England keeping tabs on Robinson
ESPNcricinfo previews Sussex's prospects for the 2014 season
George Dobell
02-Apr-2014
Matt Prior will hope to make a big noise for Sussex after a deflating Ashes tour • Getty Images
Last year
3rd, CC Div 1; Group stages, FLt20; Third in Group A, YB40.
3rd, CC Div 1; Group stages, FLt20; Third in Group A, YB40.
2013 in a nutshell
Unbeaten after 10 games, Sussex were genuine contenders for the title until suffering three defeats in the next four games, including a second-innings collapse which cost them their home match against Derbyshire. Still, a third-place finish would be considered highly satisfactory at most clubs. Sussex, however, have raised the bar of expectation to a remarkably high level after a decade or so of unprecedented success and there were times, incredibly, when some supporters questioned the position of their director of cricket, Mark Robinson. That having been said, Sussex did have an uncharacteristically awful season in the FLt20 - they won only one game and lost nine; the worst record in the country - and, despite some impressive performances in the YB40 (not least from Luke Wright, Ed Joyce and Matt Machan), three successive losses halfway through the campaign proved fatal to their chances of progressing. The progress of Chris Jordan, benefitting from his move into the benevolent Sussex environment to fulfil his previously latent talent, the sustained excellence of Steve Magoffin and the support of the admirable James Anyon gave Sussex one of the most potent seam attacks in the country, while Joyce and Chris Nash provided the foundations of a strong batting line-up. Michael Yardy also returned to something like his old self, while Luke Wells continued his progression. The decline and eventual loss of Monty Panesar was a major blow and left Sussex without an effective spin option and Rory Hamilton-Brown struggled to make the impact that was expected.
Unbeaten after 10 games, Sussex were genuine contenders for the title until suffering three defeats in the next four games, including a second-innings collapse which cost them their home match against Derbyshire. Still, a third-place finish would be considered highly satisfactory at most clubs. Sussex, however, have raised the bar of expectation to a remarkably high level after a decade or so of unprecedented success and there were times, incredibly, when some supporters questioned the position of their director of cricket, Mark Robinson. That having been said, Sussex did have an uncharacteristically awful season in the FLt20 - they won only one game and lost nine; the worst record in the country - and, despite some impressive performances in the YB40 (not least from Luke Wright, Ed Joyce and Matt Machan), three successive losses halfway through the campaign proved fatal to their chances of progressing. The progress of Chris Jordan, benefitting from his move into the benevolent Sussex environment to fulfil his previously latent talent, the sustained excellence of Steve Magoffin and the support of the admirable James Anyon gave Sussex one of the most potent seam attacks in the country, while Joyce and Chris Nash provided the foundations of a strong batting line-up. Michael Yardy also returned to something like his old self, while Luke Wells continued his progression. The decline and eventual loss of Monty Panesar was a major blow and left Sussex without an effective spin option and Rory Hamilton-Brown struggled to make the impact that was expected.
2014 prospects
At full strength, Sussex have an impressive side. Nash misses the start of the season following a ruptured appendix but Matt Prior and Luke Wright should also be available more often, while much is expected of Ashar Zaidi and Machan. There are still worries about the spin options and doubts about the strength of the attack when Jordan is away with England - as seems likely - or if Magoffin is rested. The fact that Magoffin does not play limited-overs cricket is also an issue. Panesar's absence will necessitate a change in the balance of the attack, with the club likely to rely more on all-rounders. They are in a difficult group in both limited-overs competitions, but Yasir Arafat returns and Jon Lewis has been recruited to improve the death bowling. Bringing in players of such a vintage does raise questions about the value of Sussex's own youth system, but the club argue that they have brought three new, locally-developed players into the squad and currently have a ratio of about 12:22 who have, in one way or another, come through their system. Sussex will also be celebrating their 175th anniversary during the season - they are holding a birthday party on June 1 - and marking the centenary of the outbreak of the Great War with a ceremony honouring the 10 players from the club and the secretary who died.
At full strength, Sussex have an impressive side. Nash misses the start of the season following a ruptured appendix but Matt Prior and Luke Wright should also be available more often, while much is expected of Ashar Zaidi and Machan. There are still worries about the spin options and doubts about the strength of the attack when Jordan is away with England - as seems likely - or if Magoffin is rested. The fact that Magoffin does not play limited-overs cricket is also an issue. Panesar's absence will necessitate a change in the balance of the attack, with the club likely to rely more on all-rounders. They are in a difficult group in both limited-overs competitions, but Yasir Arafat returns and Jon Lewis has been recruited to improve the death bowling. Bringing in players of such a vintage does raise questions about the value of Sussex's own youth system, but the club argue that they have brought three new, locally-developed players into the squad and currently have a ratio of about 12:22 who have, in one way or another, come through their system. Sussex will also be celebrating their 175th anniversary during the season - they are holding a birthday party on June 1 - and marking the centenary of the outbreak of the Great War with a ceremony honouring the 10 players from the club and the secretary who died.
Key player
Ashar Zaidi is an intriguing signing. A batting all-rounder who bowls left-arm spin, Sussex have high hopes that he will bolster the middle-order and go a bit of the way towards replacing the overs provided by Panesar. A 32-year-old who was born in Pakistan and has played much of his first-class cricket there, Ashar has a British passport and is not considered as an overseas player. He could prove to be a wise recruitment.
Ashar Zaidi is an intriguing signing. A batting all-rounder who bowls left-arm spin, Sussex have high hopes that he will bolster the middle-order and go a bit of the way towards replacing the overs provided by Panesar. A 32-year-old who was born in Pakistan and has played much of his first-class cricket there, Ashar has a British passport and is not considered as an overseas player. He could prove to be a wise recruitment.
Bright young thing
Luke Wells appears to have the temperament, the technique and the class to go on to play at the highest level. Now aged 23, he has struggled to maintain consistency throughout a season, but continues to improve and, while he may be behind the likes of Sam Robson in the scramble for an England place, he remains an excellent long-term prospect.
Luke Wells appears to have the temperament, the technique and the class to go on to play at the highest level. Now aged 23, he has struggled to maintain consistency throughout a season, but continues to improve and, while he may be behind the likes of Sam Robson in the scramble for an England place, he remains an excellent long-term prospect.
Captain/coach
Mark Robinson remains the director of cricket, but a role within the new England set-up cannot be ruled out. Few rivals for the England job will have won as many trophies and Robinson's time with England Lions has earned him an excellent reputation within the ECB. Ed Joyce is the club captain. Nash deputises when he is away on Ireland duty.
Mark Robinson remains the director of cricket, but a role within the new England set-up cannot be ruled out. Few rivals for the England job will have won as many trophies and Robinson's time with England Lions has earned him an excellent reputation within the ECB. Ed Joyce is the club captain. Nash deputises when he is away on Ireland duty.
ESPNcricinfo verdict
Directors of cricket at other counties sometimes describe Sussex as a benchmark team: finish above them and you should be vying for the title; finish below and relegation might be a danger. It remains a fitting description. An improvement in T20 cricket seems likely and, though injuries or England call-ups could hurt, Sussex remain a decent side in all formats.
Directors of cricket at other counties sometimes describe Sussex as a benchmark team: finish above them and you should be vying for the title; finish below and relegation might be a danger. It remains a fitting description. An improvement in T20 cricket seems likely and, though injuries or England call-ups could hurt, Sussex remain a decent side in all formats.
George Dobell is a senior correspondent at ESPNcricinfo