The Wicked Cricket Column

Yep, delighted for Zac. I never bought his retirement narrative. 

Me neither. Needed an excuse for leaving Sussex, possibly?

Spot on, smithers2. Sussex do opaque rather than transparent, so let's hope Rob Andrew sorts it out soon.

What a privilege and what an honour to be allowed access to one of the most extraordinary and nostalgic Aladdin’s Cave in Great Britain.

Andy Garth who owns the shop ‘Brighton and Hove Stuff’ in Western Road, has taken on all the Evening Argus photographic negatives, former newspapers and general memorabilia stretching right across the paper’s long and illustrious history. I have written a number of blogs this month about his venture. And for me to enter this magical storage area located in the City, is such a special and wondrous experience.

Typical scenes within the storage area




Presently, I am researching and writing a booklet that commemorates the Sussex CCC Members Rebellion which took place at the Brighton Grand Hotel during the club’s AGM on March 19th, 1997; as well as the two years that then ensued. I also know Andy Garth and respect his deep and enthusiastic interest as well as care for the City’s history. So, to be told there were potential photographs taken of that infamous night, sitting somewhere in the storage area, that no-one had ever seen before, was quite titillatingly and scintillatingly extraordinary. But, how were you to find them amongst the 400,000 or more negatives? Would this be a needle in a haystack affair or could serendipity kindly come to the fore?

I learnt that amongst the myriad of filing cabinets, each holding thousands of negatives in hundreds of separate photographic folders, the date and the year when they were photographed are printed on the front of each folder. The piece of luck was to find a filing cabinet holding negatives from 1997 and then work around this. Unfortunately, the cabinets were not in synch, so one from 1990 might be standing next to another from 1970.

Well, serendipity did strike. Within 13 minutes the said photographic negatives were found. And what a find. Only two pictures were ever printed by the Argus of that rebellious night. Just two. Yet, well over 80 different photos were taken plus an assortment of others days and weeks after the event.

The middle green cabinet is where the AGM pics were found



I shared this amazing day with a good friend, a volunteer from the club museum, and we both couldn’t believe it. I let out a yelp of excitement as I trawled through the folders headed March 19th, 1997 and suddenly one stating ‘Sussex CCC AGM Grand Hotel’ manifested in my hand. But the treasures kept coming. Photos of Tony Pigott and Robin Marlar taken a few days later at the County Ground appeared. Then some weeks later, pictures of Don Trangmar, the new club Vice-Chairman, emerged. In fact, throughout 1997, photos of a majority of the Sussex matches were taken. Even the Duke of Norfolk’s XI V The Australians at Arundel boasted an assortment of pics including Shane Warne in his pomp.

During our lunch-break we took the March 19th negatives to Jessops, the camera store, and for a £10 charge, chose at random fifteen to be printed. When we returned the technician was impressed by their quality. Here are a few examples below, including a very dapper-looking Jim May, the huge attendance within the Grand Hotel room and for me, the classic, the empty seat of Frank Horan just after he had stormed out of the room with a rather surprised and young looking Club Captain, Peter Moores, looking on.

Some of the printed pics plus the negs and the folders they came in (Argus Photographers: Jim Holden/David Buchan)




Question: Does anyone know who the 1970s looking actor holding the mic is?

My next visit is tomorrow when I’ll be looking for photos depicting the November day when Chris Adams signed for Sussex at Hove. Only one said picture has ever been published. This appears in the club’s ‘175’ book, but I am sure there are others. I have found the correct 1997/month filing cabinet. So, now a case of leafing through the 100s of folders until I find the right one!

May: That was the Month that Was
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www.youtube.com/watch?v=60zrnOyBo3U
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Wow! What a month that was. One feels like having been on a roller-coaster ride with every emotion on display. The Gravity Max, Full Throttle, Wicked Twister and El Toro all rolled into one. It's been exhausting!

These last few years have seen a hair-raising adventure for Sussex supporters from relegation to high expectation, from disappointment to elation with humiliating losses to scintillating wins and back again. May has seemingly encapsulated every joy and pain, every hope and pessimism, known to cricket followers where, now, a Twitter account has been set up by exasperated fans called Time for Change@changeatsussex who simply can’t handle this whirlwind ride anymore.

After a depressing April where Sussex lost their first two Championship games (Kent by 226 runs and Notts via an innings and 88 runs); and a lucky one pointer against Middlesex in the RLC due to rain, followed by a DL loss v Somerset; Sussex suddenly woke up from their underachieving slumber and produced some extraordinary cricket during May.

