Horsham Cricket Festival Brochure 2012

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HorSHAM Festival 2012

Sussex County Cricket Club

HOrSHAM Festival 2012

Official Festival Brochure ÂŁ3

Wed June 6 - Sat 9: LV=CC Division One Sussex CCC v surrey CCC Sun june 10: CB40 league DIvision 1 Sussex Sharks v Derbyshire Falcons

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HorSHAM Festival 2012

A warm welcome to the 2012 Horsham Festival Contents 5 Welcome to Horsham from Dave Brooks

Festival weeks are part of the gentle rhythms of the English cricket season and here in Sussex we are fortunate to stage two of the best. At Horsham this year, we are delighted to welcome our near neighbours Surrey in the LV County Championship followed on Sunday by Clydesdale Bank 40 action against Derbyshire Falcons. We hope you will enjoy this year’s Festival Brochure and find plenty to amuse and entertain you over the next five days. Surrey’s Team Director Chris Adams is, of course, a familiar face to Sussex supporters and, as he explains on page 26, he is particularly fond of Cricketfield Road. So too are Chris Nash and Ben Brown, who both learned their cricket here. They are both profiled while Martin Read looks back at the long history

of cricket at Horsham. Did you know that the club is older than the MCC itself? Surrey’s Pat Pocock remembers the most remarkable county performance of his career on a Sussex outground (a clue: it wasn’t Horsham!) and we look back at some of the memorable games and performances here at Cricketfield Road. We also profile both the Surrey and Derbyshire squads and talk to Martin Guptill, part of a renaissance this season with the Falcons. Could we see a repeat of last year’s run feast again this Sunday? Whatever happens, enjoy this brochure and more importantly what we all hope will be five enjoyable days of cricket – with two Sussex victories at the end of it!

6-7: Why Ben Brown loves outgrounds 9: Festival Cricket at Arundel 10-11: Six great games at Horsham 13: Horsham records 14-15: Horsham’s incredible legacy 17: Meet Surrey 20: Chris Adams: Home from home 23: Pat Pocock’s world record day 26: Chris Nash: Home again 28: Horsham or the Olympics: No contest! 33: My Other Sport: Amjad Khan 36: Derbyshire’s cracking Kiwi 39: Horsham Memories

www.pinnacle.uk.com • 08707 707 765 • info@pinnacle.uk.com Sussex County Cricket Club & Pinnacle wish to thank the advertisers who appear in this publication for their support and wish them every business success. The contents of this brochure are believed to be correct at the time of printing, nevertheless, we cannot endorse and readers should not rely solely upon the accuracy of any statements or claims contained herein without prior consultation with the service provider.

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44: Sussex Gold: Ian Thomson 47: Prior appointment at Sussex Cricket World 48: Aggers’ Festival Memories 50: Sussex results and fixtures

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HorSHAM Festival 2012

Welcome to Horsham By Dave Brooks, Chief Executive Welcome to our first outground Festival of 2012 – don’t you just love Festival cricket? And this year we have the afterglow from the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Bank Holiday celebrations, the good fortune to be staging a game during school half term and the joy of hosting our most local of local rivals in Surrey. This match takes us to the halfway stage in the LV County Championship but it really feels like the season has only just begun! After the stinkingly wet weather of late April and early May which decimated our

form of the game is. And Horsham is a great tradition with its fast outfield, the quintessential “Beer Tent”, typically extended Pavilion and –the highlight for me – the wonderful Horsham Ladies Cake Marquee on Sunday. It is almost as great as the Ladies Pavilion at Worcester where they offer the most wonderful tea and cake every day. Oh, I can hear the sighs of joy from Test Match Special now- if only they were here! And for me it is a throwback to days of yore in the cake industry before the tranquil

Horsham is a great tradition with its fast outfield, the quintessential “Beer Tent”, typically extended Pavilion and the wonderful Horsham Ladies Cake Marquee matches at Hove against Warwickshire, the shivering West Indies and Lancashire it feels like we are three weeks into the season not halfway through it. We had a stopstart April as well and it takes time to get “battle-hardened” in those circumstances. But still, here we are – all rocked up and ready to go in our last Championship game before the Friends Life Twenty20 campaign gets underway. This week is about the traditions of cricket rather than the progressive innovation that the shortened

waters of cricket. Good to look back – if only to remind ourselves how lucky we are to be here right now! Anyway, let’s not wish the Festival away as Cake Day is sadly the last day so have a great Festival and watch your beloved Sussex give it a right good go against Surrey and the Derbyshire Falcons. Enjoy, Enjoy, Enjoy Dave Brooks, Chief Executive

