A day at Arundel

I have really missed watching Sussex CCC at Arundel in 2020 and 2021.

Yesterday I was invited there to watch an ex-Sussex CCC XI play a Sussex Cricket League XI.

One of the curiosities of Arundel Castle Cricket Club is that it is a cricket venue, not an actual cricketing team.

Older readers might remember a touring side would start with a game at Arundel against Lavinia, Duchess of Norfolk’s XI.

My friend was sponsoring the day so we had lunch in the pavilion and watched the T20 game outside under a tarpaulin.

There were probably 300 spectators.

Before lunch I walked around the ground. It’s surrounded by trees with the castle overlooking.

There is one gap in  the perimeter of trees which provides a view to the River Avon.

I know of no more beautiful ground.

I don’t much like T20 and the weather was grey but it was wonderful to be back.

Chris Nash, a Horsham lad, played for Sussex for many years and had a fruitful opening partnership with Luke Wright, has moved to Nottinghamshire – and now plays for Horsham – was playing for the former Sussex side along with Lewis Hackett, Harry Finch and the son of umpire Ian Gould.

They lost to the younger boys.

I was given a lift home by the President of Sussex CCC. Now over eighty, he is has all his marbles and, whilst I might have been  nervous by being driven by someone of his age on the A27, he was a capable driver.

We spoke of Sussex youth as Dan Ibrahim (his father was playing for the Sussex Cricket league team), a 17 year old, had been chosen for the England under 21 side – along with his teammate James Coles and  Archie Lenham might be playing for Southern Braves today.  I have written of the longevity of Sussex players but equally these boys born around 2004 fresh faced and enthusiastic bring as much  cricketing  pleasure to the supporter  as their seniors.

We also spoke of the depth of club cricket in the county.

I spoke to one supporter invited, who coaches St. Peter’s cricket side, who have 5 teams. Rottingdean have 4 and Crawley  7.

They all play in a pyramid league financially supported  by the Sussex CCC Foundation.

Up and down the country these local clubs feed into the counties – Brondesbury, for example, was the club of Mike Gatting and Phil de Freitas.

Aside from plentiful hand sanitisers, there were no Clovid restrictions.

It was great to be there.