CC v Glamorgan Jun 25-28th June 2023

So 359 the target.

Haines gone already…..

We’ve lost the one thing that sustained us last season, top order batting solidity, with Haines, Orr and Clark all struggling for form. Thank goodness for Alsop and Pujara (when available). 

Having witnessed the last two days Wicked, I fear you are right.

Other than Carlson (who else), who took on the bowling, even those who have put together an innings haven't scored quickly.

With run rates quite low, I see no chance of Sussex chasing down the 359 runs required. Our best hope is we somehow bat out the day, deprive Glamorgan the win and maintain our unbeaten record.

I really hope I am wrong, but I reckon we will be all out for under 200. I suspect we may need to write this one off and hope we can start winning some of our remaining Championship fixtures. It is really unfortunate given the strong position we were in at the end of day one.

As for Haines, he must be one of the few instances of where the captaincy is removed to allow him to focus on his batting, he scores less runs. Even last season, if you take out the 243 he scored against Derbyshire, his figures become fairly ordinary.

Had to look up this Haines has been rubbish all season and averaging 32 with 3 50s in 10 innings. Not his best season but far from rubbish.

Agreed on both counts, but still a far cry from his breakthrough 2021 season when he was first batsman in the country to 1000 first class runs.

13 matches, 25 innings, 1176 runs, three centuries, six fifties at an average of 47.04.

Without the pressure of captaincy and with him being one of the more experienced in our youthful line-up, I don't feel it unfair that we need more from him. Particularly, given we are without Pujara for a number of games.

If he has real international aspirations, he himself will know he needs to score more heavily and spend more time at the crease. I still have a suspicion he may well be overtaken by Orr as our top batter from within the current young group over the coming seasons.

We need rain and lots of it. Failing that, the light to deteriorate.

We also need Hassan Adnan to keep his trigger finger in his pocket. Eight LBW's!!!

Finally, does anyone understand the thinking behind McAndrew batting at five? Surely, we are not seriously trying to chase down 359.

I think captaincy is affecting Alsop, muddled thinking, he should have come out last night. For me it was a horrible call sending out Karvelas and today McAndrew up at 5, this can only be an attempt to stretch out the batting.