A roller coster of emotions in Hove, a roller coster which completed a round trip.
Back on the 21 first of September 2021 I watched a tired and depleted Sussex side loose miserably in three days to Derbyshire. The bowling attack was inexperienced and poor, with Sean Hunt conceding 120 runs in just 20 overs, and despite a valiant first innings effort a late order collapse before an absolute capitulation in the second innings rounded up an inning defeat which slumped Sussex to the bottom of the county championship.
This year however the prospects are looking up for Sussex, with the likes of Finn Hudsen Prentice, Rizwan and Pujara to come partnered with last years top total run scorer Tom Haines and 100 test wicket ex-international Steven Finn already in the side and scoring runs and taking wickets, this season could be a lot better for the Martlets.
The tough opponents of last years third place finishing Notts greeted them for an opening clash in Hove and the worry amongst Sussex faithful would be a similar limp defeat getting them off on the wrong foot. However, this wasn't to be the case it seemed, free lance journalist Paul Edwards wrote a glowing article for ESPNcricinfo following day one outlining the significant improvements made by Sussex and hinting at this being a new and refreshed side ready to re-write the storybook and wipe any memories of last year away. This did shape up to be true as Sussex lead by Tom Clark posted a fighting 375 and despite a typical tail ender collapse they seemed optimistic and energised in the field reducing Notts to 54-4 with some high caliber scalps such as Haseeb Hameed and Ben Duckett. Step up however Notts captain Steve Mullaney, who battled through unfavourable conditions to earn himself 80 not out overnight, he continued to build on this score immediately the next morning. Cutting and pulling well and extracting the most he could out of the short boundary. With young Joey Evison looking right at home at the crease the pair amassed a crunching 149 run partnership, destroying the Sussex attack and stealing out right pole in the game. Notts declared on 534/9 after Evison reached his century and Sussex seemed demoralized and downcast exiting the field. However, the game wasn't over. Yes a win was off the cards but bat well overnight and into Sunday and a morale rising draw against the div 2 favourites could be on the card. This wasn't to be the case.
Tom Haines began on the same foot that he left off last year, commencing his defence of most county championship runs last year with an encouraging 59 off 102 balls. The same couldn't be followed in the second innings as sharp, attacking bowling provided by Lyndon James gifted Notts the valuable wicket of Haines costing them just 14 runs. Ali Orr looked the measure of class once again, grinding hard and unfazed in a fabulous given the circumstances 41 off an astonishing 161 balls. Partners just couldn't be found as the same Sussex who looked depleted and downcast exiting the field of play after their bowling innings carried this attitude to the crease. The first three wickets combining for just 59. Bearing in mind Notts lost their tailsman bowler Luke Fletcher after just one over their attack was seemingly depleted but this didn't play out to be so. Hutton, James and Patteson-White each bowled world class taking three wickets apiece. Sussex by contrast were tamed to quite ordinary and had a bizarre rush about their batting throughout the final innings calamities. Minor partnerships partially stemmed the bleeding but nothing of note as Sussex were humbled to an embarrassing 172-9 (Daniel Ibrahim didn't bat second time around as he was absent hurt) and they lost by and ten wickets with Notts getting to 14-0 unscathed. So a 'reborn' and 'rejuvenated' Sussex ended up slipping right back to the humiliations of last year in what was a round trip in round one.
My takeaways:
Notts look formidable, runs could come from any of their experienced and international capped top and middle order, and even while missing fletcher and Broad they still bowled destructively winning themselves the match.
Sussex showed improvements, runs could come from others then Haines in the first innings and wickets were shared between Finn, Atkins and Crocombe. With Hudsen-Prentice, Rizwan and Pujara to come there is a lot of potential for this side.
The second innings followed a similar theme to last year for Sussex, if Tom Haines gets out early everyone else follows suit.
So, thats all, a disappointing match one for Sussex but don't loose hope. There are still 13 matches to play and lots of talent to come. As for Notts, their promotion and title bids seem right in check and they will be the ones to beat this year.
Thanks for reading and be sure to keep watching the County Championship!
T
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