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Post by Deleted on Jun 6, 2014 8:13:02 GMT
Far too early to talk about 'must win' games in a comp that now sprawls across 14 group stage matches. But after two defeats, Sussex need to bounce back after the scandal which has engulfed them over the last week. Hants look nailed-on to qualify from the southern group but then it's wide open with three from Essex, Kent, Glamorgan, Somerset, Surrey and Sussex the likely scenario.
Glos are unlikely to progress in this year's T20 Bash , having started with minus two pts due to a sub-standard pitch at Cheltenham last year and have already lost two out of their three matches, so they should be there for the taking. On the other hand, they will be full of spirit after a dramatic LVCC win with ten balls to spare yesterday so cannot be taken lightly.
I'd like to see Sussex be bold. Joyce to bat through, Wright to get us off to a flier in the power play - and if Luke gets out, Arafat to come in at three as a pinch-hitter (as he did in a match-winning innings for Kent against Sussex a few years back). Hoping Prior is deemed to need more match practice before the first Test and is available? And can we play Jordan - the Test match is still six days away and as he isn't centrally contracted I can't see why we should give him up totally to the demands of Peter Moores.
If there is no CJ none of the seamers seems able to support Arafat, so pace off the ball. Beer and may be even a recall for Zaidi? Four overs from Yardy would be useful, but I'm assuming he's not fit to return yet? Hants v Kent was on TV last night, and watching Tredwell and Riley bowl eight overs in tandem really pressed home what Sussex is lacking in this department.
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Post by jonboy on Jun 6, 2014 8:48:56 GMT
Yes a win is vital tonight, if only to arrest the slump, no wins in five, and three defeats. A rare T20 visit for me as well, looking forward to it and at least the seems set fair
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Post by Wicked Cricket on Jun 6, 2014 9:23:19 GMT
I agree with the sentiments expressed.
We need to win this after the wasteful loss against Glamorgan. Get ourselves
back on course. Having Prior and Jordan back would be fantastic but is that
feasible?
Will Robinson leave Liddle out? As he was signed as our specialist T20 seamer,
unlikely... unless Jordan plays. Time to give Hatchett a go, perhaps?
And please, please, let's have Beer in the side, particularly if Yardy is still injured.
Anyone know how serious this injury is? How long does a torn bicep heal?
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Post by Wicked Cricket on Jun 6, 2014 11:25:29 GMT
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Post by fraudster on Jun 6, 2014 19:35:58 GMT
An interesting line-up tonight, although quite why Hatchett and Beer are in the team I don't know - kidding! I do think we're a batter light though, it ain't quite right for me. We have Nash and Wright as option bowlers, they could make up the fifth bowler between them. Maybe we'll get it right one day.
Looking like a toughie to win though, after inserting again. It's runs on the board all the way for me - hope I'm wrong tonight.
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Post by fraudster on Jun 6, 2014 20:51:05 GMT
Beero, where you been? Not too shabby for a homie. When are we gonna wake up and realise the talent we have on our doorstep? Maybe now. Didn't deserve to get that close, so well done the two at the end - two homies, albeit one returning homie.
As for negatives, we should have bat first - Joyce is obsessed, and our balance was all wrong, not for the first time. When you have Brown at six as the last recognised batter surely, surely, it's clear your team ain't right.
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Post by jonboy on Jun 6, 2014 22:19:00 GMT
With this season now a write-off, the important task now is to shape next year's squad, We've not left ourselves much leeway there either. Only four players out of contract, and two of them, Wells and Magoffin, surely we cannot consider losing Thought the atmosphere was pretty subdued tonight, probably as bad as I've seen it. |
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Post by Wicked Cricket on Jun 6, 2014 23:04:53 GMT
A crazy night - so close yet so far.
Positives for me: Beer (shame about the bowling, fantastic batting): Liddle (best bowling tally
since I can remember): RHB (starting to get back to his best but hit the self-destruct button on 49 -
what a joy to watch though): Machan (strong innings).
