bm,
An excellent debate in progress.
I have been away where logging on to the site was possible but downloading more difficult.
I returned for the Glamorgan game on Wednesday.
hhs,
Dum satur est venter, gaudet caput inde libenter.
And never forget...
Diem vesper commendat.PS: My i-pad and case were almost confiscated the other day for masquerading as a 1980s filofax.
The steward never liked yuppies!
The Insider Cricket Diary of SoftandFluffyPart 1August 20th: The Glamorgan ‘Royal London’ 50 over match summed up Sussex’s OD season - nice batting, shame about the bowling. This dead
rubber allowed Robinson to throw in some unfamiliar faces. Harry Finch was the young buck with his 95* but youngster seamer
Fynn Hudson-Prentice lacked the experience to cope with the sagacious bats of Rudolph and Goodwin. If Sussex had scored 350,
Glamorgan would have chased it down. The run-fest of over 650 runs was good value for the punters but little else.
Meanwhile, Sussex Supporter Steve eulogized over Luke Wright. “He’s brilliant. My three kids love him. He stopped and got out of
his car especially today, so he could sign autographs for them. He’s made their day. They all want to come back to another home
game which is great for me as I can drink a few beers,” supping his third pint, “And I won’t have my wife nagging me!"
But Steve had a concern that must be on the minds of a growing number of supporters. Won’t Wright be tempted to leave Sussex
for a bigger club to improve the chances of returning to the England fold? His present contract ends in 2015. Along with Joyce he
is a class above the rest of the Sussex batsmen.
Mike Yardy was drinking with the boys in the Executive Area of the ground, whilst wearing a loom band on his right wrist. A ‘Benefit
Year’ and a long-term injury just don’t sit comfortably together. But then it is Jonathan Trott’s ‘Benefit Year’ at Warwickshire this
season and few at the club are even mentioning it, let alone doing anything about it, unlike Sussex who have made an extraordinary
fist of theirs.
August 21st:
The ‘175 Anniversary Club Dinner’ was all it was trumped up to be - a “brilliant evening” and a “resounding success”. One organiser,
Mark Judges, wasn’t there to see the fruits of all the hard work, having left for a French holiday that morning.
Around 250 attended this very special occasion including 14 former Sussex captains and players. It was also the official release of the
‘175th Anniversary Commemorative Pictorial History Book’.
A fiver in the post to museum overseer Richard Barrow must have paid off as I and my partner found ourselves sitting on a table
with three Sussex legends. And with serendipity afoot who should sit down to my left but Jim Parks, three places to my right John Barclay,
and across the table Ted Dexter. This was heaven.
Jim is the uncle we all dreamt of having with the heart of a saint and the gentility of an angel. What a delightful man.
Favourite Sussex Out Ground: Horsham.
Test Ground: The Oval.
Overseas: Sydney.
Favourite Sussex Captain: David Shepherd.
When the best ever Sussex side was discussed, I asked a little mischievously, “You or Matt Prior?” Jim paused and then replied with earnest
intent. “I’ve scored a lot more runs (29,000).” When John Barclay’s official team was announced, Parks won it by a mile. Only one player
from the modern era, Mushy, made it to his XI.
Jim agreed that without Spen Cama’s financial legacy, the recent club success might never have happened. Spen’s first and only marriage
lasted less than a week and after this great disappointment, he poured even more energy into his cricketing passions. If a Sussex player
was involved with England, Spen would follow the international side around the world. Not surprisingly, Jim and Spen became good friends.
"The Heart of a Saint and the Gentility of
an Angel" 
As for his Club Presidency? “It’s an honour. This is my second year. I don’t do much. I attend Board meetings and make a few suggestions.
It’s lovely to be still involved with the Club.”
Whilst the Parks cricketing dynasty ended with son Bobby, the Lenham dominium seems destined to flourish. Les proudly talked of his two
grandsons, Scott (12) and Archie (10) who have scored this season 1,700 runs and 800 runs respectively. And alongside the experience of
father Neil, there is every chance two Lenhams may be playing for Sussex within 10 years.
It was a night of former Sussex captains and Chris Adams seemed a little nervous when questioned by interviewer Tony Cottey. Almost
apologetically he said, “Surrey is an awful place... (pause)... It really is...” He then thanked Tony Pigott for instigating his arrival at Sussex
in 1998 and regaled a story of two ladies who sat behind his mother and wife on his Hove batting debut. Adams scratched a few runs before
being caught in the gully. As he trudged off one of the ladies said to the other in full earshot, “What a waste of money!” and then both proceeded
to leave the ground.
