Ye shall know them by their fruits

 Hi everyone!

Some Thoughts

on

Sussex v Glamorgan

A game where Winning The Toss made a huge difference.

 

Up in the Deckchairs the discussion turned to Midnight Curfews …

Looking around the ground at Hove Actually, one ol’ boy remembered a verse from the New Testament.

Please enjoy:

Ye shall know them by their fruits

Matthew 7:16 

Ray Phillips from the Sussex Cricket Museum had done his usual excellent job analysing all the previous Glamorgan & Sussex games.

67 in Glamorgan

65 in Sussex

I knew of some of the Glamorgan outgrounds, including Penryn Avenue in Colwyn Bay which is 187 miles by road from at Cardiff & the outground most distant from any County’s headquarters.

I have to confess that I hadn’t heard of the Steel Company of Wales ground at Margam, near Port Talbot !

----

The weather conditions and some good bowling led to Glamorgan wickets falling regularly.

Ben Kellaway  - more about him later – top scored with 33 as Glamorgan were all for 155 in the 52^nd over. He looked a very talented young batter.

The Indian Test bowler Jaydev Unadkat - in his first game for Sussex this Season - took 4 for 29.

In what continued to be gloomy conditions, the Sussex openers Dan Hughes & Tom Haines did really well to put on 92 before Haines was out for 48. Glamorgan’s highest partnership had been 51 for the 5^th wicket.

Hughes went on to score 72, helped in the final overs of Day 1 by Jack Leaning who’s 21 doesn’t adequately reward him for the importance of his innings given the conditions.

On Day 2 the weather was entirely different … a gloriously sunny day.

The highlight was James Coles with 224 not out, including 22 4s & 11 6s.

By his high standards, James had been struggling for runs this Season: with 253 runs in 12 innings coming into the Glamorgan game.

But Class is permanent … especially if you went to Magdalen College School in Oxford !!

I am a Massive Fan of Mr Coles.

A few weeks ago I was struggling with a Problem.

Frankly, I was getting nowhere in resolving it.

By chance; one Sunday morning at just before 09.30 hours, I bumped into Mr Coles in Palmeira Avenue.

I told him – in truth, very brusquely  - about my Problem.

He said he would help.

And he did !

#ProblemResolved !!

 

I will always know Mr Coles as #TheLocksmith  🔑

Sussex finished on a mammoth 521.

Extras of 46 were more than Glamorgan’s top scorer Ben Kellaway’s 33. 

Set 366 to get Sussex to bat again, Glamorgan put up a good fight.

Asa Tribe with 64 and Ben Kellaway with 55 helping the Welsh Dragons to reach 268 all out.

As Day 3 ended, Sussex had won by an innings & 98 runs.

After 7 out of 14 Championship games - and notwithstanding a 12 points deduction as part of the ECB’s Special Measures – Sussex are in 2^nd place, only 1 point behind Essex.

It is proving to be a very close competition, with just 18 points separating the top 8 (of 10) teams.

All to play for in the second half of the Season !

----

A feature of the Glamorgan 2^nd innings was Dom Goodman – on debut for Sussex – taking 2 for 34.

Dom hadn’t been in the starting XI.

But when during Day 2 Henry Crocombe was called into the England Men's Test squad as injury cover for Ollie Robinson, he was replaced by Dom.

I had hoped that Ben Kellaway would get out to Dom Goodman …

Both went to Clifton College, as did James Kirtley, the Sussex bowling coach.

But it just wasn’t to be !

( Kellaway LBW Haines)

----

Up in the Deckchairs there was plenty of chat about Midnight Curfews…

There was lots of news coverage and comment in the Media about:

In celebrating the opening Test victory over New Zealand at Lord's, [Captain Ben] Stokes and [Gus] Atkinson broke the England team's Midnight Curfew in Chelsea’s Rex Rooms nightclub.

They were present when a member of England security staff was struck by a Saracens rugby player.

