v Northamptonshire (H) Thu 27th May to Sun 30th May 2021 CC

philh,

Whatever we get, I will wish for 50 more. Come on, Sussex.

There is always a fine line between criticism and praise. Constant criticism is negative and a waste of time, just as consistent lauding, especially when the team has played badly, is irrelevant. Certainly, frustration is a key word for 2021. When new shoots of hope and improvement are sprouting, the old negative Sussex ways rear their ugly heads. Of course, improvement is never an upward straight line and this season we have seen the wobbles once again. As with 2020, Sussex began strongly, but are now falling away.

While I agree this is “a young and inexperienced side”, it is folly to use this as an excuse for every failure and why, imho, constructive criticism is important. They say averages never lie, so here are the up-to-date ones for Sussex.

stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/records/averages/batting_bowling_by_team.html?id=13821;team=1422;type=tournament

Massive praise to Tom Haines. Whatever changes he made to his batting over the Winter has paid dividends. After 7 games, 622 runs and an average of 47.84, he’s up there with the best. Whereas for van Zyl as a O/S batsman, should we not be expecting more? 402 runs at an average of 30.92, surely, it should be above 40? In the cold light of day, Brown’s batting is simply not good enough (don’t allow his performance today to cloud the issue); the same applies to Clarke and, of course, there is Rawlins who should be playing in the 2nd XI. Thomason had a good start, but now his form has dipped. It appears he’s a player who can be easily rattled at the crease.

Travis Head is an enigma. Are we to presume that once the batting conditions improve and the T20 begins, he will find form? Perhaps, the Championship is not for him and he joins the growing list of white ball players only? He has scored just 38 runs in six innings with an average of 7.60. Even my grandfather could do better.

The youngster seamers are showing great promise. While Robinson is already off to England, Jamie Atkins is showing excellent potential and Crocombe has taken 7 wickets after 4 games, but is that enough or do we use the excuse of “a young and inexperienced side?” While Garton is a wicket-taker his inconsistency and weeping of runs along with constant injury concerns which may not go away doesn’t help the side in a tight match. Even so, what an exciting bowler to watch as you never know what type of ball is coming next. A wicket-taking in-swinging yorker or a long hop four? Hunt, on the other hand, is a good example of the constant dangers a young seamer faces… injury.

Carson is showing an all-round promise, but after a superb start to the season, his spin abilities are now known on the county circuit and batsmen are attempting to hit him out of the game. Being only 20 years-old, has he the confidence to take the knocks? Brown’s captaincy has rightly attracted criticism, but with recent assistance from Head, in this match at least, he has shown more skill and experience.

Perhaps, the problem is holding “too high expectations?” While Salisbury is proving to be a better coach than Gillespie, maybe, we need to wait until 2024 before the potential of a young side matures? So long as the “improvement chart” keeps rising where each high is higher and every dip is higher, there is nothing to be concerned about.

Meanwhile, I suggest Sussex need a minimum lead of 250 and preferably 300+ to win this game. Without Robinson, the bowling attack is immediately weakened.

PS: Now compare the present batting averages for 2021 with the Trophy winning side of 2006. You can immediately see the huge gulf. Goodwin, 16 games, 1,649 runs at an average of 63.42... Those were the days! 

stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/records/batting/highest_career_batting_average.html?id=2624;team=1422;type=tournament

Wicked Cricket,

That probably sums it all up perfectly. Did you have to go posting the 2006 averages though??!😭😭😭

Just one thing though, Head will only play in the T20 if one of Khan and Wiese isn’t available.

Trouble is, we don’t have anyone to bring in apart from Orr and Coles.

We do have others, but they currently are not contracted. My point is that Sussex need to give out some rookie contracts to batters/keepers who should be part of Sussex's future. Lenham and Carter spring to mind.
Sussex need to be as open minded with their batters as they are with bowlers.

Still, with the part time spinner. Nothing like dragging out a game. Rawlins 0-60 off 20 or Garton 3-60 off 15, what's your preference? It's mind-blowingly pathetic. And if Garton's injured, where's Crocombe?

So poor.

He better be. I've seen enough, we have some good young players but some very ordinary senior ones, and we're led very negatively in our approach. This is a season for change, I'd like to see Brown keep the captaincy without the gloves, see if that improves him, and also see him open - he looks suited to opening to me, likes the cut, ball coming on... someone has to replace Thomason, who is an all-rounder.

Salt back at 5, Orr at 6, the top four with Brown opening and most importantly, 5 actual bowlers with Garton 7 and Carson likely 8 - he can bat alright. Give Garton the responsibility of opening, may as well. I notice Crocombe went for 12 in his first over in this innings - he rightly won't be discarded from the job because of it.

Rawlins is as much a part time bowler as you can be. He's good for 5 overs if it's 400-5 or you wanna rest someone. He is also entirely a one-day batsman - great striker but seems incapable of learning this form

If we do all of the above we could have an interesting season. We have nothing to lose from being much more positive and aggressive, absolutely nothing. Even if we don't change personnel or whatever.

Peace out suckers, the sun's shining, happy Bank Holiday x