v Middlesex (H) Mon 6 Sep to Thu 9 Sep 2021 CC

I couldn't agree more!

I've been following Sussex since 1957 when I became a junior member. For the first time ever today I couldn't take it any more, and I left at the tea interval as Middlesex were approaching 300-0. The Sussex membership are a very docile lot - they appeared as if in a soporific trance watching what was unfolding before them, no visible signs of distress. But I did see plenty of other people leaving also at the tea interval, and I overheard one elderly female member say to a steward while heading to the exit: "Enough is enough". Hence my newly adopted moniker.
During the latter part of last season, during the Bob Willis matches, and throughout this season, my anger has been slowly building as I watch this once great club of ours being mismanaged and driven into the ground.
The old saying credited to Einstein seems to apply: "The definition of madness is continuing to do the same thing time after time and expecting a different result". It's surely time to end this "social experiment" that the current Sussex backroom team have been indulging in to see whether a team of almost impossibly young players - some of whom who would have struggled to get into a Sussex second X1 in past eras - can compete with experienced, seasoned professionals playing for other counties. We seem to go into every Championship game with a team pretty much pre-destined to lose. Even the addition of 3 experienced players for this game - Brown, Rawlins and Garton - was of no help today, since Rawlins is, as we know, a part-time spinner, and Garton - we were told ahead of the game by Ian Salisbury - is playing primarily as a batsman and would bowl "a few overs" to support the other bowlers. At what point can we expect to see that support, given that seven bowlers have been used to date - when Middlesex soar past 500?

The 4-day selection policy last year - when Jason Gillespie was still in situ - and this year under Ian and James, has been truly mind-blowing. It was embarrassing to see Luke Wells ostracised last year without even one game (now picked up by a bigger club, playing at a Test match ground, AND being picked on occasion in all formats!), and very disappointing when Danny Briggs and Laurie Evans opted to leave the club.

This year - when admittedly some of our senior bowlers have finally seen recognition by England, hence limiting their availability for Sussex - we have been fielding an impoverished, threadbare bowling attack. Then Ben Brown, one of our most experienced and gutsy batsmen, was demoted from the captaincy, followed swiftly by the news that one of the star batsmen we've developed over the past 5 years, Phil Salt, is declining to renew his contract with the club, and Chris Jordan has done likewise, tempted no doubt by the offer to captain Surrey's T20 side.

There are, of course, caveats, and one can't pretend that things have been easy over the past two years because of Covid (and the at times poor form of our overseas players), but the inexorable decline of our 4-day team is undeniable. Yes, there have been some stunning individual achievements by some of the young players being thrown in at the deep end - Carson, Orr, Ibrahim, Carter and Lenham all look to have the ability to go far - but the failure to retain a strong enough core of experienced players to give us a greater chance of winning games is inexcusable.

It has the distinct smell of 1997 about it. But who will be the Pigott and Marlar this time? Matt Prior has described the club as being "on the edge" and questioned why so many senior players are abandoning ship (hinting at player dissatisfaction with the management), but are there enough members who care enough to stand up and demand change? On the basis of the docile membership I witnessed today - as the Boys v Men carnage unfolded in front of them - I'm not sure there are. Maybe I'll be proved wrong.

Anyone else getting peed off with the constant reference to this young side and developing players for England mantra from the coaches? Sussex is supposed to be a pro side not a development side who provide entertainment and enjoyment for their supporters, not happening in the foreseeable future, just years of doom and gloom if they exist for that long...

Sunny day, flat track, lose the toss, two test match batters at the crease, toothless attack = lambs to the slaughter.

Not sure the kids will get much out of this hammering apart from maybe sunburn. 

I don’t think any of us could have put it any better enoughisenough 👏👏👍👍

As you say though, where are the Marlars and Pigotts? There could be a Jim May though, as he was just an ordinary member who stood for election and teamed up with Marlar, but does anyone among the membership care enough?

I pictured in my mind all the amazing Sussex bowling attacks I have been privileged to watch over the past 60+ years, and then I watched what was unfolding in front of me and the paucity of the attack at Haines' disposal, and I voted with my feet. It was equally sunny in my back garden!

How does 676-5 declared fit into opponents records against Sussex?