Northants

 Three players in a squad of 13 facing fitness tests on the morning of the match?  One of them at least had better pass!

Once again the weather is against us, with a possible delayed start today and lots more rain for the later stages of the match. The team nominated by coverpoint is probably the best and most coherent of those available  (emphasis implied), but only Joyce and Magoffin have shown true class this year and Joyce seemed to have run out of his terrific early season form in the last two games. If Anyon is unfit it probably means another outing for Piolet, which in turn diminishes our attacking options, even though Piolet would certainly concede fewer runs than Anyon. If either of Machan or Hamilton-Brown are unfit then we must hope that Zaidi's extended practice in the Seconds will have helped him overcome the club player's attitude he showed in the early rounds of championship matches.

Turning to Northants, as with Derbyshire last year, its sad to see a challenge to the established order of First Division sides peter out so completely, and I hope that their return to the Second Division will be less traumatic than Derbyshire's has been. One of the few bright spots in that dismal defeat by Derbyshire at Hove last year was the will and energy of the young Derbyshire players, far in excess of anything showed by Sussex. This Northants team is generally older and more mixed in background, though I shall look forward to seeing Duckett and Willey, two of the brightest young prospects around.

Without being unduly pessimistic it looks to me to be a drawn game at best, not least because of weather, but also because neither side seems to show enough attacking purpose and will to win. The best prospects of entertainment will come from the games within the game, between the wily old pros Magoffin and Hall and perhaps from some of their and our younger prospects. As always I hope to be proved wrong.

Only just noticed this splendid piece of spin in the website Preview of today's game "Victory for Sussex though would vastly improve their position in the table depending on other results, as they lie only 25 points shy of third place."

This is pretty much on a par with "Fog in the Channel: Continent cut off"

Now this looks interesting: Northants won the toss and have put us in...and all of our ducks are lame.

Wells, Nash, Joyce (capt), Zaidi, Wright, Brown (wkt), Piolet, Tredwell, Magoffin, Hobden, Hatchett

If there is some early green in the pitch and Northants use it well, then there is a great deal of pressure on the first three to sit tight and play long innings. I tremble at the thought of Zaidi coming in at 22-2 with Wright and Brown to follow. That looks like 25-5.

Still, good to have some cricket. I'll be down there as soon as I can - hope I'm not too late to see some of the Sussex innings

Old Frawdy, Totally agree with you again about the tail of this squad and most that have been on display in all forms of cricket for at least the last six weeks.
Surely we could pop in another batter. DO we have any?
Of course it is going to be said that it is injuries but Brown at 5 and Zzzzz at 6 is a bit beyond belief.
Northants win toss and insert on what looks like a good bowling morning. A couple of good overs and it could be nil points for the batters and facing an uphill struggle before the sun has come out.
Northants have had their moments this season but always seems to have one bad day or really bad session that is enough to see them lose.
They did get an easy draw against MDX in their last game

Have to agree with others - Brown at five and Zaidi at six is possibly the weakest batting line-up I can ever remember. And just when we come up against the one team we ought to - and have to - beat.

Also the least experienced bowling line-up I can ever remember. A good opportunity for second XI bowlers to show their worth. But the Northants batsmen can be forgiven if they see an attack including the two young Hs, Zaidi and Piolet as the best chance to fill their boots they are likely to get until they are back in div two next season.

It'a all very well Davis and Robinson issuing their weekly calls in the media for the "senior players" to step up to the plate in the club's hour of need. But without RHB, Yardy, Anyon, Lewis, Jordan and Prior, there are hardly any seniors in the side to stand up. You get the feeling this is going to need some very, very big performances from Joyce and Wright with the bat and Magoffin and Tredwell with the ball if Sussex are to come out on top.

A good start on what is said to be a bit of a spicy pitch. I'm still baffled by our line-up though and the general decision making of our leaders. I thought we were a batter light in the last game or two, and that needed to be addressed, but Sussex made their move today by leaving out another one. I think it's fair to include Wright as an out an out batter now, otherwise we'd just have three, but if that is the case on what basis are we playing Piolet ahead of him?

I'm not worried about the attack, there's so many of 'em one or two should fire.

Ketters, as I said, Finch.