One senses Adams is experiencing a painful period of ego humbling and honing. After his brief employment with Sri Lanka earlier this year, he
may require a future career away from cricket. One only hopes, when the time is right, Adams is embraced back into the Sussex fold. As he said,
“I am sure Robbo agrees, this club gets under your skin.”
Meanwhile, Ted Dexter did not seem well. His usual sparkle and verve had gone amiss. He even apologised for this ‘peakiness‘ saying it was due
to a worst ever round at his beloved Sunningdale, followed by an exhausting and traffic jammed taxi trip to Hove, where he didn’t have sufficient
money to pay the driver. One noted his wife, Susan, was not by his side. One hopes everything is alright in the Dexter camp.
Concerns Over Lord Ted's Health 
Jim Parks mentioned his first memory of watching Sussex at Hove was in 1937 at the age of 5 years-old - the season when his father scored over
3,000 runs and took more than 100 wickets. What an act to follow! He fondly remembered the 12th man who had to make sure there was a pint of
Stella always waiting for him in the dressing room after the close of play. “These days it’s iced-baths and warm-downs, all wrapped up with a cup
of cocoa before bedtime.”
The most challenging batsman Derek Underwood ever faced? Ted Dexter.
The Sussex 150th Anniversary autographed bat, donated by the ‘Unofficial Sussex CCC Forum’, was assigned to the raffle, as the auction already had
two other esteemed bats. It was won by a young and vivacious-looking septuagenarian lady sporting short grey hair and a striking green dress. The
forum’s name was plugged twice by MC Roger Dakin, who delivered his usual humorous one-liners and rambling witty stories throughout the evening.
Meanwhile, Michael Yardy commented his injury had improved and was hoping to play in a 2nd XI game in a couple of weeks. Matt Prior is under the knife
on September 4th.
Imran Khan’s favourite Sussex out ground? Eastbourne.
Later I found myself with Mark Robinson and John Snow (just showing off now!) Mark said he was looking for another seamer to replace Jordan. He followed
this by an intriguing comment. “Poor old Lids gets the yips!” The condition made famous by golfer Bernhard Langer, perhaps, one must show more sympathy
towards Chris Liddle’s below par performances these last two seasons. Even bowlers, it seems, have the yips. And while Robbo is keen to sign Tredwell for
next season, he fears Kent will not allow him to leave.
Meanwhile, one was reminded of a recent John Snow story. When a local journalist and massive Snowy fan met him at a cricket event. And after fawning
over his boyhood hero, the writer told Snow he wanted to produce a book about the great bowler’s cricketing exploits and would he be interested in sharing the
project? After this four minute eulogy, Snow looked the journalist in the eye, paused, and with a twinkle in his eye replied, “F*ck off!”
Another I spoke to was Peter Graves, a player I remember well as a boy. In his pomp, there were shades of the moustached Jason King about him. He proudly said,
he had not arrived with a VIP ticket, but paid for it like the rest of us along with a donation to the museum. Peter lives only a 10 minute walk from the Hove ground,
yet rarely, if ever, attends a home game. He talked fondly about Jim Parks whom had viewed him as ‘a golden boy’ of his era.
The Blond Jason King
Zac Toumazi is under-going the ice-bucket challenge at the 2nd XI 50 over match against Lancashire on Tuesday at Horsham.
And not forgetting Hubert Doggart, at 89 years-old, the oldest surviving Sussex captain. I was keen to meet him. After a long illness, he has returned to the club
bosom. Hubert reminds one of 'Blowers' on a good day. He said how much he'd enjoyed attending the 'Arundel Festival Week' and what a pleasure it was to be
here at the event. A genuine and lovely guy.
The success of the evening was summed up by the designer of the ‘175 Pictorial History Book’, Adrian Hodgkins, who sat to my right. Having a vocal melodic lilt not
dissimilar to TMS commentator, Vic Marks, he was literally overwhelmed by the ongoing pleasure he experienced throughout the evening. “What a brilliant night,”
he kept enthusing. “I can’t believe how wonderful everything is. Even the food tastes amazing.”
As family occasions go, this was the Sussex family at its very best and in a cynical and critical world, the organisers deserve all the plaudits known to man.
10/10