Director of Cricket Rob Key is considering imposing an alcohol ban on the England team and has given no assurances Ben Stokes will remain Test captain.

Following allegations of a drinking culture that dogged the winter, England introduced a Midnight Curfew, which was broken by Stokes and Atkinson.

Source: BBC

As someone who loves Martinis ( Best in the World !) at Duke’s Hotel in St James's & with memories from the 1970s – which I am trying to forget – of Away trips with Tunbridge Wells Borderers CC …

Shaken, not stirred

It isn’t for me to reach for John 8:7:

He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone.

A few weeks before the Midnight Curfew in Chelsea’s Rex Rooms nightclub, on 26^th  May 2026 Paul Newman  - for 18 years the cricket correspondent of the Daily Mail - had written  an article in The New York Times’ The Athletic:

English cricket’s complicated relationship with alcohol

Of course, there are plenty of Top Tales of Cricket & Alcohol with No Harm Done.

A favourite of mine is about Old Brightonian WHV Levett.

Hopper played for Kent  - and one Test for England -  in the 1930s and just after WWII. He regularlry deputised for Les Ames.

Hopper & Les

Hopper's  Obituary included:

After a night of heavy entertaining, Hopper Levett took his place behind the stumps and never even flickered as the first ball whistled by outside the off-stump for four byes.

The batsman tickled the second down the legside, Hopper took off to dive and take a spectacular catch, rising to say, beaming:

"Not bad, eh, for the first ball of the morning?" 

But

The ECB starts its section about alcohol in its report entitled ‘Holding up a Mirror to Cricket’ by stating:

A heavy drinking culture excludes a significant number of people.

The report highlights some completely unacceptable alcohol-fuelled behaviour, particularly around the conduct and attitudes of men towards women. There can be no doubt that this is putting women off playing and watching the game.

 

On the afternoon of Day 1 I sat in the Pavilion with a friend.

Looking around the ground at Hove Actually, I saw plenty of advertisement boards from Alcohol Suppliers.

The text below comes from the back of the Scorecard.

Official Pouring Rights Sponsor

Shepherd Neame

Who have the UK brewing rights for Singha

 

 

Official Cask Ale & Still Wine Provider

Harvey’s Brewery

 

Official Cider Partner

Thatchers Cider

 

 

Official Sparkling Wine Partner

Roebuck Estates

Don’t even get me started on the sponsorship from Dafabet, the online betting and gambling site.

Official Betting Partner

Dafabet

As the Club's Press Release in July 2020 stated:

Chief Executive, Rob Andrew said: “We are thrilled to have agreed a new major partnership with Dafabet, a company who have a wealth of knowledge and experience within the sporting world. 

“During these uncertain times, it has never been more important to secure agreements like this which will help sustain the financial future of the Club. 

“We thank Dafabet for the support they’ve shown in us and look forward to working closely with them over the next three years. We can now focus on the season starting in August and the squad wearing the new T20 shirt as soon as the Vitality Blast gets underway.”

 

Financial times are extremely difficult at Sussex.

Even though there are around 10,000 alcohol-specific deaths annually in the UK and an estimated 1.4 million adults experience problem gambling, with millions more considered at risk,  the Club clearly believed  it had to take the Alcohol & Gambling Pound to help sustain the financial future of the Club.

I guess Matthew 7:16 sums it up all too aptly:

Ye shall know them by their fruits

----

Plenty of Season 2026 still to come…

I really hope you will come down to Hove Actually … I’ve Saved a Deckchair for YOU!!!

( I do have a couple of Middlesex Outgrounds in the Fixtures too & there is Arundel on Wednesday 29^th July.)

After all ….

Why read a Lord Ric Cricket Blog, when you can star in your own. 

See you soon!!

Lord Ric of Beckley Furnace

Dozing … Up in the Deckchairs

PS

I know … You’re thinking:

Ol’ Ric, you’ve turned into a Victor (I don’t believe it !) Meldrew.

