The Wicked Cricket Column

Is Charity Becoming Too Expensive Today?
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I fully back and support the Sussex Cricket Foundation (SCF) this year where a player’s benefit has been substituted in 2016 for a charity appeal to accrue as much money as possible to help and improve cricket and its facilities as well as the general community around the County.

But after picking up a leaflet in the club shop today, I question whether the practice of primarily appealing to the wealthy and elite of Sussex is the way to go.

Of the eight organised events to be held during 2016, one wonders whether many hard-core Sussex supporters could afford to attend more than one event even if they are fully supportive of the SCF. There is nothing cheaper than £50 a head (see middle part of photo below) unless you are one of a party of 10 (£45); and it seems attending becomes more expensive as the year goes on with a ‘Ryder Cup Evening’ with Paul Way at the Museum reaching the dizzy heights of £125 per person.

This is all about the community. Shouldn’t there be other events which are less expensive so the lesser mortals can take part?

The cynic might argue that charitable appeals are increasingly becoming the catwalk of the wealthy elite; where a raised hand at an auction for an item worth £30 that sells for £300 is little more than brazen showing off rather than the charitable intention the act is meant to have.

What is left for the “poor” of our county during the SCF appeal is the donation box, perhaps, better suited for the church aisle. There are some interesting suggestions (see right of photo).



The cheapest suggested donation of £5 covers a resource pack for an unemployed person on the Club’s No Boundaries Programme; £75 covers 1 place at an umpire or scorers course; £600 runs a disability or street competition; and £1,000 a bespoke package for a local community cricket ground (what is this package?)

Charitable appeals are a cut-throat and saturated business today. From street vendors selling The Big Issue; to the plethora of charity shops on every high street; the junk mail in the post; to the rattling of diamond and sapphire jewelry in the box seats. Everyone wants your charity - everyone wants your money. Charity is cool - a by-product of our PC world.

Perhaps, it is only the wealthy who can afford to attend such SCF events? A £50 a head lunch during the middle of the week, either you have a generous pension or are successfully self-employed.

Meanwhile, I wish the club every success with the appeal but here lies the rub. It appears, their off-field activities are proving to be far more successful, at present, than the on-field endeavours. Having a winning team is essential to support all the myriad of community projects now taking place. Those who spend so much voluntary and non-voluntary time organising such events know this too. So, let us hope Mark Davis can turn things around and quickly. Fingers-crossed. GOSBTS!

The Blazer Revolution
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I have always loved the pomp, ceremony and dazzling colours of a classic cricket blazer. As an adolescent I even amassed a collection of such resplendent, shoulder-hugging, incandescent chameleons when second hand clothes shops used to sell them for a pittance.

Today, they are for the gregarious and extrovert who don’t mind being the centre of attention at a social gathering or are proud to wear their club colours with loyal regard. A growing number of fashionistas now see the cricket blazer as an emblem of elitism where being public school is cool as the Eton toffs rule the governmental roost and arrogance is the new colour black; where for around £160, a sample can be yours to wear and bare.

Meanwhile, it’s raining outside as the dank damp English mizzle preens itself in glory. So, put on your sunglasses and feast your eyes.

The Classic MCC



Sussex CCC 



Cuckfield CC



Blazer Heaven











www.clubcolours.co.uk

An insightful interview by the excellent Adrian Harms with Mark Davis after the Derbyshire game.

The doors are wide open for the youngsters performing well in the 2nds which is always good to hear. Ed Joyce is lauded for his 250 “given his age” (!) Come on, Ramprakash played until he was 43 years-old, and Ed is only 37. Interestingly, both were born in September. Davis has given Ed a goal this season, to score another 7 centuries to reach a total of 50 and with his outstanding class already shining in Division 2 why not. Meanwhile, 43 is still a fine record.

Moving Wells to No.3 certainly paid off and, perhaps, this will be his new position. He changed his technique over the winter and is now hitting the ball straighter which may well have a positive knock-on effect to scoring more runs this season.

The Worcestershire game may not offer a lot to our seamers. The pitch could dictate another spinner coming in for Sussex - who knows?

Luke Wright continues to recover and Davis “hopefully” will see him return to the first T20 away match to Gloucestershire on the 20th. Don’t bet on it though.

Shahzad is healing well after a side-strain; Taylor and Joyce have finger injuries but both should be fine for Worcestershire.

After only 4 games, it is difficult to judge how Davis is fairing. Still in his honeymoon period, he comes over as a positive, optimistic Coach who is flexible and open to new ideas. 

audioboom.com/boos/4552105-sussex-head-coach-mark-davis-on-derbyshire-draw-injury-latest

edit: Just realised Hhs has posted the interview on the Derbyshire thread. Ho-hum, readers get two posts for the price of one!

'Pitch Publishing' who are releasing Michael Yardy's book The Hard Yards on Saturday have generously offered us a FREE chapter as an enticement to purchase it. Here it is: Chapter 1 entitled Breakdown.

www.pitchpublishing.co.uk/sites/default/files/book/The%20Hard%20Yards%20sample.pdf

Longhops,

The cheapest outlet will be Amazon. If you place your order tomorrow morning you may just get it on Saturday. As to the High Street, Waterstone's could be your best bet but the price may be more expensive - the full £18.99 recommended retail, perhaps?

I fully understand your views. I have great sympathy for anyone suffering from depression having experienced a bout earlier in my life. I can see Michael Yardy's book fairing well. As to the book signing, it will occur sometime during the home Derbyshire match. I asked Bruce Talbot last week if there was a specific time and day arranged but it's TBC.

www.amazon.co.uk/Hard-Yards-Highs-Lows-Cricket/dp/1785311565/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1463087725&sr=1-1&keywords=hard+yards

The review of the impending T20 season in the June issue of The Cricketer Magazine does not put Sussex in a good light.

Prediction: Falling short in the (Southern) Group.

So… much for Wright and Davis to disprove!