Sussex Sharks don’t bite

There was a familiar batting collapse which we associate more with the red ball side as the Sharks were easily defeated by Gloucestershire.

Bob Tickler – my guest – is normally the most jovial of souls but I can confirm his post that he was utterly stressed out by his email problem on his mobile and other devices. It’s a problem we oldies often mention: you are and are expected to be reliant on your mobile, but it’s neither reliable nor safe.

It was such a shame he pulled out as after all this rain it was a sunlit warm evening at Hove which was as pretty as a postcard.

It was not rewarded with a competitive performance. After a bad start in which Gloucestershire lost 3 wickets in the “power play” to a Sussex attack that included Ollie Robinson and Glenn Phillips steadied the shop with 97.

The target was a achievable but only if your batters stay at the crease which the Sharks did not.

So after 3 straight wins – and 3 no results because of rain – Sharks sustained their first loss. Sadly, more rain is expected for their next two home games against Surrey this Sunday and Kent this Tuesday.

Finally I must mention the £50 million transfer of Ben White to Arsenal.

He is only 21 , in the England squad, and can play across the back four, in a three, or anchor the midfield.

My only concern for him is the adapting to a much bigger club.

For Brighton it may mean they can retain Yves Bissouma but you only have to look at Leicester City – or Southampton – to see how hard it is to keep your best players when the big boys come a-calling.