I may well have One Foot in the Grave & there probably aren’t too many more Seasons for me Dozing … Up in the Deckchairs.

[Editor:

How many, many times have we all heard Ric say:

Top of My Bucket List is:

2039

Turn 87

Attend the Lunch to celebrate the 200^th Anniversary of the founding of Sussex County Cricket Club]

But as Dylan sang:

The times they are a-changin’

In 1982 Sussex – with 13 wins, 1 loss & 1 abandoned game - romped to victory in the Sunday League competition.

Their 56 points was 12 more than 2^nd place Middlesex.

 

John Barclay lifting the Cup

The John Player cup  !

In July 2005 in the UK all domestic and global sports sponsorships by Tobacco companies were completely phased out

Four decades on from Sussex winning the John Player League ...

When it comes to Tobacco Sponsors, not even Rob Andrew is thinking it has never been more important to secure agreements like this which will help sustain the financial future of the Club.

Although it may not be in my time …

The day will come when there are NO Alcohol & Betting at the County Ground.

I Dafabet you it will !!

Imperfection releases so many more possibilities & opportunities than does Perfection

Hi everyone!

Some Thoughts from Behind Enemy Lines

on

Kent  v Durham

On the Thursday evening before Day 1 of the game on the Friday the weather forecast  - chilly with rain developing during the day - & with the Skinners’ Lads deciding not to risk the journey from the Tonbridge area I had decided not to go along myself.

But .. when I woke up on the Friday morning, there were Blue Skies.

A day Behind Enemy Lines … It turned out to be a wonderful day of cricket at Beckenham !

For Sussex Fans… Don’t worry: there will be a couple of references to the Mighty Sussex !!

Please enjoy:

Imperfection releases so many more possibilities & opportunities than does Perfection

 PS 

As long-promised, there is a reference to cricket in ... Matabeleland !

“Tony slowly developed into a seriously good bowler.

Or should I put it another way? He could produce seriously good spells.

Of course, it’s not hard to forget that Tony is not perfect; no, far from it and I say thank goodness for that.

Let’s face it, imperfection releases so many more possibilities & opportunities than does perfection.

 His life and career are testament to that.”

John Barclay in The Times on 28^th February 2026

----

Day 1 of Kent v Durham on Friday 15^th May 2026 at Beckenham had been in my Fixtures since before Season 2026 had begun.

Though Beckenham is in the London Borough of Bromley, its residents still proudly hang on to their Kent postal addresses.

All week I had been teasing that I was going Behind Enemy Lines.

 

Don’t worry, I was saying:

Remember your training, put some angles between you and your pursuers. Evade and survive and we will bring you home!

You got that?

We WILL bring you home!

Admiral Reigart

On the Thursday evening before Day 1 of the game on the Friday the game the weather forecast  - chilly with rain developing during the day - & with the Skinners’ Lads deciding not to risk their journey from the Tonbridge area I had decided not to go along myself.

But .. when I woke up on the Friday morning, there were Blue Skies.

Blue Skies smiling at me

Nothing but Blue Skies do I see

Blue birds singing a song

Nothing but Blue Skies from now on

Irving Berlin

With my coffee flask full  & my sandwiches (one cheese, one ham & coleslaw) filled, I caught the 09.44 from Bickley.

A mere 9 minutes later I was at Beckenham Junction. And barely 2 minutes later I was in Waitrose ... stocking up on Essential Supplies !!

By 10.15 I was buying my ticket. Sussex have a reciprocal arrangement with Kent & the £7 was incredible value.

I collected my Deckchair & so it was that by 10.30 I was sitting at the Crystal Palace FC Training Ground end on the western side of the ground.

The 2 XIs were announced.

Bertie Foreman - who was released by Sussex at the end of Season 2025 -  had just been signed on  a 2 months’ contract by Kent. But sadly he didn’t get the selectors’ nod for this game.

I will have to hold in reserve memories of the game at The Nevill back in 1964 when Bertie’s grandad Denis played for Sussex.

