Sussex v Glamorgan
It’s been too cold and I have been otherwise engaged but yesterday, for the first time this summer, I made it down to Hove CCC for the first day of the county game against Glamorgan.
There was still a nip in the air but where better to be when the sun comes out than Hove CCC with a pint of Harvey’s?
Sussex have had a so-so start to the season.
We did not make qualification in the Royal London after two defeats in the final matches at the hands of Gloucestershire and Glamorgan. We have just the one win in the County Championship over Durham but should have beaten Northamptonshire last week.
Sadly we cannot call upon Jofra Archer. In the debate over the morality of his selection for England the fact that Sussex nurtured him and no longer have him is ignored.
Phil Salt, who scored a century, is another we could lose to white ball and Test match selection.
We could not play him against Gloucestershire in the Royal London as he was summoned to the England group at Cardiff but then not selected.
With the loss of Ollie Robinson who took 74 wickets last season the pace attack is constrained – relying on Chris Jordan, David Weise and young tyro George Garton. One of our frailties over the last few seasons is not picking up batting points. At least this was corrected as at stumps we posted 203 -5.
A noisy and raucous crowd watched the Championship Play-Off Final on a telly in our Players Club bar.
To introduce a new point in the Rust debate of attendance v telly watching, for me a noisy bar is the worst of all.
You are rarely comfortable and it’s impossible to concentrate. I for one don’t get the need to watch a sporting event fuelled by alcohol.
At 5 the sun came out and we were treated to some rapid runs by Sussex who may be conscious that rain is forecast today. Presumably we will bat on for much of today and then look to take a few wickets.
Conversation turned in our group to the Hundred for which there was little enthusiasm.
Sussex stand to lose yet more players possibly as many as four – Luke Wright, Phil Salt, Chris Jordan and Jofra Archer – and little inclination to travel to Southampton to watch our nearest metro team.
