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Post by Deleted on Nov 7, 2014 10:52:25 GMT
As Jim said, he deserves his own thread of welcome. I like this lad, now on his fourth county in five seasons (Yorks in 2011, Lancs in 2012, Notts in 2013/14, Sussex 2015). On the surface that doesn't sound great; but he's got spirit, bowls genuinely fast, has a healthy dislike of batsmen and doesn't fret about getting hit for a few runs as long as he's taking wickets - a genuine strike bowler, in other words. He could be like Jimmy Anyon at his best, only about 10 mph quicker. I thought he was fantastic when he made his debut for Lancs at Hove in 2012. Watching Shahzad, Jordan and Mills competing over who gets the new ball to come charging down the slope from the Cromwell Rd end next season while Magoffin does his metronome thing from the Sea End is going to be terrific. What a great problem for Ed Joyce to have as he asks himself, 'so which of my three 90 mph men gets first dibs?' There's a nice interview with him here from 2013 in which his attitude to bowling comes across as very refershing. It also perhaps explains his immaturity at Yorkshire - before he left Yorks, he had never lived away from home and had always had his mum to do his washing and cooking for him. www.alloutcricket.com/blogs/interviews-blogs/ajmal-shahzad-i-want-to-be-myself |
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Post by Wicked Cricket on Nov 7, 2014 10:59:28 GMT
It is interesting how the media are suggesting both Mills and Shahzad are 'tearaways' and therefore a risk for Sussex to sign. If Robinson can turn these two 'hotheads' around into consistent and controlled England bowlers, then surely he has proved himself enough to be the next England Coach. www.espncricinfo.com/county-cricket-2015/content/story/797081.html |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 7, 2014 11:37:59 GMT
Quite smart timing to announce two genuinely exciting new signings just before the 2015 memberships go on sale. Let's hope the publication of a rubbish fixture list in two weeks time doesn't totally deflate the enthusiasm...
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Post by Wicked Cricket on Nov 7, 2014 11:40:30 GMT
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Post by horsham48 on Nov 7, 2014 11:41:46 GMT
Let's hope he has matured. Always seemed to act like a plonker whenever I saw him, despite his obvious talent. Let's hope Robbo enjoys the challenge of knocking him and Mills into shape !
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Post by Wicked Cricket on Nov 7, 2014 11:50:09 GMT
His nickname is AJY which is pretty naff even for county cricket standards. Sorry Ajy but in future writings I will name you SHAZZA as I have always done in memory of a certain troubled former footballer.  |
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Post by freddy838 on Nov 7, 2014 11:51:51 GMT
Wow I'm very pleasantly surprised by this. There must have been more room in the budget than I expected. Shahzad reminds me of Darren Gough in terms of attitude and bowling, very exciting when in full pomp. Tredwell would be nice, or maybe if Mags becomes an Englishman then someone like Chawla could come in to bamboozle us to the title.
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Post by Wicked Cricket on Nov 7, 2014 12:00:10 GMT
"Ajmal Shahzad has told Sussex supporters to expect some fun after joining their seam attack."www.theargus.co.uk/sport/11586326.Fun_times_ahead_as_Shahzad_signs_for_Sussex/?ref=twtrec"There must have been more room in the budget than I expected." I suspect a fair number are scratching their heads right now, but all will become clear when the accounts are released early next year. One senses Sussex are preparing themselves for a major onslaught on the Championship Trophy next season and when a Club is debt-free, this financial position is a major plus compared to and over the Division 1 TMGs. It's great to see such ambition from Sussex and keeps Mark Robinson happy when a call from England may never be too far away.
