A day at Hove County ground (Sussex v Northants 3rd Day)
I got a lift back from the Amex yesterday from Jon Filby the Chairman of Sussex CCC and left my glasses in his car.
He retrieved them and invited me to lunch yesterday in the boardroom to collect them.
There were two problems: the first was I was tired and fancied a refuel at home; and, secondly, there were many road closures to accommodate the Brighton marathon which made the journey to Hove exacting. Indeed it was impossible in the morning and the taxi journey took both double the time and fare.
However, arriving and seeing the view of the square, immediately relaxed my mood which was also enhanced by the generosity of my host.
The other guest was a committee member from Middlesex, a bubbly young Asian lady.
One of the issues we discussed was diversity in cricket and it’s not that easy to change entrenched values and find volunteers from a diverse background. The other issue is members v shareholders. A recent publication by Ben Bloom has called the 69,000 or so county members ‘luddites’ and advocated the limited company route adopted by Sussex’s opponents Northants and Durham.
Looking over the prime real estate in Hove – which must have a value of £100+ million – and the shenanigans that resulted in the demolition of the nearby Goldstone Ground, I thought the traditions and ground would be better protected by members than shareholders who would be attracted by the profit on such a sale.
I also felt that private ownership and shareholders had brought down Wasps, Worcester Warriors and London Irish in the Rugby Premiership.
Alan Tanner recalls bitterly owners of his beloved Fulham being only interested in the development potential of the ground.
A lighter topic was raised by one Sussex supporter, who was influential in the deposition of the Committee some 30 years ago, popping by and asking us to name the 11 Test cricketers born in a non-Test-playing country.
I immediately replied with Ted Dexter (Italy).
Jon Filby chipped in with the more obscure Freddy Brown (Peru) and Geraint Jones (Papua New Guinea).
To our surprise David Gower was born in Kent, not Kenya, although Derek Pringle was born in that country. We all missed Dermot Reeve (Hong Kong) and Donald Carr (Germany). If Scotland qualifies as a non-Test country then Eric Russell and Ian Peebles can be included.
Colin Cowdrey is excluded as he was born in Test-playing India and some doubted whether Barbados and other Caribbean islands can be included as they form part of the West Indies team.
Sussex closed 20 runs behind Northants, Tom Haines getting a century and the elegant ‘officer class’ James Coles 75. It’s a sad reflection upon county cricket that if Surrey or Lancashire come calling for Coles they would make him an offer he can’t refuse, whilst Sussex can only afford to retain Ollie Robinson whilst he has a central contract
All interesting stuff and above all a stimulating and fun day at the cricket.