Anyone like to discover what happened … (Look away now if you’re a Kent Fan)

https://i.imgci.com/db/ARCHIVE/1960S/1964/ENG_LOCAL/CC/KENT_SUSSEX_CC_13-16JUN1964.html

But there were plenty of other Top Players on show:

England Captain Ben Stokes 

 

Test Debutant Emilio Gay

 

 

There is only one ( of two) Ollie Robinson

Sitting next me were half a dozen Kent Regulars of pretty much my vintage.

As the Umpires Mark Newell & Ben Peverall walked across the outfield at start of play, the Regular nearest to me got out his Playfair Cricket Annual.

I heard him say that Mark Newell played for Sussex in the 1990s, as did his brother Keith.

Famously – well Keith is famous if you’ve just Wiki’d him – Keith played for Matabeleland in Bulawayo in Zimbabwe in 1995

(probably) The only Sussex cricketer ever to play for Matabeleland !

Keith & Mark went to Hazelwick School in Three Bridges.  It opened as a Secondary Modern school in 1953. The school’s first pioneering Headteacher, Philip Keyte, created its motto 'Effort Achieves' which is still used to this day.

Anyone like to guess:

When will 2 brothers be educated at State schools, come through the Sussex Pathway & go on to play for Sussex ?

I introduced myself & disclosed that I was a lifelong Sussex Fan. We all started chatting, a conversation which continued throughout the day.

On the pitch Kent Opener Zak Crawley – dropped for the First Test v New Zealand at Lord’s – made a good start.

But in the 17^th over & with the score on 61 he was out for 30 caught Matthew Potts bowled England Captain Ben Stokes.

Talking of the score … although I love Outground Cricket, you have to accept that facilities will not always be up to what you find on County HQ grounds, never mind Test venues.

The scoreboard nearest to where I was sitting  - which wasn’t working ! – reminded me of the ones on the village greens across Kent & Sussex where I played half a century & more ago.

TBF to Kent … Elizabeth Ammon ( aka Legside Lizzy) reported in The Times that:

an unlikely consequence of the conflict in the Gulf.

A new high-tech large digital scoreboard had been ordered by Kent, and should have arrived in time for this match but it is stuck somewhere on the Strait of Hormuz.

Something else to blame POTUS 45/47 for !!

But after Zak was out, there was no need to look at the wickets on the scoreboard … the next wicket would fall at 364, a record partnership of 303 for any Kent wicket v Durham.

No.3 Sam Northeast  - a former Kent captain who after spells at Hampshire & Glamorgan returned to Kent at the start of 2026 - scored 141.

But most eyes were on 19 year old Ben Dawkins.

It was to be Ben’s first FC 100. A day Never To Be Forgotten.

Wikipedia says that Benjamin Joshua Dawkins was born in Johannesburg in South Africa on 19^th  October 2006.

It goes on to say he was educated at Sevenoaks School.

That should read: (probably) educated at …

For Ben was educated at The Skinners’ School.

In evidence, my Lord, I submit:

https://www.skinners-school.co.uk/84/school-news/post/16/england-selection

As Ben’s score got into the 130s, I knew he was approaching the 2^nd  Highest Ever FC score by an Old Skinner:

Bob Woolmer’s 149.

Imperfection Error

I am a grateful to a fellow Leopard who has corrected me. 

Bob's highest score in Test cricket was 149. 

But his highest score in First Class cricket was 203 for Kent v Sussex at The Nevill in 1982.

https://i.imgci.com/db/ARCHIVE/1980S/1982/ENG_LOCAL/CC/KENT_SUSSEX_CC_09-11JUN1982.html

As the Mighty Sussex lost by 10 wickets ... No wonder I had forgotten  the game & Bob's double century !!

And then it was on towards the Highest Ever.

I asked the Kent Regulars next to me if they knew who held the current record of 172.

I gave them a clue. He was playing in my Favourite Game EVER v Sussex at The Nevill in June 1951.

