The Wicked Cricket Column

Greenidge was bowled first ball after the drinks break. Grieg run out without scoring, if I remember correctly.

Matt Prior seems a distant memory now he's left cricket and entered the fray of professional cycling. So, it's good to see this photo today.
Perhaps, due to the link between him and Bairstow and their shared keeper/batting achievement?

CricFit ‏@cricfit 49m49 minutes ago

Matt Prior rang the five-minute bell on Day 2 #ENGvSL

Chris Adams tweets tonight:

Captain Wright opens..... Sussex Win..... Heard it first in the @brightonargus

Hang on Chris, you heard it first on the 'Unofficial Sussex CCC Forum' one day before your column. 

unofficialsussexccc.freeforums.net/post/18544/thread

How much has Sussex paid out for this two months contract? If it was felt that the original plan, for a batting coach who would double up as second-team coach/manager was not the right role for Goodwin, then what value has the club gained from this limited appointment?

Congratulations to Sussex for their early T20 performances. Played 4: Won 3: 6 points. 1st= in the Southern table alongside Glamorgan and Surrey.

www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/english-twenty20/table

This success also reflects Hove's T20 attendance figures.

3rd: Somerset: 4,950
2nd: Kent: 5,100
1st: Surrey: 5,750

In fact, 'The Blast' continues to grow in popularity around the counties. An extra 55,500 advanced tickets were sold for the tournament compared
to last season.

(A behind the scene's write-up of Sussex v Kent is on its way)

Sussex-related news is appearing thick and fast today.

Lawrence Booth, Wisden editor and highly respected cricket journalist, suggests Tymal Mills will be included in the England T20 squad against
Sri Lanka.



So, no Jordan and Mills for our next T20 games. Oh no! 

www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/cricket/article-3637924/England-ready-unleash-Sussex-fast-bowler-Tymal-Mills-Twenty20-blast-against-Sri-Lanka-Ageas-Bowl.html

edit: Booth was spot on the money. Mills has been called up - news just out - which is bitter sweet for Sussex supporters as the appearance of Mr Fizz in a Sharks
shirt becomes less and less likely.

'Sussex v Kent T20 - Behind the Scenes'
____________________________________________________

Friday evening was about people - not about supporters - not even about cricket - but about the people who work behind the scenes - those who are the backbone of the sporting entertainment and add that important ‘X Factor’ to the evening.

Riffz



First off, were the four-piece band from Seaford called Riffz. Playing opposite the Club shop, they have regularly entertained the crowds at T20 home matches for several years. The group morph into different combos, trios and four-pieces depending on which musicians are available for the night, whilst changing their name accordingly. The band were aptly playing the James Brown song “It’s a Man’s World” where the vocal line “Man made cricket, to entertain the masses” could be sneakily squeezed into the lyrics, if need be.

Chantelle Simms & Sophie Roberts



Adjacent to the group were two members from the new ground naming rights sponsor, Ist Central, a car insurance company from Haywards Heath who use the slogan ‘Driving down the cost of car insurance’.

Chantelle Simms and Sophie Roberts who work in their HR department, were giving out free goodie bags which included a biro, biscuits and a plastic drinks container. The company have two offices close to Haywards-Heath railway station alongside two more in Manchester, one in Gibralter and another in Guernsey.

Sid up to mischief... again



1st Central was formed in October 2008 to take advantage of the growing price comparison websites. By 2013, they had sold their one millionth policy. Today, the company have over 500 employees and 325,000 customers representing more than 1% of the UK motor insurance market. 1st Central have won various business awards including the ‘Insurance Times Award 2015’.

The company are great believers in community work and why they chose to be a Sussex CCC sponsor. They have signed a three year deal with the club until 2018.

1stcentralcareers.com/News/March-2016/How-s-that-for-a-new-partnership

Kent supporters fuelling up for the evening



Close by, in the Cricketers Pub garden, a merry bevy of Kent supporters were preparing themselves for a rowdy evening ahead and not far away, Sid the Shark was up to his usual mischief. But it wasn’t until I ventured through Legends Lane and up to the North East corner where the new offices dominate the surround that it became obvious what the theme of the evening was. Food...

Holly & Emily from Space+Thyme




Now the previous burger bar has disappeared along with the WAGs hut, a refreshing Mexican mirage greets the supporter. A brand new catering outlet called Space and Thyme specialising in burritos. Formed by local entrepreneur, Chris St John, the outlet recently signed a contract with Sussex CCC which will make them a regular sight at home matches this season. This was their first outing and employee Becky Hill excitedly explained that burritos will be on the menu at Arundel, the Tom Jones concert, the 3 day Pakistani touring game and future T20s.

While taking some pics, I was approached by a gentleman called Bailey Russell who asked me who Space and Thyme were. It quickly became clear why.

Bailey & Tommy Russell



Bailey has held the primary catering rights for most of the Sussex home matches for the last 7 years. His family run business owns everything from the sweet and fudge outlets to the hog roast, burger and chips bars. He personally runs the Countryside Cafe based in the North stand area whilst his father, Tommy, the adjacent sweet store.

The fast food at the Hove ground has greatly improved in recent years and Bailey explained he sources all the meat from local farms. He pointed out, his family are not against competition, as the public should be offered a variety of foods to choose from. He was praising of the recent off-field club developments and added, “I work at the Ageas Bowl and the atmosphere there is dead compared to here.” Adding, “Sussex have a far better family environment.” Bailey and his own family-run business also cater at various local events including the annual Hove Park Lions Carnival.

Antonio



On to the Spen Cama Pavilion where the ever smiling Spanish chef, Antonio Cortes, was dishing out chicken curry and rice and southern fried chicken. He works on a freelance basis for the club and has cooked for a variety of businesses from the Amex and Brighton Centre to several Airlines. Antonio hails from Seville.

Onwards to the Wilbury Bar and the delightful ladies who manage it. The new £1 deposit for the plastic cups has been met with a mixed reaction from supporters. This is a new initiative from the ECB and all counties are now deemed to carry out this environment-friendly scheme.

The delightful Wilbury Bar ladies and those cups



At first, people were unclear what to do with the cups after a game, so the kids had a financial bonanza, rushing around, picking them up and then claiming their £1 deposit. I heard of one enterprising teenager who gleamed around £75 at the Surrey T20 match. Now, supporters have twigged, so finding discarded cups after a game is becoming more rare.

Meanwhile, my moment of the evening was watching the Kent players warming up before the T20 with the dreaded football kick-a-bout and unjustly hoping that one of their stars might be injured.

Unfortunately, no such luck! Fortunately, it didn't matter.