The Wicked Cricket Column

Will Macpherson, the young Andy Capp of the cricketing journos, writes an excellent piece about Mark Robinson published in The Guardian
today.



There are some enlightening quotes from 'Robbo' as he talks of the differences between coaching men and women cricketers.

Two things instantly struck Robinson about his players. First they lacked street smarts. “They can be very innocent,” he says. “They didn’t
understand how to work an umpire, read a pitch or get in a batsman’s ear...."

“Generally, with the girls, nothing they ever do is good enough for them. They will beat themselves up more than the average bloke,” he says,
before pausing and laughing, “Well, as men it’s never our fault, is it?

"...I was lucky enough to go to Sports Personality of the Year. I found it very humbling how the female athletes spoke about their responsibility to
inspire children. I don’t think we see that with male athletes. I certainly never thought like that. As a bloke, when I was 23 I don’t think I ever
thought of my responsibility to the greater good of the game."

Well worth reading and nice to know Robinson's favourite word remains 'bloke'.

www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/mar/12/mark-robinson-ruthless-england-women-world-cup?CMP=share_btn_tw

Also, interesting to note that online publications are finally 'getting it' that a business can't run on air, where advertising revenue continues to
diminish as the online business model is flawed. At the bottom, The Guardian are now asking readers to donate money for their cause as the word 
"paywall" remains a dirty word yet, in my view, is better and more dignified than posing as a charity.

The start of the county cricket season at Hove is now so close you can almost smell the linseed on willow and hear the clunk of a cricket
ball. And here is a taster of what is to come. The customary handing out of the pride of any new Sussex CCC cricketer - the holy Martlets'
cap.

Sussex CCC‏

"First full day of pre-season for our squad today and three of our new players were presented their first caps by Jim May
and Mark Davis"

Laurie Evans, Delray Rawlins and Abidine Sakande




Meanwhile, Rob Andrew is finding his feet and gaining Sussex CCC social practise after giving a talk at Chris Nash's opening Benefit
lunch at the Brighton Grand Hotel on Friday. Below, he is with Benefit Chairman, Michael Pay, whom Nash keeps referring to as 'The
Legend'. What are we missing, here?

Red is the colour

Fluffy, is there any news re the appointment Jim May's successor? There is nothing specific in the AGM agenda, so I'm not sure how the club elects its chairman. So long as there's no plan to deplete the museum staff . . .  

I had a few spare minutes so been carrying out some research on our potential Chairmen.

Bob Warren

He was appointed Vice-Chairman in May 2015, taking over from Jon Filby. Already, he is Chairman of the Sussex
CCC Museum and the Sussex Cricket Premier League and runs and owns a Worthing-based travel company called
Travel Places.

Warren is not young - around 70 years-old - but still has vitality and ambition. His Linkedin page is impressive.


Jon Filby

A previous Vice-Chairman and brought in to the hierarchy fold by Jim May, he stepped down from the role in 2015 to become
Sussex Cricket Integration Project Manager for 9 months helping Zac Toumazi form 'Sussex Cricket Ltd'. Jon has played an
important role in developing the Sussex CCC Museum where he is its Secretary.

Filby's Museum successes include the 'Robin Marlar Cricket Memorabilia Auction' and helping create the Club '175 Anniversary Book' 
and while he was formerly an organisational and management consultant and a previous ‘Head of People Development’ at London
Underground, Jon lacks the commercial experience and overall success of Warren. But Filby is relatively young (late 50s) and is
able to offer his full-time to the Chairmanship as he has stepped down from civvy street. 

Ed Putnam



But the left-field and exciting choice might be Ed Putnam who, imho, would make a brilliant appointment. Successfully self-
employed, he is a qualified accountant who runs his own consultancy providing 'Finance Director Services' to businesses around the
country.

Ed is the Sussex CCC Hon. Treasurer and took over from Simon Crundwell in July 2014. He is also Treasurer for the Sussex Cricket
Foundation and Sussex Cricket Ltd. Problem-being, does he have time to take on the Chairmanship?

I can see Ed as one for the future but not sure whether the timing is right? But you never know. He and Rob Andrew would make
a formidable team.

Meanwhile, present form suggests Bob Warren as the favourite for becoming the next Sussex CCC Chairman.

Have no fear S+F it looks like the whole squad made the trip to the Quebec barracks

Philander was playing in the First Test against New Zealand two days ago, and will presumably be in the squad for the rest of the series, finishing at the end of March.

Meanwhile Wiese was playing domestic cricket for Titans v Knights on Sunday, and even if he doesn't get called up as a reserve to IPL, will stay in South Africa for the rest of their season, which potentially runs until April 9th, the final of the Sunfoil Cup.

That leaves Van Zyl, who played regularly for Cape Cobras this winter and again may stay with them  for the Sunfoil Cup.