Sussex H - 2026

[JasonP]

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.

[SirChef26]

The biggest insult I can give regarding that line-up is that I expect Middlesex to turn us over!

[dazedpenguin]

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.

[vim]

With Das opening, the silly shot will be over and done with a lot earlier. That will remove the sense of anticipation.

[JasonP]

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.

[vim]

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.

[nat]

Could be worse. Middx have signed Rosso.

[vim]

Middlesex must be mad or desperate, or perhaps both.

[dazedpenguin]

Could be worse. Middx have signed Rosso.

A hundred incoming against Essex no doubt*

*Or perhaps lots of doubt.

[vim]

We may be thinking, when we play Middlesex. Is this the same Rossington?

[JasonP]

We play Sussex on Friday and I noticed today they warmed up today against Berkshire where a guy called Johnny Connell who has been playing for Essex 2nds over the last couple of seasons made 121 off 53 balls against them.  Hard to see Das, Elgar etc ever doing that.

https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/?tab=m_scorecard#m0a7dc617-396c-4355-badf-ab3876e845f9

[vim]

Can performances against a minor guide be taken a good guide to ability.

[nat]

Can performances against a minor guide be taken a good guide to ability.

He's got ability, don't you worry about that.

[Perov]

Got 5 for the seconds today in a T20 match  against  Kent. Fernandes got 49, with 4x6's, but is not keeping wicket. Essex 175 after 20 overs. Das failed again.

[dazedpenguin]

Squad:

Harmer, Akhter, Benkenstein, Bennett, Critchley, Das, Fernandes, Jones, Mulder, Pepper, Snater, Thain, Walter

"Sam Cook is unavailable due to suffering a fracture on his wrist during training this week. He will be working closely with our medical team as he goes through rehabilitation and recovery.". Just get fit for the red ball stuff Sam.