off the required runs tomorrow morning. Even more so given how our numbers 9 and 10 batted.

Dizzy talked at lunchtime about it being a good time for Sussex supporters to be optomistic, but having watched the horror show in the last session I suspect some may require a bit more convincing.

Ashington, I totally agree on your point about strengthening the batting, but I suspect we may need more than just Head and Van Zyl. No doubt some difficult and tough decisions will be needed around some of our current playing staff at the end of the season. Whilst not wanting to speculate over the future of specific individuals, hopefully the Management Team will be strong and do what is necessary with the resources available to address the current shortcomings in the squad.

Only thing worse then our batting was the waffle that came from Gillespie. Gillesie was even thanked for making himself available for all the soft questions

Well we decided to treat this competition as an experiment, primarily to see if any of the youngsters could take us forward. Well we now know the answer, they can’t, or not yet at least. So no respite from within, as far as the batting is concerned.
I don’t know what fate lies ahead for Wells, but if he can’t get in this batting line up, for his sake, he might be happy to move on.
Despite the return of Van Zyl, and the delayed arrival of Head, both probably for one year only, Sussex will need to do some serious recruiting. At least two new batsmen will be needed, one an opener, not least because we might not see much of Salt next season. It’s too early to write of the likes of Haines and Clark, although as others have said, Finch might be on shaky ground. He might be saved by the fact that we would be lucky to find more than a couple of decent batsmen, even allowing for any mass redundancies.
Looking at the bowling, only really Carson has put his name forward, and probably deserves a contract. Garton had one good match, and will no doubt be a mainstay in the attack for seasons to come. Whilst there are less concerns about the bowling, I do think we need to find a strike bowler to open the bowling with Robinson. Maybe George will eventually take on that role, but in the meantime, we need to add a bit more venom to our attack. So much so, that I would not have brought Head back, and instead, picked an overseas strike bowler. It’s likely though, we are committed to bringing back the Australian. So a sizeable recruitment job, and it’s time for Sussex to stop hiding behind the excuses, and get the job done. Other, so called, smaller counties have managed it.

The jury is still out for me on Dizzy till we see where we end up in the Blast but his red ball record with Sussex has seen us go backwards somewhat.
He assures us that there is a long term plan in place, we’ll see.

Gillespie's "praisefest" of everything Sussex CCC yesterday was at best "ill-timed" and at worst "embarrassing". What the BWT tournament has shown
is just how far behind the curve the Club are. Agreed, we have some prospective youngsters emerging which deserves a celebration, while our white-ball
cricket is far far better. Although, not forgetting Luke Wright is closing in on retirement and one of our recent major signings, Ravi Bopara, is too.

Everything relies on the T20 now to finally judge JGs three year influence. The margins are fine. Get us to the Final again and he will be viewed favourably.
Yet, if we don't reach the QFs or Finals Day, then the Aussie will be seen as a gamble that didn't come off.

While I accept Sussex CCC still views itself as a family club where "praise" and "being one of us" remains of great importance, sport is about results and
in the cold light of day, if a Coach is brought in with a strong track record of success and then does not succeed in passing that over, then either that person
is in their descendancy or there is something inherently wrong with the Club.

A diplomatic "praisefest" doesn't change the situation.

For me it’s Meaker, he was supposed to bolster the bowling but when he’s been picked and then trusted to bowl his bowling has been shocking.

46-5-225-2.   So that’s an average of 112 and an economy of 4.8