Sussex win – but only just

Here are two assumptions:

1) I was the only person amongst our readership to appreciate the exciting finish to Sussex CCC’s Championship match at Glamorgan where a tie, win or defeat were all possible on the last final ball bowled. Sussex, nine wickets down, managed to score the runs necessary for victory and are now in the second place. Sussex chasing 208 went from 100-2 to 168-8 but a six by Ollie Robinson enabled the one wicket win.

2) That the vast majority of fans, including those of England, were happy that the beleaguered West Indies side won the second test on a thrilling final day.

What is not an assumption but a fact is that the integrity and potential of the red ball game has been enhanced. One of the remedies for the alleged decline of test cricket is to have a 4 day match. Nonsense! In fact most tests are finished within 4 days but this most memorable of games was played out on the fifth and final day. Duggie Heath has often written perceptively on the effect of the inconsistent bad weather of the English summer and we need that extra day just in case. We are also told that there is little for a new and younger generation in the red ball game to excite. I am quite sure that a 9 year old, admitted free of charge through an enlightened ticket policy at Headingley, would have had memorable day’s sport on Monday.

As for Sussex we are now in second and promotion place, possibly not for long as Worcestershire are currently on top against Gloucestershire. Like the t20 Southern section, it looks like it will go to the wire as Sussex’s last game will be against runaway leaders Nottinghamshire. The irony that Nottinghamshire are coached by Peter Moores, once of this manor as player and coach who masterminded off the pitch our first championship, will not be lost on the Sussex supporter.