The Wicked Cricket Column

A fascinating report from the ‘Evening Argus’ today which shows up the hollow promises of the Brighton Green Party with their
traffic decongestion pledge via cycle lanes, bus lanes etc.. while suggesting to all Sussex CCC supporters to go by train when
coming to an evening T20 or leave by the same mode of transport after a Championship match day.

The Facts

: Commuters in Brighton and Hove lose 68-hours a year in evening rush hour traffic, according to TomTom.

: The city is the fifth worst congested in the country according to a report by the sat nav company – behind only Belfast, London,
Edinburgh and Manchester.

: Peak-time journeys in Brighton and Hove take 59% longer than they would in free flowing traffic.

: On average all journeys nationwide took 29% longer than they should and in Brighton and Hove they take 34% longer.

: Congestion levels in the city have also got worse since TomTom carried out the same survey last year.

: The percentage figures are calculated using an estimated journey time of 30 minutes.

So, the Sussex CCC ground is in an ideal situation given that Hove railway station is only a 10 minute walk away. Meanwhile, if the
Club had moved the ground to a new location at Pease Pottage in mid 2000, as was then mooted, would this have helped travelling time?

In hindsight, Sussex made the right decision, so long as they can utilise the local commercial opportunities of what is now considered to
be the most prosperous Southern town/city outside of London.

www.theargus.co.uk/news/12489107.New_statistics_reveal_Brighton_and_Hove_is_the_fifth_worst_congested_in_the_country/?ref=eb

Fair point, s&f, but Liz Hobbs Group are not Madness's management or even their booking agent.They're simply the promoters of the 'Grandslam Madness' tour.

Management is by Anglo & Hannah.

That sort of nominal confusion is only too prevalent these days, s and f. Just a couple of months ago Peter Moores thought he'd appointed a new decisive captain with proven match-winning skills with the bat, only to find that he'd mixed up Alistair Cook with Eoin Morgan.

Here is a lovely story from 'The Evening Argus' today concerning a cricket club up against the financial wall. When you throw
in some initiative, pluck and good weather, it is surprising what you can achieve.

www.theargus.co.uk/news/12873661.Cricketers_smash_their_90_mile_target_for_six/?ref=eb

After briefly popping to the Hove ground this afternoon to watch Day 2 of the Sussex v Surrey friendly who should one bump in
to but the photographer who captured that stunning photo of Ajmal Shahzad yesterday.

'Lean & Mean'



The photographer’s name is freelancer James Boardman who takes photos for Sussex CCC. He worked at the local paper ‘The
Evening Argus’ during the 1990s where he first built an affiliation with the Club. James has worked part-time for Sussex CCC
during the last 14 years. He freelances for most of the cricket publications too including ‘The Cricket Paper’ and ‘The Cricketer’.
He runs his own company called 'Telephoto Images'.

James Boardman


Apart from Shahzad, James had taken a photo assortment of Tymal Mills as the club require a picture library of their recent
signings.

Football is another speciality and James does photographic work primarily for ‘Crawley Town’ and ‘Brighton & Hove Albion’.
His camera of choice is a Canon with a 400mm telephoto lens.

telephotoimages.photoshelter.com/index

'Fast & Frightening'



As James said, “My type of freelancing is becoming rarer these days as photographers tend now to work for picture libraries
like Getty.” Adding, “It is getting tougher to find my kind of work.”

telephotoimages.photoshelter.com/gallery/Sussex-CCC-v-Surrey-CCC-Friendly-07-04-2015/G0000sh4qDjcd70E/C00003RMqFtfcDAU

Behind the Scenes at the Robin Marlar Auction - Part 1: Viewing Day
__________________________________________________________________________

It was all systems go at the Robin Marlar Viewing. The volunteers had done an excellent job at displaying the 434 lots the previous day
and now it was time for potential bidders to scrutinise the items.

John McKenzie, a world leading cricket book dealer from Epsom, was an early viewer. In fact, he spent much of the day in the ‘Boundary
Rooms’ looking through the vast number of books for sale.

John began his business back in the 1970s and saw the market grow until its hey-day in the 1980s. At its peak, he would send out over
6,000 catalogues worldwide to his customers. But like every other collectable market the internet, in particular Ebay, has dampened down
his trade. “It is difficult to know what is rare anymore,” mourned John. “You place a hard to find cricket book into google search and up comes
14 examples for sale from around the globe.” It is no surprise his business has contracted to around 2,000 catalogues today.

Jon Filby on Film



Local TV station ‘Latest TV’ turned up at around 10.30am headed by the young and beautiful Mhairi Beveridge who is a member of the news team.
She set up her camera and recorded Jon Filby who impressed with his delivery, followed by John McKenzie and a little later Robin Marlar, the star
of the event. The filming ‘may’ appear on the TV’s news programme tonight (Freeview Channel 8: 6pm, 7.30pm and 9pm). It is unclear. It should
definitely be aired on Saturday evening.

The Marlar family were in attendance to support Robin including his wife, 3 daughters, 2 grandsons, his sister and her husband. This event really is
a family affair. Robin was visibly upset as he toured the 434 lots on display. This is a collection that he had amassed over 67 years. As he told me,
”It feels like you’re losing not one but 2 limbs.”

Gill and Robin Marlar, John McKenzie



One attendee was former Sussex captain and player Hubert Doggart. He will be 90 this year and enjoys the same birthday date as WG Grace. What a
delightful man. At lunch a group of us visited ‘Cafe Pasticci’ and to be at the same table as two former MCC Presidents/Sussex Captains, both passed
their 80s, was something special to behold. Hubert showed me various fun limericks he had written about Robin’s auction and the impending political
elections.

Hubert Doggart Holding a picture of ye olde Winchester School
Where he attended as a boy and later as a teacher



The second star of the event appeared mid-afternoon - none other than TV celebrity auctioneer Charlie Ross. After a lunch at Hurstpierpoint, he walked
into the 'Boundary Rooms' like a whirlwind and as others in the public eye his charisma oozed and mesmerised. He was quickly surrounded by a group
of admiring onlookers.

A quick chat offered some intriguing information.

Charlie will be staying overnight at the Brighton 'Hotel du Vin'; he is very excited by the auction and feels “very privileged” that Robin had asked him to be the
auctioneer; he believes the auction tomorrow will buck the trend; and to prove his point one lot with an estimate of £100-£200 already has a bid of up to £3,000!
One cannot say anymore, except please, can an underbidder appear who wants this lot as much as the original person.

Charlie’s big market, at present, is vintage and classic cars, where prices are going through the roof. This year alone he has manned two such auctions in Florida
and Arizona.

Charlie hopes to get through 70-90 lots an hour tomorrow and expects the auction to be completed by around 4.30pm. He has refused any breaks. Charlie will be
wearing his MCC tie, (he has been a member for over 30 years) along with his ‘Lords Taverners’ bat lapel - a charity side he’s occasionally played for over the years.
He is a keen Northamptonshire supporter and believes that before making a judgment on anyone, especially Kevin Pietersen, you should spend time with that person
first.

Tonight, Charlie is off to have dinner with his good friend James Braxton, another celebrity TV auctioneer, who owns the 'Lamb inn' in Wortling, not far from Hailsham.

Oh, the life celebrities live!

Viewing on Saturday is from 8.30am-10.30am. The actual auction starts at 11am.

"Interesting to get a rhyme for teacher, other than preacher.
"


When arranging a rendezvous, I am often asked, "where shall I meet ya"

In the old days, cinemas always showed a second feature.

Then there is Lee Child's fictional hero . . .

I could go on . . . (please don't, they cried)