By AMAZING Co-Incidence  - the type so often found in a Lord Ric blog - in that game batting No.3 a 19 year old scored 188. But  - like me - Young Jim NEVER played for Kent !!

As Ben’s score reached 173 (he would end the day on 180 not out), it was time to reveal that the previous recordholder was Peter Hearn, the Kent No.3 in my Favourite Game EVER.

I’ll let you Wiki Peter. His was a life well-lived, including being a German prisoner of war.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Hearn

Through Tunbridge Well CC, Dad knew Peter in the 1960s & ‘70s.

They would often chat about the game at The Nevill in 1951.

Fred, that Sussex No.3  looked a promising Young lad.

Do you know if it went to go on to do much in FC cricket ??!!

----

Plenty of Season 2026 still to come…

I can’t promise you that Old Skinners will be breaking records or that you will see England Captains playing.

But …

I really hope you will come down to Hove Actually … I’ve Saved a Deckchair for YOU!!!

( I do have a couple of Middlesex Outgrounds in the Fixtures too.)

After all ….

Why read a Lord Ric Cricket Blog, when you can star in your own. 

See you soon!!

Lord Ric of Beckley Furnace

Dozing up in the Deckchairs

PS

So, who was … the Tony [who] slowly developed into a seriously good bowler ?

It is true that the Skinners’ Lads had decided not to risk their journey from the Tonbridge area.

But another Leopard did ..  & as he wandered round the ground he Spotted (No pun intended) me.

Trevor Vousden

Trevor is one of my guests at Hove for Day 3 of the game v Somerset in late August.

We soon started chatting about Old Times:

Deputy Head PF Foxy Wells & the Light Machine Gun story. Of the importance in Life of deciding your Priorities

How a combination of Leopards Graham Pring & Graham Clayton had been the connection to get Trevor playing  for the Borderers

Long forgotten games at Tunbridge Wells Borderers:

Who was the Bowler when Bish stumped Piers Morgan at Newick ?

RJH Roger Clarke on tour in Antigua

Trevor told me that in early January he had been at Holmewood House School, near Langton Green on the outskirts of Tunbridge Wells.

Holmewood House has some famous former Teachers, including Patrick Sky at Night Moore.

Famous former Pupils include Shane The Pogues Macgowan & Andy BBC TMS Zaltzman.

Trevor had gone for a book signing by Holmewood House alumnus Tony Lester Pigott.

 

Very, very sadly just a couple of weeks later Tony died of a heart attack. He was 67.

Tony’s obituary in The Times on 28^th February 2026 told the tale of his life.

From school at Holmewood House & then Harrow to playing for Sussex and his single Test for England:

His beach wedding in 1984 had been organised and the date, seemingly, was inviolable.

The nuptials were but three days away when he took a call from AC Smith, the team manager, saying that owing to injuries, he might well be required to make his Test debut less than 24 hours later. He was not even a member of the tour party in New Zealand.

In addition, Pigott, then 25 and playing for Wellington, was suffering from sore shins but he knew that if he did not take this opportunity it might not come again.

Fortunately for Pigott, his fiancée, Nikki Fuller, went along with his wishes.

The wedding was postponed.

And his one cap hung on a wall of his house thereafter.

In the next 4 decades Tony would continue to Give It A Go, including becoming CEO of Sussex.

   

The closing words of the obituary were from John Barclay, Tony’s captain at Sussex:

“Tony slowly developed into a seriously good bowler.

Or should I put it another way? He could produce seriously good spells.

Of course, it’s not hard to forget that Tony is not perfect; no, far from it and I say thank goodness for that.

Let’s face it, imperfection releases so many more possibilities & opportunities than does perfection.

 His life and career are testament to that.”

If John were available to give the Eulogy at my Funeral Service, he could use the very same words …

 It’s not hard to forget that Ric is not perfect; no, far from it and I say thank goodness for that.

Imperfection releases so many more possibilities & opportunities than does Perfection

Let’s face it … Imperfection does !!!