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HorSHAM Festival 2012

Far from the madding crowd Ben Brown loves playing at outgrounds and it’s not hard to see why given his record in Festival fixtures. By Steve Hollis Horsham will always have a special place in Ben Brown’s heart. The wicketkeeper has every reason to love Cricketfield Road having achieved a significant personal milestone at the picturesque outground. Brown scored his maiden first class century against Derbyshire at Horsham in August 2010 in what was only his fifth appearance in the County Championship. The 23-year-old cracked 112 – still his highest score – off 125 balls to underline the potential that had been clear to see while he was coming through the ranks at Sussex. If that wasn’t special enough the fact that he was also part of a record-breaking collective effort made it even more memorable. Ed Joyce and Chris Nash had already completed their own hundreds in a first wicket stand of 294 when Brown finally came to the crease. The former Ardingly College pupil then put on 145 with Murray Goodwin who also made a ton. It was the first time the top four had all made it to three figures in a first-class match for Sussex – a record that will take some beating. Brown said: “It was one of those games when everything seems to go your way and they don’t come around very often. Ed and Chris set things up by playing really well at the top of the order

Surprisingly, Brown does not rate that innings as his best for Sussex. Instead he feels the 108 he made against a good Yorkshire attack to get Sussex out of trouble at Scarborough eclipses it. But he acknowledges that his maiden ton at Horsham was crucial in giving him the confidence to play at the highest level. “It is a relief to get your first Championship hundred,” Brown added. “Once you’ve done it once, it gives you the confidence and belief that you can do it again. “The century at Horsham is up there as one of my best moments in my career but my second one at Scarborough gave me more satisfaction because of “I love playing at Horsham, the situation the team was in during that game.” because it has a good wicket and Brown is hoping for some more special moments to remember this week when Sussex take on is in a really pretty setting” Surrey in the Championship at Cricketfield Road. That is followed by the visit of – you guessed it – at the same time - excitement, relief and pride. Derbyshire in the CB40 on Sunday which is sure to “I tried to make sure I took it all in with the bring some memories flooding back. appreciation from the crowd as it was such a “I love playing at Horsham,” Brown continued. “It special moment. My mum was there watching is my favourite out-ground because it has a good which made it extra nice. wicket and is in a really pretty setting, especially “It was amazing to be part of history too. I didn’t when the sun is shining. really realise it at the time, it was only at the end “It is the game I always look out for when the of the game when people started to come up to myself and the other three guys that it sunk in how fixtures are released and it will have an extra edge this year because Surrey are the opponents. special it was.” which allowed me to come in and play my natural game. “I went out there and fortunately a few boundaries came early on and I was able to build on that. It was nerve-racking when I got close to my century and I felt a huge wave of relief when I finally got there. “I knew I had played well and a century was there for the taking. The bowlers were tired and the field was out so it was a matter of keeping my concentration and being clinical. “When I got to 100 I was so happy. It was a brilliant feeling. I experienced a lot of emotions all


HorSHAM Festival 2012

“There is a bit of rivalry between the two sides. They are probably the polar opposite of us because they are a Test ground county but arguably we are the bigger club because of what we have achieved in recent years.� Steve Hollis writes on Sussex cricket for The Argus

Moment to savour: Ben Brown acknowledges the Horsham crowd after scoring his maiden Championship hundred two years ago

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HorSHAM Festival 2012

six memorable matches Bruce Talbot remembers some of the memorable encounters in 112 years of first-class cricket at Horsham 1908 June 15, 1908 and Sussex play their first county match at Cricketfield Road. For many years June, or even late May, was the traditional time for the county’s first out-ground cricket of the summer and that inevitably meant rain interruptions. There was no play in this game on the last day after Sussex had batted first and made 298. Three of the top four – Joe Vine, who passed 12,000 firstclass runs in this match, and the Relf brothers Robert and Albert – made fifties while Charles Benham took 7 for 60 for Essex, the best figures of his career. Essex could only manage two overs of their reply before the rain intervened. 1926 George Cox senior, who lived in nearby Warnham, produced the best bowling performance of his long career at the age of 52, taking 17 Warwickshire wickets as Sussex won a thrilling Festival game in the last over. Cox took 8-56 in the first innings and did even better in the second as only Bert Wensley denied him all ten wickets. He finished with match figures of 17-106 from 75.3 overs, 36 of which had been maidens. His second innings return of 9-50

has been bettered only seven times in the county’s history. Amazingly, in the second match of Festival week Cox took 6-45 against Gloucestershire. 1934 Jack Hobbs, acknowledged by many as the finest batsmen in the history of the game, was in search of his 200th first-class hundred when he arrived at Cricketfield Road but at 51 age had finally caught up with The Master. Sussex beat Hobbs’s Surrey by nine wickets and Hobbs made 34 and 79 in the second innings before he was run out. The Times’ journalist Dudley Carew noted: “Where before everything had been free and masterful, there was now an intolerable sense of strain and frustration. For the man that was made for greatness, greatness that day was not in him.” Two centuries were scored, though, by Sussex openers John Langridge and Jim Parks senior.


HorSHAM Festival 2012 1983 After a gap of 27 years Championship cricket returned to Horsham with a bang as Lancashire won a thrilling three-day tussle by 54 runs. Frank Hayes made 149 as Lancashire scored 312 for 6 and then Mike Watkinson took six wickets as Sussex plunged to 38 for 5 before recovering to make 230. Lancashire built on their lead of 82 by making 172 despite five wickets for Tony Pigott, leaving Sussex to chase 255 to win. They came up well short despite 75 from Paul Parker and were dismissed for 200 in 48.2 overs. Sussex captain John Barclay took his 250th first-class wicket in this game.

