Author Topic: Sussex H - 2026  (Read 138 times)

Offline JasonP

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Sussex H - 2026
« on: May 18, 2026, 06:35:58 PM »
First match on Friday.  We were the worst team in the comp last year and it's certainly the format we are least suited to.  It's hard to see us going much better this season.  Our bowlers are all better red ball bowlers than white ball.  We don't have one specialist white ball bowler, really.  It was awful last year and the one decent bowler we had, Amir, isn't back.  The batting lacks firepower aswell.  No Allison for the first 4 matches and probably no Cox for the same period.  Pepper, along with Cox our best T20 batter, is not in form.
The team for the first few matches may well be something like?

Elgar
Walter
Pepper
Critchley
Mulder
Benkenstein
Harmer
Thain
Snater
Akhtar
Cook

Looks very weak.  Akhtar has played little T20 but will probably get a chance.  Cook and Snater will almost certainly be rested at times as well.  So Bennett or Killeen may play at times.
« Last Edit: May 19, 2026, 02:42:37 PM by bwildered »

Offline SirChef26

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Re: Sussex H
« Reply #1 on: May 18, 2026, 07:32:26 PM »
The biggest insult I can give regarding that line-up is that I expect Middlesex to turn us over!

Offline dazedpenguin

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Re: Sussex H
« Reply #2 on: May 18, 2026, 10:16:42 PM »
First match on Friday.  We were the worst team in the comp last year and it's certainly the format we are least suited to.  It's hard to see us going much better this season.  Our bowlers are all better red ball bowlers than white ball.  We don't have one specialist white ball bowler, really.  It was awful last year and the one decent bowler we had, Amir, isn't back.  The batting lacks firepower aswell.  No Allison for the first 4 matches and probably no Cox for the same period.  Pepper, along with Cox our best T20 batter, is not in form.
The team for the first few matches may well be something like?

Elgar
Walter
Pepper
Critchley
Mulder
Benkenstein
Harmer
Thain
Snater
Akhtar
Cook

Looks very weak.  Akhtar has played little T20 but will probably get a chance.  Cook and Snater will almost certainly be rested at times as well.  So Bennett or Killeen may play at times.

I didn't realise Allison was out. I think it's worth giving Das a go to open rather than Elgar, or possibly giving Fernandes the gloves to allow Pepper to concentrate on batting? Maybe Thain can be pushed up the order? With no Cox and no Allison, it's all looking a little lacking in spark.

Offline vim

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Re: Sussex H
« Reply #3 on: May 19, 2026, 07:10:11 AM »
With Das opening, the silly shot will be over and done with a lot earlier. That will remove the sense of anticipation.

Offline JasonP

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Re: Sussex H
« Reply #4 on: May 19, 2026, 11:06:33 AM »
First match on Friday.  We were the worst team in the comp last year and it's certainly the format we are least suited to.  It's hard to see us going much better this season.  Our bowlers are all better red ball bowlers than white ball.  We don't have one specialist white ball bowler, really.  It was awful last year and the one decent bowler we had, Amir, isn't back.  The batting lacks firepower aswell.  No Allison for the first 4 matches and probably no Cox for the same period.  Pepper, along with Cox our best T20 batter, is not in form.
The team for the first few matches may well be something like?

Elgar
Walter
Pepper
Critchley
Mulder
Benkenstein
Harmer
Thain
Snater
Akhtar
Cook

Looks very weak.  Akhtar has played little T20 but will probably get a chance.  Cook and Snater will almost certainly be rested at times as well.  So Bennett or Killeen may play at times.

I didn't realise Allison was out. I think it's worth giving Das a go to open rather than Elgar, or possibly giving Fernandes the gloves to allow Pepper to concentrate on batting? Maybe Thain can be pushed up the order? With no Cox and no Allison, it's all looking a little lacking in spark.

Critchley opened in the 50 over comp last year so if Elgar doesn't play then they may open with him.  He's actually been really poor over the last 2 or 3 years in T20 so maybe they could try him in a different position.

Offline vim

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Re: Sussex H
« Reply #5 on: May 19, 2026, 11:22:25 AM »
Can the performance improve on last season, that there is not a competition with the teams in other groups. As to who will get the wooden spoon.

Offline nat

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Re: Sussex H
« Reply #6 on: May 19, 2026, 11:25:08 AM »
Could be worse. Middx have signed Rosso.

Offline vim

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Re: Sussex H
« Reply #7 on: May 19, 2026, 11:32:40 AM »
Middlesex must be mad or desperate, or perhaps both.

Offline dazedpenguin

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Re: Sussex H
« Reply #8 on: May 19, 2026, 11:50:51 AM »
Could be worse. Middx have signed Rosso.

A hundred incoming against Essex no doubt*

*Or perhaps lots of doubt.

Offline vim

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Re: Sussex H
« Reply #9 on: May 19, 2026, 12:16:05 PM »
We may be thinking, when we play Middlesex. Is this the same Rossington?