Sussex Become Becalmed in No-Man’s Land - Season Review____________________________________________________________________________ It took Sussex CCC six years to go from underachievers to Champions (1998-2003). It then took them five years to return (2011-2015).
Sadly, 2017 was the season when reality finally struck Sussex supporters. The high aspirations and hopes of a quick promotion as in 2010 became a fantasy - a pipe-dream - and about as unrealistic as winning an OD trophy. Sussex fan, Jon, summed this up when he tweeted during the summer, “This is the first season I’ve felt like we are both no longer a big club and seriously lacking professionalism. Sad decline really.” And Kayleigh added, “I love Sussex, but this is the most demoralised I've felt in years.”
It became clear there is no easy fix to return Sussex to another golden decade. As great players retired, few of similar stature were found to replace them. When I interviewed Rob Andrew earlier in the year, we discussed this issue. He explained, “Managing the end of an outstanding group and creating a follow up team is so tough as succession is vital to maintain success. Was Sussex set-up structurally to deliver their next winning team? Perhaps, some sticking plaster was put over this issue and we all know plaster eventually falls off.” He continued, “Sussex have dipped down - perhaps too far - where it is devilishly difficult to climb back up; but if this present and talented squad remain fit, I can see them doing well.” This ‘pathway’ of hope and optimism headed by “our promising youngsters” tack, was adopted during the season at both Members’ Forums and club interviews.
Yet, Sussex’s start to the Championship proved calamitous with humiliating defeats by Notts and Kent. This led to the creation of a Twitter Account called ‘Time for Change’ which caused a stir as disaffected supporters hiding behind a username attacked the club with such tweets as, “A shambles of a side that clearly lacks leadership.” And, “We need to stop this 'jobs for the boys' approach and make real changes.” Sussex then won their next three matches and the account went eerily quiet.
Apart from a growing frustration at exactly what Keith Greenfield’s ‘Director of Sussex Cricket’ role is, the spotlight increasingly turned on Head Coach, Mark Davis, when a second season in charge led to similar and frustrating patterns as the first. His selection and high volume of players used (27) led to scratches of the head from numerous fans. One Lady Member became exasperated because she had no idea who many of them were. “New faces appear for every game," she bemoaned. “Who on earth are they?”
van Zyl - an excellent signingTo make things worse, the highly publicised "Dream Team" of Davis and Wright to return Sussex to Division 1, endured humiliation when Wright decided Captaincy wasn’t for him and stepped down in June after a season and a half of injuries, poor form and stress. It was back to the drawing-board with Ben Brown taking over the mantle.
Simply put, something is not right in the County of Sussex. There is often little cohesion within the team, far too much inconsistency, an inability to win the key moments during a match, and a penchant to buckle under only a modicum of pressure. It is no surprise supporters feel somewhat underwhelmed by the club’s overall performance.
As in 2016, Sussex did not reach the QFs of either OD tournament and ended up 4th again in Division 2. This was particularly galling given the strength of their T20 side. A format where the club expected at least a QF place or even a Finals Day. Like a salt-fuelled engine, the team spluttered from one game to another occasionally showing glimpses of brilliance, but never being able to consistently repeat it. The injury to Tymal Mills did not help but choosing Ross Taylor as Captain, in hindsight, turned out to be a poor decision as his batting performance compared to the previous year fell off a cliff.
The culmination of these supporters' frustrations came to ahead at the home Championship loss to Derbyshire in September. For a brief and glorious moment after a dramatic win against Glamorgan at Colwyn Bay, a ray of hope shone at a potential Division 2 promotional place. But once more a poor 1st innings display placed Sussex on the back foot.
An upset BBC Radio Adrian Harms took Davis to task in an interview, querying whether any progress had been made during 2017 and even suggested his job might be at risk. While Davis obviously disagreed, what became apparent this season is that Sussex ambition remains as strong as ever and it may take a lot longer for the memories of their golden decade to evaporate. Once supporters taste prolonged success they want it back. Second best and adrift in Division 2 is not acceptable; a phobic reaction, perhaps, to repeating those dismal years of the 1990s.