Negatives: What happened to Yasir? Worse tally this season. Hatchett still has a way to go. Piolet
after winning man of match at Middlesex, bowling downhill since...
Once more, tonight showed how inconsistent our bowling is. Batting is competitive but
the bowling is weak. Showed up how much we've relied on Yardy for those middle overs.
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Post by jonboy on Jun 7, 2014 7:30:05 GMT
It was a strange game, we were clearly second best, they batted, bowled and fielded much better than us, and yet it was pretty close at the end
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Post by Deleted on Jun 7, 2014 7:49:40 GMT
Cricinfo's report on last night:
"Sussex would have felt aggrieved at the absence of two of their potential match winners. When the competition was re-launched the ECB pledged to make its international players available more regularly but even though the first Test is still six days away, neither Matt Prior or Chris Jordan were allowed to play.
Jordan's absence after a tough one-day series is just about pardonable but Prior could surely have benefitted from another game. The Championship fixture against Nottinghamshire this week was his first opportunity to keep wicket in a first-class fixture since last December and he was understandably rusty."
I don't know what the answer is in T20. Last season we won one game out of ten. This season we won two in slightly fortuitous circumstances but have now lost three on the bounce.
Could it be a case of techniques, tactics and skills in T20 moving on and leaving Sussex playing an outmoded style of cricket that brought sucess a few years ago but has now been found out?
It's an interesting discussion point and I raise it because Rob Key said that was exactly what happened in Kent's recent poor seasons - in 2012 and 2013 he reckoned they were still playing the kind of cricket that won them the comp in 2007 and had failed to recognise that T20 had moved on. They seem to have put it right this year with success based on two quality spinners bowling the middle overs in tandem and a raft of young batsmen who struggle to cut it in four day cricket but love to smash a white ball out of the park.
Sussex just don't seem to have quality spinners or young tyro batsmen who specialise in this format - I think every batsman who was fit and available last night played apart from Luke Wells?
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Post by jonboy on Jun 7, 2014 7:54:59 GMT
Definitely one front line seamer too many
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Post by fraudster on Jun 7, 2014 10:01:24 GMT
We haven't got many things right in this year's T20 in my view, from balance, selection, order and acquisition. The balance of the side was clearly wrong last night - Wells should have played in place of a seamer.
A bit early to be worried about Arafat S&F, or Hatchett and Beer. The last time Beer bowled he was the most economical, but not this time. Hatchett has it all to do in this form but you have to give people more than one or two games. Getting a bit of a tonking in T20 from time to time happens to all of them. R-J and Harris at the middle went for 0-50 odd each last night but I doubt it's the last we'll see of 'em. Even the likes of Steyn and Morkel get taken for 40+ from time to time.
We should have a good T20 side at full strength so taking away Prior and Jordan shouldn't be doing this much damage but if you don't get the basics right like balance, selection and order you will have problems. We're lucky we're not 0-5 so far.
For the longer term, as we're happy to employ two overseas players, we might have to look at replacing Mags with a younger bowler who can play all forms and therefore partner Arafat in the attack in T20. That could make a hell of a difference if we had a Stark or a Hastings in the side. Right now, we employ two overseas lads but only use one in the only comp we can use two - it isn't logical and the money men should be scratching their heads.
For now though, stability, youth and get the damn balance right for Christ's sake.
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Post by Wicked Cricket on Jun 7, 2014 13:04:45 GMT
bm,
Am in complete agreement with your post.
Each time the ECB are questioned about the T20 and why don't they
allow the England cricketers to play more for their counties, they become
defensive and retort that England's success comes first and that must be the
priority.
Yet, in the Aussie Big Bash, CA bends over backwards to allow their international
players to be involved. I find the ECBs intransigent view morally indefensible when
they state how hard they're trying to make the England T20 successful.
