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Post by Wicked Cricket on Jan 26, 2018 11:28:38 GMT
The cricket news of this weekend will be the IPL auction. In the past a majority of the English players have been cold-shouldered but with the ODI side on the ascendancy this may change. For Sussex supporters all eyes will be on Tymal Mills, Chris Jordan, David Wiese and certainly, the club star of the event, Jofra Archer. Don't be surprised if Jofra emulates the dizzy heights of Mills last year when the left-armer sold for a whopping and miraculous £1.3m. The difference being, Jofra does not have the injury woes of his compatriot. It's going to be an exciting event for English cricket followers as the auction also involves Ben Stokes, Joe Root, Eoin Morgan, Chris Woakes, and eighteen others. www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/42787160
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Post by Wicked Cricket on Jan 27, 2018 12:56:52 GMT
Jofra Archer nails the IPL auction by selling for £800,000. Not bad for a cricketer whom no-one knew existed 8 months ago. After learning of the sum Jofra tweets, "Wow, can't put this feeling into words." Well, how about replacing your beat-up old mini with a brand new top of the range BMW for starters. The English Champion is Ben Stokes who sold for £1.4m, £300k less than last year. The same amount as Steve Smith. In fact, only one other England cricketer after Stokes went for more money than Archer and that is Chris Woakes, This alone puts into perspective Jofra's amazing and recent meteoric rise. The Barbadian joins team-mates Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler with the Rajasthan Royals (RR) as well as Aussie Captain Steve Smith. RR have obviously spent BIG this year. Surprisingly, Joe Root failed to sell with the only other main English stars being Jos Buttler (£485,000), Moeen Ali (£187,000) and Jason Roy (£165,000). It is unclear how Tymal Mills, Chris Jordan and David Wiese have faired as the auction is still on-going. No doubt England and the ECB will be seeking every which way and that to fast-track Archer to becoming an England International. www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/42843481PS: As the auction unfolds another BIG surprise is which players are NOT being picked up. This list includes Sam Billings, Mitchell Johnson, Josh Hazelwood, Johnny Bairstow and the largest eye-catching amazement... Chris Gayle. PPS: No surprise the mainstream media are now swooping on the rags to riches Archer story. Jofra is now a US$ millionaire for goodness sake! www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/42828735
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Post by Wicked Cricket on Jan 27, 2018 13:51:58 GMT
THE GROWL BENEATH THE ROB ANDREW SMILE __________________________________________________________Rob Andrew has smoothly side-stepped from rugby to cricket by gently nestling into the bosom of Sussex by the Sea for the last year. After carefully taking in the county vista, diplomatically smiling all the way, and at the appropriate time, like a stalking lioness cornering her prey, made his first move by removing Head Coach Mark Davis; his second move by replacing him with Jason Gillespie; and now invigorated with confidence and self-belief, he commemorates his first year in charge by telling us what he truly thinks about county cricket by describing it as “a mess” and “really destructive”.
The growl beneath the diplomatic smile
His recently published interview with the cricketing bible Wisden is neither shocking or controversial. This is Rob Andrew showing his true nature. And Sussex are fortunate to have him as their CEO. A man who is not afraid to shoot from the hip and make difficult decisions, while still remain beaming on the other side.
This is how a top Chief Exec of a cricket county should be. Point out the myriad of flaws that besets the sport and offer ideas on how to improve them. Better to be pro-active than an acquiescent wallflower, although I am not sure how the Sussex CCC hierarchy may feel.
In this Wisden Magazine interview with John Stern, himself a highly respected and esteemed cricket journalist who has trodden the media boards as long as Andrew did with rugby politics, Rob says, “You bring in overseas players to not get relegated or if you’re at the top of the second division trying to get promoted, and so you don’t play your kids.
“(Last) season has been classic proof that it doesn’t work – Essex go up and win the first division while Middlesex win the first division and then get relegated. What’s the point? It’s goes against all the principles of player development. We should be about playing nine Englishmen and two non-Englishmen in your match-day squad. And I think that’s the direction the game will go in.”
It seems Andrew wants all of the 18 counties to have a chance of winning the Championship title at the start of the season, as is the case in the 'NatWest T20 Blast' and the '50-over Royal London Cup'. Presumably, he wants the ECB to return to one division of 18 counties? To make his point Andrew then describes county cricket as “a bit confused.”
He continues, “Most sports have probably changed more in the last 10 or 15 years than in the previous hundred. Cricket is struggling to cope with the pace of change. What are we? Who are we? How do we make this work? I thought season structures in rugby were complex but then I looked at cricket and thought ‘how the hell does this work’?” This continues his meme that cricket decisions are also far more politically-orientated than even rugby, a sport he once believed was “a haven of politics.”
