Sussex win again

It was a good day yesterday for Sussex sport. Millwall’s defeat at Blackburn meant the Seagulls are all but safe. Sussex won their second game in succession when we beat Worcestershire by 61 runs. Worcestershire needed 200 runs to win but wickets soon began to tumble. Ajmal Shahzad, recruited from Nottinghamshire, took 5-46 as the away side crumbled.

Our main concerns are injuries and failing to maximise the commanding  position after Machan scored 135 on the first day. Mike Yardy and Chris Nash were key absentees whilst Chris Jordan is centrally contracted and Matt Prior has a severe achilles problem. Tyman Mills had the back problem in the second innings that beset his Essex career. We can call upon Jayawardene and George Bailey in the twenty-bash so the squad is strong. One of the reasons that the match was closer that it should have been was the dropping of catches so the return to first slip by Mike Yardy will be appreciated.

I had a long chat with a subdued Alan who described the Fulham season as “horrific”. At least we will have pleasure of Alan’s company at the Amex. I was reading the Flight of the Martlets the story of the revival of Sussex. Sussex, the oldest county, won nothing till 2003 then won the championship, regaining it in 2006 and 2007 and for good measure the C & G trophy under the leadership of coach Peter Moores and skipper Chris Adams. In the first  chapter the question was asked, if Sussex was a Premier club which would it be? The answer was Fulham.

‘A small club, with masses of tradition, an evocative ground, a loyal fan base and success, albeit limited, both in the recent and distant past, and usually punching above their weight.'”

“Aah” reflected Alan, “We are not like that any more. If we were a county team it would be Leicestershire.”