Shine On you Crazy Diamond

Come on you raver, you seer of visions, come on you painter, 
you Piper, you prisoner, and shine!

Shine On You Crazy Diamond, Co-written by Dave Gilmour 

From Pink Floyd’s 1975 album: Wish you were here

Hi everyone!

A very warm welcome to the first blog of Season 2017!

I hope that you have overwintered well.

Of course, every Season brings anniversaries and memories of bygone years, of matches watched & players cherished who are never to be forgotten.

But some Seasons have a resonance all of their own.

Season 2017 is a Special One for me  … for it is a Diamond Season, my 60^th of supporting Sussex; the Oldest professional cricket club in the world and the Best.

There’ll be plenty of time throughout the season to reminisce about my first game; and many,many others!!

For today, suffice to say that Game No.1 for me was at the Nevill, Tunbridge Wells for Kent v Sussex.

Sussex were 58 for 2 when a player in his mid 20s walked down the pavilion steps and took guard.

Did he hit his first ball one-bounce through midwicket for 4? He must have done, surely?

In any event the scorecard shows he went on to score 127.

60 Seasons on - just as he was on that Saturday long, long ago - he is still my Favourite Player.

Young Jim

One-bounce through midwicket for 4

But today I want to Look Ahead.

In a Diamond Season Lord Ric’s Fixtures are Big & Bold; you’d expect no less.

If it all goes to plan, I will see all 18 First Class Counties.

As for where I’m going, I'll be heading west along the South Coast to one of the prettiest grounds in the whole of  England for games at Arundel. 

And then on to the Ageas Bowl; for Sussex’s regular wins over Hampshire!!!

In London, there are games at Beckenham & the Oval.

It is Lords, the Home of Cricket, on 21^st June, which is my 65^th Birthday.

Just as it was Lords for my 21^st Birthday, a mere 44 years ago.

Of course; I’ll be at the Nevill for a day of the Kent v Sussex game.
And to Canterbury to spend a day withe The Lads from the Borderers.

After the success in 2016 of visiting new grounds at Colchester, Worcester and Sir Paul Getty’s Wormsley, I’m planning this year to venture to Chelmsford, Cheltenham, Guildford & Radlett.

And finally, a much looked forward to first ever trip to West Country cricket, to see Somerset at Taunton.

Somerset v Hampshire at Taunton: Benson & Hedges Quarter Final 1974

The wicket keeper is Bob Stephenson

The batsman Viv Richards playing his trademark shot - exactly like Mine:

Whipping the ball from outside the off stump through the legside.

(OK: Sir Viv is one of Wisden's 5 Cricketers of the 20th Century & I'm "just"outside the Top 5!!)

But worry not, there will be lots & lots of days at my beloved Hove, watching from near the sight screen at  the Cromwell Road end.

Looking down the ground from the Cromwell Road end

So what of the Prospects for Sussex?

This year's Squad looks pretty strong.

There are some good Overseas players: the South Africans Vernon Philander and Stiaan van Zyl and the returning Kiwi Ross Taylor and South African David Wiese.

And joining from Warwickshire: batsman Laurie Evans.

Some well-established older hands too: including this year’s beneficiary Chris Nash, ever-young Steve Magoffin, Chris Jordan, wicket-keeper Ben Brown and captain Luke Wright.

And in the T20: Tymal Mills, back from his £1.4 million contract in the Indian Premier League!

The Highlight Ball of 2016 !

Tymal Mill's 93.3 mph ball bowls Chris Gayle of Somerset

Perhaps it was the ball that earnt Tymal £1.4 million ?

But I’ll be looking out especially for some strong performances from a very talented group of youngsters: including Jofra Archer, George Garton, Delray Rawlins and Abi Sakande.

As for some Targets for Sussex: What about:

ü  RL50: win 50% of the games

ü  T20: get to Finals Day

ü  Championship: promotion back to Division 1

Of course, it is never (just) about Winning …

It was Danny Blanchflower, who captained Spurs in their Double winning season in 1960/61, who said:

The great fallacy is that the game is first and last about Winning.

It is nothing of the kind.

The game is about Glory, it is about doing things in style and with a flourish, about going out and beating the other lot, not waiting for them to die of boredom.

I like to think Danny could have been describing the way I always want Sussex to play!

For it was Lord Ted - who captains my All Time Sussex Dream XI - who said:

If you are going to lose, you might as well lose good and proper.
And try to sneak a win.

So: Let the Games begin!

I’m pretty much ready for my first game of Season 2017: 

Thursday 30 March for Cambridge University v Nottinghamshire at Fenners.

Fenners, where Cambridge have played First Class cricket since 1848
And, No: I wasn't at the very first match !!

A few weeks before my 21^st birthday in June 1973 I was at Fenners for all three days of the Combined Universities v New Zealand. 
It was one of the most exciting games I’ve ever, ever seen.

The Universities were captained by Phil Edmonds, who went on to play for England in over 50 Test matches.

But the Universities player who took the eye was the No.4.

He top scored in the 1^st Innings with 73 and then with 88 in the 2^nd , as well as taking 7 wickets for 146 in the match.

But who he was? 
And what has he been up to in the 44 years since that match?

Just the one clue: Like Lord Ric and Sir Viv, the No.4 turns 65 this year.

Why not join me at Fenners for a story or two about the No. 4?

I look forward to watching plenty of Cricket with all of you in Season 2017.

After all ….

Why read a Lord Ric Cricket Blog, when you can be in one. ^©

See you soon!!

Lord Ric of Beckley Furnace

Follow me on Twitter: LordRic52

PS

Shine On you Crazy Diamond co-writer Dave Gilmour lives in Hove, just down the road from the Sussex ground.

A few weeks ago he secured planning permission to develop Medina House, a derelict old bath house.

Is there a better place to live than in Hove overlooking the sea?

And just to the left of Marrocco’s; the best ice cream shop in the world !

I bet Dave is a double-scoop man !!