What is slightly irritating is how short this interview is. Just as Andrew begins shooting off his salvos it suddenly ends. Unless, of course, this is but a mere teaser? Perhaps, by buying the magazine Wisden Cricket Monthly (this is only its third edition) we will find out.
www.wisden.com/stories/interviews/county-championship-mess-rob-andrew
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Post by Wicked Cricket on Jan 27, 2018 14:17:07 GMT
You couldn't keep Kevin Pietersen down with a one-mile high sledge-hammer. He is 'Mr Optimistic' personified and here is KP again, this time talking up his chances of helping out the coaching with the England ODI side without even a hint of naivety. Even after rubbishing former England players, Andrew Strauss and every other cricketing soul involved with the ECB, Pietersen still believes that England will welcome him back with open arms to feel and warmly hold all his experiences on and off the field gained. Naivety or sophistication of thought? KP plays another cricketing riffRecently, KP when TV commentating during the Big Bash, stated that he admires the aggressive approach of the current team. “I just love the attacking nature. We have always had the players – it was the system. It is lovely they have a free rein to go out there and fail which is magnificent. Trevor Bayliss has had so much experience in the IPL and T20 cricket so he has seen failure and success.” Pietersen, who was the Player of the Tournament when England won the T20 World Cup in 2010, said some of the current squad go to him for advice: “They still come to me and ask for help. That is happening and I love that. To be involved with this young, one-day set up would be nice. I would like some involvement because I love the way they play. It is so good.” He continues, "Of course, it would be nice to have a connection. I have an incredible amount to offer the game. It is wasted that English cricketers do not benefit.” But Kev, you called Andrew Strauss a whole heap of horrible names. Do you truly believe all will be forgiven?
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Post by Wicked Cricket on Jan 28, 2018 23:06:32 GMT
Tymal Mills has become a classic example of hero to zero over one year, when no-one bought him at the weekend for this season's IPL tournament. Last year he sold for £1.4m. This year zilch.
Meanwhile, Chris Jordan sold for £111,000 to the Sunrisers Hyderabad but once more English international cricketers, even though the ODI side have just thrashed Australia 4-1, were cold-shouldered by the tournament. Surprising casualties after the failure of Joe Root on Saturday were England ODI Captain Eion Morgan and batsman Alex Hales today. To be fair, part of the problem is a lack of availability given England players are ruled out for the final two weeks of this IPL due to international cricket back home.
Just 8 English cricketers out of 24 possibles were purchased. The full list is below.
Ben Stokes - £1.39m to Rajasthan Royals
Chris Woakes - £822,000 to Royal Challengers Bangalore
(Jofra Archer - £800,000 to Rajasthan Royals)
Jos Buttler - £444,000 to Rajasthan Royals
Moeen Ali - £189,000 to Royal Challengers Bangalore
Mark Wood - £166,000 to Chennai Super Kings
Jason Roy - £166,000 to Delhi Daredevils
Sam Billing - £111,000 to Chennai Super Kings
Chris Jordan - £111,000 to Sunrisers Hyderabad
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Post by leedsmartlet on Jan 29, 2018 1:07:36 GMT
To be fair, part of the problem is a lack of availability given England players are ruled out for the final two weeks of this IPL due to international cricket back home. This is only the case for the test players - so this doesn't explain why Morgan, Hales + other white ball specialists missed out
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Post by Wicked Cricket on Jan 29, 2018 8:11:33 GMT
lm,
You make a fair point. I have always felt there has been a negative bias against the English players from India which, imho, while it's been simmering for many years, went full throttle after Giles Clarke had his dispute with Modi and the IPL.
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Post by Wicked Cricket on Jan 29, 2018 11:43:20 GMT
Snubbed by the IPL, at least Tymal Mills has the crumbs of the Pakistan Super League after signing with the Karachi Kings alongside Joe Denly; the tournament which Luke Wright has had to pull out of due to persistent niggly injuries. Mills has replaced Mitchell Johnson after he was picked up by the IPL and Denly has taken the place of Wright. www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/42857251
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Post by Wicked Cricket on Jan 30, 2018 21:43:13 GMT
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Post by Wicked Cricket on Feb 1, 2018 9:04:54 GMT
I have had an email correspondence with Club Operations Officer (COO), Ian Waring, who is the man behind securing music concerts at the ground. He confirms there are two acts appearing this Summer: Lionel Ritchie (June 23rd) and Little Mix (July 6th) .
Ian writes:-
We will be hosting two concerts this year.
