The Wicked Cricket Column

Just proves how good he is at media. Knows what and when to say. Just reminds me when I was in corporate world . Often at waste of time conferences. A colleague had got up and done an outstanding speech I was then told by people how lucky I was to work with him. Little did they know how useless he was on the job. However sometimes in senior positions you get judged on what you say, not what you do . Sorry but I put JG in that category

Graham Hill and Jackie Stewart, and I am over 50!

Lovely man. Richly deserved. David was the engine room behind the creation of the Sussex Cricket Foundation plus so
much more.

"You were never Asking for too much - You were just Asking the Wrong Person"
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After the interview with Jason Gillespie (JG) in the Grauniad last week, Gillespie's media skills have now emerged on the Wisden website.

While, the previous feature had kindred politics as the underlying core, this latest one is about eulogising county cricket which in England is always a winner. For Sussex supporters, still upset and raw after the Aussie announced he was leaving the Club back in August, it appears JG is quite happy to continue his dalliance with the British press. It is rather like a former lover touting their charms amidst your group of friends. The article heading is: Jason Gillespie: A love letter to county cricket.

What exactly is Gillespie trying to say? He walked out on the club after signing an extension the previous year and yet says, "He loves county cricket". What does that say about Sussex? The promoted reason for leaving will remain the pandemic, of course, but when this is over, does that mean JG will return to the South Coast? Highly unlikely as the new plum job, coaching his State side, offers him another step up towards leading the Australian team. He is quoted in the article, “I won’t be thinking about returning to county cricket for a while…” Of course not. Your ambition is Langer’s International role and coaching a lowly second division county on the South Coast of England, doesn’t help the cause.



Dizzy's Dalliance with the British Media Continues

Instead, what we are watching is a prolonged PR exercise by Gillespie to smooth any ruffled waters caused by his departure. This began with his ‘odd’ chat with Adrian Harms during the BWT Middlesex home game in September that turned into a 50 minute long “praisefest” of everything to do with the club including players, staff, hierarchy, radio commentators… in fact, the only thing Gillespie didn’t laud was the county cat. Perhaps, he is also being driven by a sense of guilt?

What has upset the most is how easily the club have rolled over to allow Gillespie to leave amidst back-slapping, smiles, ‘for he’s a jolly good fellow’ adulatory calls etc.. If this was football and a manager breaks his contract when another team steals him away, there would be financial compensation, perhaps, even some acrimony? But hey, this is cricket, where things are more gentlemanly. And to repeat, there is the pandemic. Yet, is there not a sense of club low self-esteem attached too? Gillespie leaving is right and proper, so we can return to someone below him in ability and above all, media stature?

When Rob Andrew was audacious enough to seduce Gillespie, with the only way of securing him being a 7 month annual contract so he could coach the Adelaide Strikers in the BBL during the Winter months, there was a feeling amongst supporters of, “Why on earth does Dizzy want to come here?” A club in the second division with fading memories of previous high standing… THE Jason Gillespie at Hove!? This was a brilliant coup by Andrew that generated great surprise within both county cricket and the general media. Perhaps, the club may feel more comfortable now, finding a new coach with a less impressive track record than Gillespie? The resonance will fit more with a struggling club trying to rediscover its former glory days.

Yet, what has become so blatant surrounding the JG departure is the lack of loyalty. You can “praisefest” until the angels bellow; you can say how wonderful and amazing English county cricket is and tick all the traditionalist boxes; but when the chips are down and there is a cricketing crisis, you break your contract, leave a club after three years, for a far better prospect back in your home country, and yet still are being slapped on the back, worshipped by the English media, and the very club you’ve walked out on, remain smiling and treating you like a fine fellow and hero.

What is that all about?



The Prodigal Son 'must' Return

Is it not surprising that there is growing resentment amongst a faction of supporters, who, as the dust settles, realise we’ve been dumped on from a dizzy height, when loyalty, devotion and stability of a county club is of the greatest essence. Gillespie may say, “He is in love with county cricket”, but he certainly ain’t in love with Sussex CCC.

And so to bang the drum for the umpteenth time and bore the readers of WickedCricket to death. At times of crises, devoted heart and soul loyalty and giving your all to a cause, is the most important gift. Just like David Bowden receiving his MBE last week for services to cricket. What this man has done and achieved for Sussex CCC over the years is second to known. Utterly outstanding. His big heart resides at the Hove county ground. Every breath, sinew, desire, passion and experience he holds, has been poured into the betterment of the club.



What devoted heart and soul love for the club looks like

Yet, there is someone else out there, despatched to the wilderness by one, perhaps two, resentful people at the core of the club hierarchy, who not only deserves to be back at the heart of the county, but could offer exactly what is missing at times of crises.

That time has come for the return of the prodigal son.

If anyone has been cheated from his dreams, it is Chris Adams. Whatever the role, whether batting coach, Academy mentor, or merely offering advice to the youngsters, Adams must return to Hove. No-one loves or holds more passion for this club than him. He is the ultimate supporter who still holds that energetic resonance that produced our halcyon decade of success. And now we watch this unfolding with the recent achievement of his daughter Georgia captaining the Southern Vipers to winning the inaugural Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy and then being named the tournament’s Player of the Year.

Why is Adams not back at Hove? It is an absolute disgrace. Twelve years is a long time to harbour hurts against him.

As Adams once said, “Sussex was made for me and I was made for Sussex.” Is the Club afraid of having an alpha male amidst them? Do certain individuals still hold resentments over the ‘Yorkshire affair?’ Or is it, perhaps, the ‘tapping’ of Rory Hamilton-Brown? Surely, the time has come to forgive and forget? For how much longer is the Club going to punish the man who brought untold and undreamt of success to a previous underperforming club? Look at where Sussex CCC has ended up since 2010 after an excruciating and painful ten year decline. No Head Coach, lying at the bottom of Division 2, top players leaving with the only hope left for supporters to clutch on to being the phrase: “Our promising youngsters.” Welcome back 1996.

Please, see common sense, forgive and forget, offer Chris Adams an opportunity for a Hove return and allow many long serving and suffering supporters the chance to dream again.

wisden.com/stories/county-cricket/jason-gillespie-a-love-letter-to-county-cricket

I know who the one on the right is - It's Alan Partridge isn't it.  That's a rhetorical question, I know it is.  I think the other one is either Sean Penn or the oldest Chuckle brother, but why would either be hanging out with AP?  Confusing, like a lady-boy.

Has he yet said how lucky he is to work with such great players, coaches and the people who run the club