I hope I can be the Autumn leaf

Hi everyone!

Memories of Season 2019 … Before it has even begun!

Mylo & I did pop round to the ground for each of the afternoons of the Sussex v Kent 2-day friendly game.

But Season 2019 really begins today: Day 1 of the County Championship match Sussex v Leicestershire at Hove. 

Season 62 for me of supporting the Mighty Sharks & my 60^th year of sitting in the deckchairs up at the Cromwell Road end, Hove Actually.

So before Season 2019 has even begun, what Memories will we have when it is over?

I start – where else? – with the prospects for Sussex.

We have an excellent Coach in Jason ‘Dizzy’ Gillespie.

And a settled squad of players; plenty of competition for places.

The bowling looks in good shape.

The seam bowlers – led by Chris 'CJ' Jordan, Jofra Archer (if not absent on England duty) & Ollie Robinson – will be supported until mid July by left arm Mir Hamza from Pakistan. 
George Garton and Abi Sakande - an Oxford Blue following in the footsteps of illustrious predecessors CB Fry and Imran Khan - may get opportunities to play

Danny Briggs will be the main slow bowler, with Rashid Khan returning for his second season in the T20. I hope leg spinner Will Beer will also get some games.

As for the batting …

I’d like the younger players – Harry Finch, Phil Salt & Tom Haines – to kick on and move their batting averages up to mid 30’s and above. 
Stiaan Van Zyl - the 100^th batsman to score a 100 on Test debut - makes a welcome return from major injury and Delay Rawlins is a batsman to look out for, especially in the T20.
Laurie Evans & Michael Burgess will want to play regularly.

If the two senior batsmen – the Lukes, Wells & Wright – have strong seasons, the batting will take care of itself.

The all-rounders – Club captain & wicket-keeper Ben Brown and David Wiese – had very good seasons in 2018. More of the same, please!

So where will Sussex end up?

In the Royal London cup - 50 overs side games - the last few seasons have been disappointing. Qualification from their Southern group would represent progress for Sussex.

In the Vitality Blast T20 season 2018 saw The Sharks get to Finals Day at Edgbaston, one of the best days cricket I’ve ever seen.

Let’s go back & win the trophy!

And so to the County Championship: anywhere in the Top 3 & hence promotion back to Division 1 will be fine with me!!

But when we all look back on Season 2019, Winning will never provide all the Memories we’ll cherish in the many years ahead.

Winning is better than Losing

But watching a game you love trumps everything

Michael Henderson in The Times, September 2018

As you may know, Jennifer Aniston (aka Rachel Green from Friends) is a Cricket Fan:

So, for me watching Cricket is very much about watching with Friends.

Perhaps your Memories of Season 2018 will come from joining me on the regular Annual Visits.

Across the Thames to Chelmsford or to the Wild West, to Taunton.

New floodlights at the Cooper Associates County Ground

Sussex will have won long before they need to be turned on!!

Of course, you’ll have come along to the Nevill, Tunbridge Wells.

The Lads will be there, at the Railway End.

The Bishopp (2 Ps), the Hardwicks (K & P), Dave Green (“the Best cricketer” with whom I’ve been in the same XI), Ken Fisher (prolific run scorer & wicket taker across the decades) and Roger Clarke (the CB Fry of his age).

And Lady Lambourne will be bringing one of her famous picnics.

Steady on the Salad, Sally!!

And to Arundel too.

Sitting high on the bank looking south across the Duke of Norfolk’s ground.

Under the old oak tree, with time to browse Jon Filby’s bookstall and open a second bottle of red!!

Wasn’t it fun to be at Lords & at the Oval for the big sell out Thursday evening T20 games?

A Jofra hat trick in the final over to win the game at Lords

Did your diary allow you to make some first-ever visits?

To York, where Yorkshire last played in the 1890s.

Or across the Solent to Newclose on the Isle of Wight, where Hampshire play a County game for the first time.

Newclose

Naturally you’ll have had lots & lots of days - & evenings -  at my beloved Hove.

There’ll have been Memories from bygone times of watching Sussex Legends who are natural selections for the Sussex Alltime Dream XI: Young Jim, Lord Ted, Snowy, Greigy, Imran (yes, the one who is the current President of Pakistan!) & Mushie.

And of other Sussex Legends: such as the never-to-be-forgotten Tony Buss (when he was fielding at third man by the pavilion did the tea lady really bring him rock buns & a cup of tea?), Robin Martin-Jenkins and Lewis Hatchett.

Tony Buss

Tony: To the right of Greigy, next to brother Mike

The wicket-keeper looks a pretty decent player to me !!

Maybe your Memories will be of a famous Win: of Sussex winning the Gillette Cup or the Championship.

Or of just a single ball.

Of Chris Adams – the most successful Sussex Captain … in the first 180 years! – hitting Shane Warne for 6 high over the pavilion. They say you could hear the cheer 30 miles away, from Chichester to Hastings !!

Of Tymal Mills charging in down the hill, bowling Chris Gayle – the greatest T20 batsman the world has ever known.

The Million Dollar Ball

So, why not get your diary out & start to make those Memories … …

After all ….

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

See you soon!!

Lord Ric of Beckley Furnace

Follow me on Twitter: LordRic52

PS

Every year brings its own decennial anniversaries. 

Next year 2020 has three of the very biggest: Ruby, Gold & Diamond.

But this Season has the 50^th anniversary of a game I played in; the first time I ever captained.

Saturday 3 May 1969: Skinners’ School away to Ravensbourne.

Look out for the Blog: “Just don’t try it without the 10%”

Spoiler Alert: It went to the very last ball … But you knew that already, didn’t you !!??

Come & watch cricket with me and I’ll tell you the tale