The stages and other production related items are different for the two shows so they will be two separate stages, with about a week’s gap in between them, which will help us to allow the grass to recover. Being covered for three consecutive weeks would be too much for the grass. Whilst we could stage a game, or even two, between the two concerts we don’t have any home matches so it will provide an ideal window for the groundstaff to carry out renovation work (reseeding etc.) to the pitches used during the early part of the season, to enable us to use them again in August/September. We don’t have enough pitches on our square to have a fresh pitch for each game. This work always take place around mid/end June and it can done whilst staging etc is constructed on the outfield, but can’t be done if there are matches or practice sessions taking place. Being able to stage two high profile concerts in one season that will receive the support of our residents, local authority licensing etc. and that will be financially successful is tricky to achieve, largely due to suitable artists that are available during what is the peak period for outdoor shows throughout Europe and limited ground availability. From the fixture list it would appear there are many possible gaps, however, we stage many more matches, (practice days, club & schools matches, charity matches etc) that do not appear on the first class fixture list and having the mid-season gap mentioned earlier is vital to renovate the pitches. We also have to keep some clear windows for the KO rounds of the two one day competitions should we progress to these stages. We also have to consider our increasing amount of off field activities too. Weddings etc. provide a very welcome income to the club many of which expect us to commit to a date 6 - 12 months in advance. Agreeing a wedding date 12 months ago with us and then find they are sharing it with Lionel Richie performing live on their big day may be quite a coup for the bride and groom ! Sales for Little Mix have been fantastic and will almost certainly reach the ground record set by Elton John in 2011. Lionel Richie is not on sale until tomorrow but the interest we have received since it was announced on Tuesday has been tremendous. I would strongly urge those still thinking of coming to either concert, that haven’t yet bought their tickets yet, do so as soon as they can.
My one comment: I am utterly amazed that Little Mix may equal Elton John's Hove attendance record of close to 19,000 people (although I believe this may have been 2006), but then I am an old fogey!
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Post by philh on Feb 1, 2018 11:07:15 GMT
My one comment: I am utterly amazed that Little Mix may equal Elton John's Hove attendance record of close to 19,000 people (although I believe this may have been 2006), but then I am an old fogey! I still see live bands play at around 2-3 per month, helping to raise the average age of the audience. However, Little Mix and Lionel Richie are the worst of both worlds to me. Little Mix are too poppy (I should imagine but don't need to find out) and Lionel Richie is too boring (watching him would feel like the show is going on all night long). In the words of Debra Meaden "I'm out".
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Post by Wicked Cricket on Feb 1, 2018 15:04:17 GMT
It can't be easy booking the perfect group. The nearest Sussex have achieved to this were the two concerts by Elton John in 2006 and 2011.
The positive with Little Mix is that a whole group of youngsters who probably don't even know what cricket is, will be coming to the Hove County ground and be made aware of its existence and the association with the sport. This will also help Sussex accrue, financially risk-free, a quick £25,000 to £30,000.
Re: Lionel Ritchie, I can see this being more attractive to Sussex Members and supporters because of the age thing. Having said that, the least successful concert in recent years was the Sir Cliff Richard spectacular where only around 5,000 people attended. Finding that middle ground is nigh impossible. I thought the Madness performance was, perhaps, closest to that ideal, yet only around 8,000 attended.
I am sure the reason for two concerts this summer is the influence of Rob Andrew. There is a big gap in home games during late June and early July, so congrats to the club for filling this space. A quick £50,000-£60,000 in the Sussex coffers can't be sneered it and these performances keep the ground staff on their toes as Ian Waring explains.
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Post by Wicked Cricket on Feb 4, 2018 14:53:05 GMT
Jason Gillespie's midas touch for winning continues as his BBL side, Adelaide Strikers, beat Jofra Archer's team, the Hobart Hurricanes, by 25 runs to win the 2018 tournament. Jofra, unfortunately, proved expensive with 1-46 as the Strikers thrashed 202-2 with opening bat, Jake Weatherald, scoring 115, the first batsman to hit a century in a BBL final. Tymal Mills was not picked for the match. I am seriously considering taking a bet this season on Sussex being promoted to Division 1 and/or winning an OD Trophy, but no doubt the odds have been slashed since Gillespie was appointed Coach. www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/42936157
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Post by Wicked Cricket on Feb 5, 2018 15:45:19 GMT
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Post by Wicked Cricket on Feb 5, 2018 19:04:33 GMT
It appears we will be told tomorrow who our T20 and maybe even our RLC O/S player will be this season? Some are suggesting instead that Sam Northeast has signed to Sussex. Ummm.... Sussex CCC Twitter#SharkAttack incoming...
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