Sussex crowned champions

Sussex had to score 250 runs yesterday – only the second day of four – against third-placed Middlesex.

They did so – when play was possible – to achieve the bonus point needed for promotion as Champions, thanks to centuries from both John Simpson (my player of the season) and James Coles (my young player).

After an eleven year absence Sussex, the team that dominated the Noughties but which in the last decade really only performed in T20 cricket, are back in the top flight.

We cannot be complacent but, looking at the table Surrey – with all their financial power and muscle – dominate with their third consecutive Championship. However, another powerhouse with a Test ground – Lancashire – were relegated, whilst Nottinghamshire and Warwickshire, who both host Test matches, were not far off the bottom two.

So Sussex must  remain positive and sustain the momentum of success.

The champagne – or to be exact, the sparkling wine from Ridgeway a suitably Sussex vineyard – flowed at the County ground and no one looked happier than chairman Jon Filby.

As Sussex’s historian he will not need reminding that in previous seasons Sussex only won one game. He sustained a lot of flak but I hope that, whilst technically because of the years he has served on the Committee he has to resign, they can find some way to extend his period of office.

An affable fellow, he has proved a fine helmsman and as much a factor for our successful season as the coaching and recruitment of Paul Farbrace and the performances of a young team.

Unlike our local paper The Argus and the national media, I can in this post afford more publicity to our cricket team than the Seagulls.

They lost 4-2 to Chelsea in a helter-skelter  game.

Ex-Brighton keeper Roberto Sanchez kindly gifted two goals – the first by coming for a cross that he was never going to get and the second by making a poor pass of the ball in his area which Carlos Baleba easily intercepted to score.

Brighton remain in the top ten but – despite a massive outlay of £350 million in the transfer market – Joao Pedro looks the only consistent goal scorer.