That 'Feisty' Interviewaudioboom.com/posts/6306112-coach-sussexccc-mark-davis-got-backing-of-the-board-bbcsussexsport-bbccricket-gosbts-sussexfamilyBut amongst such frustrations there are also beams of optimism. It would be obtuse not to describe Jofra Archer as the discovery of the decade. Magoffin's early doors injury could have crippled Sussex's seam attack but the emergence of Archer has been a revelation. His all-round abilities led him to achieve the "modern double” of over 500 runs and 50 wickets in a Championship season (638 runs: 61 wickets), a record last seen at the club a distant 21 years ago. But success also brings concern. After signing 4 different contracts in just over a year to keep him at Hove until 2020, unless Sussex gain promotion soon, the pressure on Archer to move to a Division 1 side will increase, particularly when his dream is to play for England.
Meanwhile, it is uncertain how Sussex progress from here.
Their future hopes are reliant on the improving youngsters and recent signings delivering. Van Zyl has been the best after scoring 1,023 Championship runs at 48.71 in his first Sussex season, alongside 373 runs in the ODs, whereas Laurie Evans had a red ball mare (48 runs from 8 innings), with the primary highlight being his 134* against Kent in an RLC game; whilst the jury remains out on Wiese. Burgess looks an excellent prospect but one questions why he wasn’t picked more. Wright though is a worry as his county future seems uncertain.
Luke Wells is the outstanding club batsman of the year which allowed him to seize bragging rights from his father. Luke scored 1,292 Championship runs (only Kumar Sangakkara scored more) at an average of 64.60 that included 4 centuries with his highest, an impressive 258 against Durham in front of a home crowd, beating his dad’s record by 5 runs. This prompted him to tell the
Evening Argus, “I’ve always wanted to try and beat him on something! So, it was cool to overtake his highest score.”
Bragging rights over dad AlanMeanwhile, Brown still has much more to prove as both player and Captain and while Nash excelled in the T20 tournament, elsewhere he had a below par season, perhaps, distracted by his Benefit Year. Rawlins has great potential but Finch continues to struggle.
The strongest element of the squad are the youngster seamers who remain the envy of other counties. This wealth of riches is highly unusual, particularly when so many are coming through at the same time, whether it be Archer, Robinson and Garton or Whittingham, Sakande and Barton.
The Modern Double - The Discovery of the DecadeThey were responsible for winning the away match against Durham in recent weeks. Apart from Archer, the other 5 seamers took 50 Championship wickets between them with Robinson, the most promising, securing 19 in just 4 matches after being out for most of the season with injury. Jordan secured 36, while the spin options remain confused where Beer once again was sidelined for Briggs.
www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/teams/sussex/averagesOff-the-field, it was all change with Jim May stepping down as Chairman and being replaced by “a man of few words” Bob Warren. John Abbott is now President and the
Sussex Cricket Foundation (SCF) goes from strength to strength with new Chairman, Jon Filby, settling in well. Also, this was Rob Andrew’s first full season as CEO and to everyone's delight he has fully embraced the club making big efforts to socialise with supporters, attend all the important events, give speeches, and hand out awards for both Sussex Cricket and its various community projects.
There were increasing grumblings from supporters over the change of catering to an outside firm called
Centerplate. A story which I’ve covered from the onset. Many have told me this decision has been a debacle. Higher prices, lack of food, less choice and worse quality. What makes former CEO Zac Toumazi’s decision to outsource the catering just before he left, even more confusing, is that a reliable voice told me the previous and popular in-house caterers secured a major profit for Sussex CCC during 2016.
Meanwhile, it is likely Mark Davis will be given another season to prove himself, but as each year passes, the harder it becomes for Sussex to gain promotion. Next year, the competition for the top two places will include Warwickshire, Middlesex and a non-handicapped Durham; but as Essex have proven under new Head Coach, Chris Silverwood, appointed at the same time as Davis, with the right coaching, leadership and mental resolve, anything is possible in county cricket.
In just two years, Essex have gone from Division 2 underachievers to winning the Championship Trophy unbeaten and via double the number of wins over anyone else in Division 1. It is an extraordinary feat but also an inspiring one. If Essex can do this, so can Sussex. “The Great Escape” from Division 2, as Surrey have recently accomplished, is well and truly on.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=MbsuAbTTsV8For, if anyone is to revive Sussex’s fortunes and return us to Division 1 alongside vying for OD silverware once more, it will be Rob Andrew.
IN ROB WE TRUST!