Extra excitement but Sussex need substance
ESPNcricinfo previews Sussex's chances ahead of the 2015 season
David Hopps
08-Apr-2015
Tymal Mills could turn out to be the signing of the season • PA Photos
Last season
County Championship: 3rd Div 1; NatWest Blast: 7th South Group; Royal London Cup: 8th Group B
County Championship: 3rd Div 1; NatWest Blast: 7th South Group; Royal London Cup: 8th Group B
IN: Tymal Mills (Essex), Ajmal Shahzad (Nottinghamshire)
OUT: Jon Lewis, Rory Hamilton-Brown (both retired)
OVERSEAS: Steve Magoffin, Mahela Jayawardene
OUT: Jon Lewis, Rory Hamilton-Brown (both retired)
OVERSEAS: Steve Magoffin, Mahela Jayawardene
2014 in a nutshell
Sussex have been one of the most consistent counties over the past decade but there is a sizeable leap between being a vague contender and a winner. Too often Sussex suffered for a lack of strength in depth, being overly reliant in the Championship on Ed Joyce with the bat (1398 runs at 66.57 last season) and Steve Magoffin with the ball (72 wickets at 19.51), both admirable county cricketers of quality. Luke Wright also had a swashbuckling season with the bat in all competitions, but Sussex's limited-overs campaigns were best forgotten. Rory Hamilton-Brown retired: a career that briefly burned brightly, only to be touched by personal sadness.
Sussex have been one of the most consistent counties over the past decade but there is a sizeable leap between being a vague contender and a winner. Too often Sussex suffered for a lack of strength in depth, being overly reliant in the Championship on Ed Joyce with the bat (1398 runs at 66.57 last season) and Steve Magoffin with the ball (72 wickets at 19.51), both admirable county cricketers of quality. Luke Wright also had a swashbuckling season with the bat in all competitions, but Sussex's limited-overs campaigns were best forgotten. Rory Hamilton-Brown retired: a career that briefly burned brightly, only to be touched by personal sadness.
2015 prospects
What Sussex could do with is the sight of a bullish Matt Prior announcing as the chill goes out of an English spring that he has recovered from an Achilles injury, is eager to resume his county career and that his cycling ambitions have necessarily been downgraded for a while - but the former England keeper has admitted that his cricket career is on the line and nothing can be taken for granted. Sussex need extra runs from somewhere - Craig Cachopa and Matt Machan perhaps. The same is true of the bowling where Magoffin also needs support. Tymal Mills, a hulking left-arm quick from Essex, and Ajmal Shahzad, latterly with Notts, are two Yorkshire-born pace bowlers who have never fulfilled their potential and England will be eager to see strides forward for Mills, who they have long admired.
What Sussex could do with is the sight of a bullish Matt Prior announcing as the chill goes out of an English spring that he has recovered from an Achilles injury, is eager to resume his county career and that his cycling ambitions have necessarily been downgraded for a while - but the former England keeper has admitted that his cricket career is on the line and nothing can be taken for granted. Sussex need extra runs from somewhere - Craig Cachopa and Matt Machan perhaps. The same is true of the bowling where Magoffin also needs support. Tymal Mills, a hulking left-arm quick from Essex, and Ajmal Shahzad, latterly with Notts, are two Yorkshire-born pace bowlers who have never fulfilled their potential and England will be eager to see strides forward for Mills, who they have long admired.
Power brokers
Mark Robinson was held to be in the running as England assistant coach had he been a more natural side guy to Peter Moores. Lions duties in South Africa suggested England still think highly of him, and his reputation for skilfully rescuing faltering careers - with Chris Jordan's name to the fore - will be tested in different ways by both Mills and Shahzad. Luke Wright is an ebullient limited-overs captain whose career has matured despite England's recent loss of interest and Joyce offers solidity as Championship captain.
Mark Robinson was held to be in the running as England assistant coach had he been a more natural side guy to Peter Moores. Lions duties in South Africa suggested England still think highly of him, and his reputation for skilfully rescuing faltering careers - with Chris Jordan's name to the fore - will be tested in different ways by both Mills and Shahzad. Luke Wright is an ebullient limited-overs captain whose career has matured despite England's recent loss of interest and Joyce offers solidity as Championship captain.
Key player
If Tymal Mills loses his radar running down the hill at Hove then the results could be quite spectacular, but if Robinson helps him make the most of his great physical strength and adds accuracy and devilment to an ability to bowl fast then Sussex could have pulled off the signing of the season. He would not be the first player to leave Essex and better himself elsewhere. After the World Cup, left-armers have never been trendier, and while England chew over the likes of Harry Gurney and Mark Footitt, the sight of Mills knocking over a few batting orders would probably thrill them more than anything.
If Tymal Mills loses his radar running down the hill at Hove then the results could be quite spectacular, but if Robinson helps him make the most of his great physical strength and adds accuracy and devilment to an ability to bowl fast then Sussex could have pulled off the signing of the season. He would not be the first player to leave Essex and better himself elsewhere. After the World Cup, left-armers have never been trendier, and while England chew over the likes of Harry Gurney and Mark Footitt, the sight of Mills knocking over a few batting orders would probably thrill them more than anything.
Bright young thing
Considering their elevated Championship finish, Sussex are not exactly replete with youthful talent impressing on a daily basis, so it is hard to look past Craig Cachopa, a 23-year-old South African born New Zealander. He made a solid impression on his introduction to Championship cricket last season and passed fifty in five of his first 10 innings. That was enough to win him a two-year deal for a Sussex side that needs reliable top-order runs. Among the bowlers, Matt Hobden is a name to watch.
Considering their elevated Championship finish, Sussex are not exactly replete with youthful talent impressing on a daily basis, so it is hard to look past Craig Cachopa, a 23-year-old South African born New Zealander. He made a solid impression on his introduction to Championship cricket last season and passed fifty in five of his first 10 innings. That was enough to win him a two-year deal for a Sussex side that needs reliable top-order runs. Among the bowlers, Matt Hobden is a name to watch.
ESPNcricinfo verdict
The odds suggest that Sussex still lack the depth to make a concerted challenge in any of the three competitions. They might rustle up enough runs, especially if Prior returns and Chris Nash recovers his form of old, and Mahela Jayawardene will be a joy to watch in the NatWest Blast, but their fast bowling looks a thing of great unpredictability - and Magoffin, as indefatigable as he is, needs help. A mix of great victories and bad defeats is the likely outcome, but there are few more charming places to watch county cricket than Hove and that should keep most of the spectators reasonably content.
The odds suggest that Sussex still lack the depth to make a concerted challenge in any of the three competitions. They might rustle up enough runs, especially if Prior returns and Chris Nash recovers his form of old, and Mahela Jayawardene will be a joy to watch in the NatWest Blast, but their fast bowling looks a thing of great unpredictability - and Magoffin, as indefatigable as he is, needs help. A mix of great victories and bad defeats is the likely outcome, but there are few more charming places to watch county cricket than Hove and that should keep most of the spectators reasonably content.
Bet365 odds: Championship, Div 1: 7-1; NatWest Blast: 16-1; Royal London Cup: 12-1
David Hopps is the UK editor of ESPNcricinfo @davidkhopps