Sussex (A)

[dazedpenguin]

The same squad (and for Hampshire). I wonder if Lawrence could come in even if he's not named in the squad? Unless England are keeping him for his drinks making skills. Even if he's not available for tonight's game, surely he should be available for the Hampshire one?

Harmer, Allison, Cook, Critchley, Das, Khushi, Nijjar, Pepper, Rossington, Sams, Snater, Walter, Westley

[nat]

England will keep DL in the squad through the Ashes. They won't release him to sully his perfect Test match technique with the bish bash bosh stuff.

[dazedpenguin]

 

They’ve just announced that Dan is available after all. He’ll return to the England squad on Saturday (if the match lasts that long).

[JasonP]

Interesting to see who plays tonight.  Lawrence will come in and if Pepper is fit he almost certainly plays aswell.  He was the Essex leading run scorer in both the last 2 seasons.  Lawrence for Allison still gives us 4 seamers plus 3 spinners which should be plenty.  If Pepper does play then either Das, Khushi or Westley will have to miss out.  I think having Westley at 6 has worked well.  He's helped win us a few matches and there is still hitters behind him so he can easily be pushed down if we don't need his type of batting.

[nat]

Interesting to see who plays tonight.  Lawrence will come in and if Pepper is fit he almost certainly plays aswell.  He was the Essex leading run scorer in both the last 2 seasons.  Lawrence for Allison still gives us 4 seamers plus 3 spinners which should be plenty.  If Pepper does play then either Das, Khushi or Westley will have to miss out.  I think having Westley at 6 has worked well.  He's helped win us a few matches and there is still hitters behind him so he can easily be pushed down if we don't need his type of batting.

I'd drop Sams but of course they won't.

[dazedpenguin]

They dropped Allison instead.

Rossington, Lawrence, Das, Critchley, Walter, Khushi, Westley, Sams, Harmer, Snater, Cook

Sussex won the toss and put Essex in.

[dazedpenguin]

I didn't think 164 would be enough, but with Sussex 20/4 after a Harmer hat trick, it's looking a lot more promising.

Good innings from Khushi, Das and Harmer, but Rossington is looking worryingly out of touch.

[Oldhasbeen]

Wotta catch by Dan!!!!

[nat]

Terrific win. Well done.

[dazedpenguin]

Excellent win with fine bowling from the spinners and some great catches.

Hampshire will be tougher, but 2 wins out of 2 is a good start.

[essexspur]

Interesting to see who plays tonight.  Lawrence will come in and if Pepper is fit he almost certainly plays aswell.  He was the Essex leading run scorer in both the last 2 seasons.  Lawrence for Allison still gives us 4 seamers plus 3 spinners which should be plenty.  If Pepper does play then either Das, Khushi or Westley will have to miss out.  I think having Westley at 6 has worked well.  He's helped win us a few matches and there is still hitters behind him so he can easily be pushed down if we don't need his type of batting.

I'd drop Sams but of course they won't.


Just seen this. I assume your comment was a joke

[Reddevil]

Sussex look a very average side but one can only beat what confronts you and Harmer’s hat trick obviously broke the back of their batting.

Two successive wins show Essex resilience, with encouraging knocks rom  our junior batsmen.

Next two matches against Hampshire and Somerset will tell us  if Essex enjoy a meaningful campaign.

Given the notoriously fickle nature of T20s(Hampshire lost their first four matches last year but finished champions) predicting victories is a fool’s game.

Can someone please enlighten me why we are persisting with Rossington, who does not seem to learn from earlier indiscretions and  seems incapable of playing straight.

Having seen his performances in the recent South African T20 series, where his efforts can only be described as embarrassing, how many more chances will he be given?

Surely we have better options.

[JasonP]

Sussex look a very average side but one can only beat what confronts you and Harmer’s hat trick obviously broke the back of their batting.

Two successive wins show Essex resilience, with encouraging knocks rom  our junior batsmen.

Next two matches against Hampshire and Somerset will tell us  if Essex enjoy a meaningful campaign.

Given the notoriously fickle nature of T20s(Hampshire lost their first four matches last year but finished champions) predicting victories is a fool’s game.

Can someone please enlighten me why we are persisting with Rossington, who does not seem to learn from earlier indiscretions and  seems incapable of playing straight.

Having seen his performances in the recent South African T20 series, where his efforts can only be described as embarrassing, how many more chances will he be given?

Surely we have better options.

Rossington was the 8th highest run scorer in the SA T20 tournament.  I’m not sure why you thought his performances were embarrassing?
https://www.espncricinfo.com/records/tournament/batting-most-runs-career/sa20-2022-23-14979

He got a contract in the PSL on the back of it.  He’s been poor for Essex and if he doesn’t  start scoring a few runs soon his place will be under threat.  Although Pepper has a hand  injury, I think?  So Rossington  may be needed to keep wicket.

[SirChef26]

Sussex are a good side, especially bowling wise. We caught their batting on an off-night, no doubt caused by the injury to Ali Orr (a top young player btw). That forced Ravi up the order and he's never been able to open.

Clearly the plans we put in place prior to the match worked a treat e.g Harmer coming on to bowl against Alsop. I can't remember Harmer ever bowling that early before, so I assume it was due to the analysts identifying a statistical weakness of Alsop's against Harmer's off spin.

When Pepper comes back, we've got a decision to make. Personally, I'd give him the gloves, drop Slim Shady and let Khushi and Das open together (or Khushi and Lawrence with Das at four). The kids are alright, so use them or lose them! The lessons they will have learnt tonight batting against the likes of Shadab, Mills and Ravi simply cannot be replicated in second XI cricket.

[bwildered]

 A wins a win.
 Congrats the the Harminator on his hat trick which took the top off the Sharks batting.  Some excellent catches.
 Two in two, unlike the Eagles to start winning from the off .