It was a disgrace that Matt Prior wasn't playing. One can understand Jordan but not
Matt. He was at the ground amongst the Sussex team as an onlooker with his TATA
Jaguar parked to the side of the dressing room. No doubt, England were
worried he might tweak his achilles.
As for the Sussex approach to T20, I also agree. They haven't moved on since 2009
with the rest of the counties. While a majority of the other 17 have improved and evolved
their game, Sussex have not. They are still playing a similar game they played 5 years ago
and, not surprisingly, are being beaten. The seamers, in particular, apart from Yasir, find
it difficult to compete. No slow balls, no guile, no yorkers, no intelligence etc... as if it is a
Championship match.
Why can't Sussex keep developing like so many of the other counties? Is this down to poor
coaching? I don't get it.
Last year supporters were told that Sussex gaining the wooden spoon was a one-off. A blip. A
freak season. That it wouldn't happen again. But similar negative traits are repeating themselves
from last summer. As if nothing has been learnt.
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Post by jonboy on Jun 7, 2014 13:14:54 GMT
We haven't got many things right in this year's T20 in my view, from balance, selection, order and acquisition. The balance of the side was clearly wrong last night - Wells should have played in place of a seamer. A bit early to be worried about Arafat S&F, or Hatchett and Beer. The last time Beer bowled he was the most economical, but not this time. Hatchett has it all to do in this form but you have to give people more than one or two games. Getting a bit of a tonking in T20 from time to time happens to all of them. R-J and Harris at the middle went for 0-50 odd each last night but I doubt it's the last we'll see of 'em. Even the likes of Steyn and Morkel get taken for 40+ from time to time. We should have a good T20 side at full strength so taking away Prior and Jordan shouldn't be doing this much damage but if you don't get the basics right like balance, selection and order you will have problems. We're lucky we're not 0-5 so far. For the longer term, as we're happy to employ two overseas players, we might have to look at replacing Mags with a younger bowler who can play all forms and therefore partner Arafat in the attack in T20. That could make a hell of a difference if we had a Stark or a Hastings in the side. Right now, we employ two overseas lads but only use one in the only comp we can use two - it isn't logical and the money men should be scratching their heads. For now though, stability, youth and get the damn balance right for Christ's sake. Making you right there, balance is key. Too many seamers in my opinion. I reckon Hastings would be a good shout, maybe as our number one overseas, especially if Mags is classed as a non overseas next season. He will help balance the side in the likely absence of Jordan. I'd like to see our recruitment policy get back to a healthy mix of home produced, supplemented by a few quality additions from outside. |
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Post by fraudster on Jun 7, 2014 16:56:15 GMT
Haven't we moved on from 2009? We don't do the same thing. We used to bat first on slow low wickets, doing well to get 140, then squeeze. Seems to me we've moved on but in what direction? Can't exactly remember our winning team but I think Arafat, Beer and Yardy were involved, attack-wise, and they're still at the club.
The traits that keep repeating themselves are in the CC too, the lack of partnerships and the struggle to get wickets when it ain't April. I think our acquisitions this term have been dire - I'd rather have one good player than three ordinary ones. As JB says, and I've always said, we should build our team around the talented homies at our disposal and one good outsider per season. Would have much rather have had Coles, for instance, than the three average or past it players we did needleesly sign.
That certainly comes down to poor management, no getting away from that. And the fact that our T20 side, on paper, should have wiped the floor with Glos, does too. How many times did we say that last season with all our 'big names'? What did we win, one game?
With all that negativity, I'll add that I do think Robbo is a quality coach. But what direction are we going in? I can't fathom how two men in Joyce and Robbo can look at that eleven last night without at least one of them flagging up the inbalance of the side. It bewilders me it really does. We had five bowlers, then Wright and Nash. We had Brown at six and Piolet at seven and if it wasn't for Beer we would have got nowhere close. How can these experienced blokes in the know pick that side?
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