De,
Bopara can only actually rely on himself, Rawlins and Rashid. He then has to find eight other overs from bowlers who for a variety
of reasons clearly cannot be trusted.
I agree. After all the success at Essex, he moves to Sussex for his final playing days to find a once high achieving side
on the wane, whom he then has to captain due to seniority.
Unlike Wright, Bopara is not a great cajoler of players. Few words of encouragement, chatting with other senior players for
advice etc.. Captaincy is not his natural forte. Yet, it is his body language that gives it away.
After the 17th over, Bopara has got his over counting wrong. He appears mystified. He talks to the umpire to find out what
is going on and suddenly knee-jerk asks Garton, reluctantly, to bowl a second over, when it should have been Finn. Perhaps,
a senior moment. Finn should have bowled the 18th and 20th.
Garton comes on, bowls another wretched over, and Bopara literally turns his back on George as he walks away from him.
This then leaves the rookie Crocombe to bowl the final death over when it should have been Finn.
Those last few overs summed up to me, the problems facing Sussex. Poor captaincy, poor management, poor form, poor
fast bowling... take your pick. At least, Bopara is able to show his class via his own bowling and batting which he did
superbly last night.
