Reflections on 2021 season / 2022 expectations

I do not know much about Adams or Prior. But both have been out of the game for a long while. County cricket has changed significantly in this time. In most fields of life being out of touch for so long would disqualify someone from being appointed. Would it really be such a wise appointment for Sussex? I have grave doubts.

How we miss the experience of the ex-Sussex coaches Mark Robinson (won the red-ball championship with Warwickshire in his first season) and Peter Moores (a good 2021 season at Notts). Now Richard Halsall is leaving, a serious loss to the club. This comes on top of the stream of experienced and valued Sussex players voting with their feet, including Danny Briggs (a significant contributor to Warwickshire's success), Chris Jordan and Phil Salt. Luke Wells' departure may well have been involuntary but he has also proved at Lancs that he still has much to offer, and got a chance to play in all three formats at a major Test ground.

A few weeks back Matt Prior - only out of the game for seven years, by the way, Joe: considerably less time than James or Ian - remarked that "Sussex used to be a club that players wanted to JOIN, not leave".
During the recent online forum our Chairman derided Prior for his recent remarks and said he was "disappointed" in him.
I imagine Alan Caffyn may have been pretty "disappointed", or stronger, in Tony Piggott back in 1997.
Re-reading my copy of Revolution 97, the Sussex Cricket Society limited edition booklet published in 2018 (described on the front cover as "A Celebration of the 21st Anniversary of the Sussex CCC Members' Rebellion that Ousted A Committee and Led to a Golden Decade of Club Success") I am struck by how quickly events moved once Pigott and Jim May decided to act.
In his Introduction Chris Stonor refers to "growing unrest among the Sussex squad which led to six capped players leaving in 1996" and he goes on to say that "for some supporters this was the final funereal nail in the coffin and something had to be done..."
Only two months before the 1997 AGM Pigott, as part of a Sussex Cricket Society evening spoke at the ground about his 18-year club service". He isquoted as saying "I was quickly aware of a disgruntlement from the 100 or so supporters attending. Many believed the rot had to stop."
So, given that there is a similarly palpable, and fast growing, dissatisfaction shared by many members in 2021, why doesn't the Sussex Cricket Society invite Matt Prior and Chris Adams to discuss their distinguished - and, lest we forget! - extremely SUCCESSFUL careers with Sussex at one of their meetings? Maybe history can repeat itself and hopefully we can stop the exodus of playing and coaching talent from a club that was flying high only a few short years ago.

I wasn't necessarily saying that I felt Salisbury and Kirtley shouldn't be given more time (although I do feel that Salisbury in particular was guilty of naivety in thinking that the players he was selecting could reasonably be expected to win games of Championship cricket). I just don't see how any of us can ignore the woeful mismanagement of the club over recent seasons, culminating in the nadir in performance this year. It's the management that need to be challenged, and I don't blame distinguished successful ex-players from voicing their concerns at the way the club is drifting onto the rocks. It would be a surprise if they weren't seriously angry at how far the club has fallen in the few short years since they were playing.

We don’t need a revolution?!? We need something!!! Anyway, we’re not talking about removing the coaches, it’s higher up there needs to be changed.

Incidentally, Prior was used as a coach by Sussex earlier this year, and only retired 6 years ago. Furthermore, I’m not proposing Adams or Prior are brought in as director of cricket or similar. I think it would be far better if they stood for the committee - something that the membership can influence happening.

Well let's get cracking then. I got a couple a bucks I can throw in the pot if they need to put a spread on or something.

Other that the odd employee, like Andyb, nobody wants Andrew at the club, do they? Ain't got an issue with the coaches, yet. The direction is abysmal and them admitting it's abysmal after 5 odd years of overseeing it does nothing for the confidence.

Is Pattinson a possibility, or are you alert to his retirement from test cricket? Would be an amazing signing on ability, but, would he even be looking to join a county, given his reasons for retiring?