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Meet the new CEO of Sussex CCC

Last night I was invited to a reception to meet the new CEO of Sussex CCC Rob Andrew. Although he has a first class century to his name, he is better known for the oval rather than the white or red round ball. After a distinguished career as fly half for Wasps, Newcastle Falcons and England he swapped the jersey for the suit and at Newcastle and at the RFU became the director of rugby. When I first met him face to face I was initially surprised not to be speaking to some towering behemoth but someone my height, five foot nine. I’m no rugby buff but I remember him as a tactical kicker who kept out the more creative but mercurial Stuart Barnes. The experts on rugby tell me that as RFU director he was proficient in distancing himself from the mishaps that happened, for example the dwarf throwing in New Zealand.

The most interesting aspect of his appointment is how he will deal with issues that characterise cricket of which he has no particular experience – balancing the white and red ball game: the financial problems that have beset the game which caused the demotion of Durham; and central contracts. Then he needs to address the special situation of Sussex CCC who won 3 championships in the noughties but are now in the second division and without much recent success, even in the ODi and T20 formats. He is clearly a capable administrator and he argued that an outside perspective can be be beneficial.

Coach Mark Davis has strengthened the squad with 3 South Africans – David Wiese, Stielan Van Zyl and Vernon Philander. With the opening bowlers of the T20 team, Tyman Mills and Chris Jordan, plus Luke Wright who all play for various T20 franchises we have the basis of a strong T20 side. With Durham demoted and only one promotion place getting back to the first division the task is going to be demanding. We have also recruited Laurie Evans from Warwickshire. He put up his car for sale. A prospective buyer asked for a test run. Neither the car not his sports gear inside were ever seen again. Let’s hope Sussex CCC get off to a better start.

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About Ivan Conway

Ivan Conway will be reporting on Sussex sport. He is a member of the 1901 club at Brighton HAFC, Sussex County Cricket Club and an enthusiastic horse race goer. After selling his freight forwarding and conference business he settled in Hove. His other interests are bird watching, brass rubbing and bridge. More Posts