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Post by coverpoint on Nov 7, 2014 12:06:10 GMT
Freddy - I think you're being optimistic if you think Sussex can afford Shahzad, Mills and Tredwell. Certainly Shahzad is closer in terms of a like for like replacement for Jordan. Mills is probably more a like for like replacement for Lewis.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 7, 2014 12:17:47 GMT
Interesting that he recognises Grounders as the fifth critical member of our fast and furious attack - Shahzad told The Argus: “I’m told the wicket will be quick. I’m guessing that will see me and Tymal as quick, attacking bowlers on a quick wicket. That could be fun! Every time I’ve played at Hove I’ve got some runs or wickets – or both. With Steve Magoffin as well, and CJ when he is not with England, the attack down there looks good.” Potentially the best and quickest in the land, I'd say. The other point worth making - and perhaps overlooked as we're all red ball nuts on here - is that Shahzad will dramatically improve the T20 attack. And he's a useful hitter in that format, too. I recall he played a couple of match-winning one day innings for Notts last season. I seem to remember one game when they needed about 18 off the last over and he got them; the first ball was a no ball and he then had a free hit which he dispatched for six, and suddenly the 18 was down to 10 from five balls, which these days is a doddle... |
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Post by Wicked Cricket on Nov 7, 2014 12:22:23 GMT
Poor old Adam Matthews, he's rushed off his feet. This is his third interview within a week. "Good times ahead...only been here a few days and 'av felt a lot of love from the club."(What do Sussex CCC put in their tea? They could make an eeeeee-fortune from it!) www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrXtyqMWFaoMeanwhile, Shahzad has a certain anarchic VIZ ring about him. If Robinson can control both Mills and him and channel all their energy in the right way... WOW! www.youtube.com/watch?v=wucMj_lp5EI |
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jim
2nd XI player
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Post by jim on Nov 7, 2014 12:33:13 GMT
My feeling is that the 2014 squad was very competitive and did very well granted all the injuries
With Jimmy A, Rory and Matt all hopefully fit and firing, together with two major new English signings and a first contract for Fynn, I believe our whole set up will be a statement of our intent for 2015
Ajmal will also bring a great deal of enthusiasm,as well as skill, to the squad and I am confident that our supporters will really appreciate his bubbly personality
This positioning is only possible because our whole business is on the right path so great credit to Zac and everyone at the club
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Post by Wicked Cricket on Nov 7, 2014 12:39:06 GMT
jim,
Many congratulations on both seamer signings. I doff my cap to the club's ambition and future intentions. We could be in
for one hell of a season next year.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 7, 2014 13:47:44 GMT
My feeling is that the 2014 squad was very competitive and did very well granted all the injuries With Jimmy A, Rory and Matt all hopefully fit and firing, together with two major new English signings and a first contract for Fynn, I believe our whole set up will be a statement of our intent for 2015 Ajmal will also bring a great deal of enthusiasm,as well as skill, to the squad and I am confident that our supporters will really appreciate his bubbly personality This positioning is only possible because our whole business is on the right path so great credit to Zac and everyone at the club Well said. Not every chairman is so supportive of his players.We had Colin Graves laying mercilessly into his Yorks players as lazy, unfocussed and not good enough a couple of years ago (mind you, to be fair to him it seemed to do the trick as they haven't stopped winning since!) And then another county chairman this week tweeted : "Rain stopped just as Fireworks started. Best night at the Ground for years. Congratulations to the team." In case anyone got the wrong idea that he was congratulating his struggling players, he then added a supplementary tweet: " When I said "congrats to the Team" I mean Admin Team. Would be nice if the "other" team could produce Fireworks like that ?" Ouch! |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 8, 2014 20:41:56 GMT
The more I think about the signing of Mills and Shahzad, the more impressed I am with Sussex's ambition.
As far as I can see, there are only seven quick bowlers who play all formats who have switched counties for 2015 ( I've not included Arafat on the list as he only plays one day stuff).
They are Groenwald, Gidman, Balcombe, Buck, Edwards, Mills and Shahzad. And from that list, the two Sussex has attracted are surely by far the quickest and the most likely to make a major impact.
I'm still amazed that Sussex managed to finish third , given that Magoffin was the only bowler to take more than 25 wkts. But Robinson knew full well that we are unlikely to be able to repeat that and the club has moved adroitly to plug the gaps. I'm absolutely purring with pleasure at these two signings, not only because I'm looking forward to seeing them on Grounders' fast and bouncy tracks but because of what it says about Sussex's intention to mount a serious challenge to Yorks for the championship next season.
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