Having won only two RLC games in as many years, suddenly, the team shocked the county by winning three in a row against Glamorgan, Kent and Surrey. Supporters were pinching themselves. But as with the two steps forward one step back premise, Eastbourne beckoned for the first time in 17 years and, perhaps, it was too much to expect a fourth in a row. The loss against Gloucestershire sealed Sussex’s fate in not moving on to the QFs after a must win against Hampshire was rained off.

Congrats to Eastbourne CC



On a personal note, the Saffrons was a most enjoyable day. I chatted with a host of dynamic people from the Eastbourne CC Chairman, Ian Fletcher-Price to Ed Giddins, Jack Russell and the highlight, Zac Toumazi who genuinely seemed pleased to see me - a feeling I reciprocated. The Saffrons deserve a lot of praise in organising such a successful event with close on 4,500 people attending. The facilities were excellent and while some criticism was aimed at the seating, a glorious sunny day made up for any initial hitches. One hopes Eastbourne becomes an annual event.

To add colour and spice to the County Ground calendar, Sussex played host to the South Africans who had landed at Gatwick only a few days before. Wet weather looked set to kibosh events but a combination of hard-working ground staff and good timing (it was a FL game), the match finally began at 5.30pm and 50 overs were reduced to 32. No doubt a huge sigh of relief rippled across the ground within every echelon of the club. It was a fun night watched by a large crowd and while it appeared more boys v men on the pitch, the Proteus had put out a strong side. Sixes reined around the ground with the bearded one-handed catcher in the top tier of the Pavilion gaining the accolades.

But the highlight of the month was still to come.

What a player!



Durham, the side whose hierarchy had bankrupted the county and left them staring at administration before the ECB controversially bailed them out and then administered a 48 point penalty as recompense, came to Hove. Distant memories of the humdinger matches in Division 1 when usually their seamers came out top, troubled supporters. Would Sussex continue their abject Championship form from April?

Not on your Dexter, Parks, Snow and Greig nelly. This was a match to savour. Like a $500,000 1992 bottle of 'Screaming Eagle' Cabernet Sauvignon or a glass of 1928 Krug champagne, supporters were incredulous at the Sussex display. It was dazzling and dashing, imperious and improvised. This was vintage Sussex back in their golden decade bossing sides at Hove like prized fighters of old. It was pinch time again as Luke Wells played like a T20 Chris Gayle, smashing balls to all parts and scoring 258 runs - five more than his father Alan ever achieved. Durham were sent packing by an innings and 177. Had Sussex finally found their reset button?

But true to form just as fans were riding on the crest of a wave and with the belief that arch-rivals Kent could be taken to the hop-cleaners, Sussex returned to their old
underachieving selves. Disappointment doesn’t come close to describe their next performance at Tunbridge-Wells. And even though the second innings showed some fight, all the improvements seen against Durham were mostly erased.

Agreed, there are many rays of light. Jofra Archer must be the cricketer find of the decade. No other player has made such an impression on the club since Matt Prior erupted from the youngster ranks. The Kolpaks of Van Zyl and Wiese are showing promise. But there is little cohesion amongst the batting. The same disparate performances, the same inconsistencies are on display as in previous years. Why can’t such a talented and potentially able side play together as a team like good ol’ Sussex from the golden decade? When one player had a bad game there was always another to take up the slack. You cannot rely on one team mate to get a majority of the runs.

At present, the club are facing a crisis of sorts. So many changes are occurring both on and off the field and with the expectations from supporters remaining high, something may give.

Yet, I believe in giving a new regime time to settle. Kent were in a similar position to Sussex three years ago but now they are looking, alongside Notts, strong promotional contenders again. While Mark Davis requires more time to create a competitive side, the all important thing is to see improvements, however small, regularly occurring. Inconsistency will remain a bugbear for some time to come. There are no miracle fixes, no magic buttons to press. It comes down to hard-work and above all self belief and confidence. Some may suggest that is instilled by the coaching staff.

Can Luke find consistent form?



I truly hope Luke Wright can discover steady form this season. He seemingly cannot find his rhythm or momentum from the past which can only lead to tongues wagging, asking the question whether he can captain and remain a top bat. Again, only time will tell. It must be incredibly frustrating for him, at present. A captain must lead from the front, particularly when luck isn’t going your way.

But in Rob Andrew we believe. If anyone is to turn around the club’s fortunes, this must be led by Andrew. All his past experience and success must surely rub off on the team. But he too is finding his feet. Fortunately, we have a new Chairman who believes in allowing the Chief Exec to express himself and to get on with it, which augurs well. Unfortunately, patience remains the key word. Setting up a twitter account to hide your anonymity whilst using it as a means of venting your frustrations, is not the way forward, imho. Whereas, a dialogue of openness, transparency and honesty with the club hierarchy is.

Keep up the good work!