T20 v Surrey at Hove 3rd August

Every match is now a must win if Sussex are to qualify for the QFs. 

At least, the weather is set fine for Thursday. Thank goodness it wasn't arranged for today! And with the temporary seating, this 'may'
be the best attended Hove game of the season. But, why couldn't the ECB arrange such a popular pairing for a Friday evening?
Particularly, when the T20 this season is placed in a window with few if any other formats around it. There remain many problems
facing county cricket and fixture arrangements is one of them.

So, will Pietersen be playing? A short vid on his Twitter shows a passionate KP willing all cricket fans to attend at 'The Oval'
on August 13th for their rematch (SKY is attending) as £1 from each admission fee will go towards saving the Rhinos.

twitter.com/KP24

But this doesn't answer the question. Has KPs calf strain healed sufficiently for him to play tomorrow evening? Perhaps, he
is now more interested in saving Rhinos than his own cricket career?

Jez! The injury curse Sussex continue to harbour manifests YET AGAIN ahead of, perhaps, the most important T20 match
of the season in both end result and numbers through the gate, with Luke Wright still complaining of a bad back (disc), first
injured last Spring when he picked up one of his children awkwardly. 

"Luke Wright is not included in the squad to allow him more time to recover from a sore back." 

Unfortunately, if and when Luke does recover there is a likelihood Sussex may not be vying for a QF place, anymore.

So, the team's two most important T20 players, Wright and Mills, have been unavailable for a number of the matches, although small
mercies allow Mills to be playing tomorrow evening.

If Sussex do not qualify, no doubt the rain will be blamed. Yet, if you look at the T20 table, Glamorgan the leaders, have had 4 games
washed out compared to Sussex 3 and yet still acquired 12 points compared to Sussex 6. That is because Glamorgan have won 4 matches
and only lost 1 whereas Sussex have won only 1 match and lost 3 with 1 tie.

Fingers-crossed we win tomorrow and still have 5 games to qualify. Meanwhile, I am sure our roving reporter, Colin Bowman, must be
getting anxious about his £100 bet. 

www.sussexcricket.co.uk/news-1/preview-sussex-meet-neighbours-home-and-away

philh,

I agree with you about luck but winning is all that matters. If you can only win one match, then you are immediately in trouble whether
because of rain or other reasons like injury.

I take your point, s&f, but you could easily say we were unlucky to catch one player on a good but lucky day at Arundel and besides that anything might have happened in the other 7 games. I find it hard to analyse T20 games at the best of time but the weather makes it well nigh impossible to say whether we have done well or not. The league table bears that out. Having said that, I fully expect Surrey to beat us easily and finish off our faint hopes of playing more games.

Let's be fair, weather has prevented SCCC. Whether they might have won any, well that's different but it has not helped them.

No more kolpaks, too many all ready. Van Zyl seems to be OK, Wiese is definitely NOT good enough and should be told, 'sorry, we've been sold a pup'
Contract terminated. No need to pay him off,

Greenfield needs to get out and look at potential in Sussex. Start to earn his money.

Back to T20, Mills & Jordan have so far under performed, I predict they will not be involved with England this summer and winter.
That will certainly hurt Mills the Ego and his earning will diminish. Who wants to sign anyone who can't play? Why I can fill that role, so can Joe, Jonboy and a few others.
They still have time to turn it round, but only if SCCC win the remainder of games.
Pressure where it's due, the stars.

Here is the Surrey Squad for tonight's game. No KP. No Sibley. Gates open 5.30pm. Match starts: 7pm. Weather is set fair. A must
win match for Sussex.

Hard to disagree with any of this.