2004 History was made when Sussex all-rounder Kevin Innes (a coach in Northamptonshire’s academy these days) became the first 12th man in firstclass cricket to score a century. Under new ECB regulations, counties were allowed to nominate a replacement for England players and before James Kirtley, who had been released from the Test squad, could return to play Innes had become one of three batsmen alongside Richard Montgomerie and Matt Prior to score centuries as Sussex made 619, a new ground record.

Prior went from 98 to 133 in ten balls while for opener Monty it was his third successive ton at Horsham. Mushtaq Ahmed then took centre stage, although Kevin Pietersen briefly threatened to upstage him with a 75-ball hundred. Mushy finished with match figures of 12 for 244, the best figures by a Sussex spinner since Hemmings wrought havoc on the same ground a decade earlier. 2010 One of Sussex’s easiest wins in recent years came here two years ago as dispirited Derbyshire was despatched inside three days. And again Cricketfield Road was the scene of a record as Chris Nash, Ed Joyce, Ben Brown and Murray Goodwin all scored centuries, the first instance that had happened to Sussex’s top four batsmen and only the fourth occasion in firstclass history and just the second since 1920. Derbyshire were rudderless without ill skipper Chris Rogers whose replacement Paul Borrington made just two after he had flown down from a second-team game in Manchester to replace him. Derbyshire failed to take a bowling bonus point as Sussex established a lead of 334 before dismissing their visitors for 225 between the showers on the third day, Corey Collymore taking four wickets. “Men against boys” was the assessment of Derbyshire skipper Chris Rogers. He wasn’t wrong.

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HorSHAM Festival 2012

RECORDS AT HORSHAM County Championship matches Highest totals 619-7 dec: Sussex v Nottinghamshire 2003 600-6 dec: Warwickshire v Sussex 2004 593: Derbyshire v Sussex 1998 Lowest totals

254 (4th): Kim Barnett and Matt Cassar, Derbyshire v Sussex 1998 243 (3rd): Alec Stewart and Graham Thorpe, Surrey v Sussex 1995 187 (2nd): Alan Green and Paul Parker, Sussex v Surrey 1985 Most wickets in a match

35: Sussex v Glamorgan 1946 51: Leicestershire v Sussex 1924 57: Worcestershire v Sussex 1924

17-106: George Cox, Sussex v Warwickshire 1926 13-68: Maurice Tate, Sussex v Nottinghamshire 1923 12-58: Eddie Hemmings, Sussex v Leicestershire, 1993 12-114: Maurice Tate, Sussex v Worcestershire, 1924 12-133: George Tribe, Northamptonshire v Sussex, 1952

Highest individual scores

Best bowling in an innings

262* Ian Bell, Warwickshire v Sussex 2004 224 Phil Mead, Hampshire v Sussex 1921 193 Chris Adams, Sussex v Durham 2007 183 Ed Joyce, Sussex v Nottinghamshire 2009 179 Dennis Brookes, Northamptonshire v Sussex 1948 176 Ted Bowley, Sussex v Warwickshire 1925 175* Jim Parks, Sussex v Cambridge University 1955 174* David Sheppard, Sussex v Glamorgan 1953 There have been a total of 100 first-class hundreds scored at Horsham

9-35: Vince Broderick, Northamptonshire v Sussex, 1948 9-50: George Cox, Sussex v Warwickshire 1926 8-18: Maurice Tate, Sussex v Worcestershire, 1924 8-30: Maurice Tate, Sussex v Glamorgan 1923 8-56: George Cox, Sussex v Warwickshire, 1926 8-68: Maurice Tate, Sussex v Kent 1927

Highest partnership for each wicket 294 (1st): Ed Joyce and Chris Nash, Sussex v Derbyshire, 2010 289 (7th): Ian Bell and Tony Frost, Warwickshire v Sussex 2004

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HorSHAM Festival 2012

Horsham’s incredible legacy Horsham CC pre-date the MCC and can be justifiably proud of their contribution to the game as Martin Read discovers. Any club founded in 1771 – pre-dating the MCC – and staging county cricket for 104 years has clearly figured prominently in the development of the game. Horsham can be justifiably proud of their heritage, but a look beyond those bare facts reveals the extraordinary contribution made by the club. Apart from winning the Sussex Premier League eight times and the cup on a record 11 occasions, Horsham also carried off the Cockspur Cup at Lord’s in 2005. The club has also out-punched its weight in the international and domestic game. Tim May, now Chief Executive of the Federation of International Cricket Associations, cut his teeth at Horsham before going on to play 71 Tests and one-day internationals for Australia. Compatriot David Hussey played for Horsham before progressing to Nottinghamshire and then joining his brother Michael in their one-day side. More recently, Michael Bates has broken into the New Zealand one-day and T20 teams. Domestically, a long line of Horsham players have played for Sussex – from the Coxes, George Senior and Junior, who scored almost 38,000 runs and took over 2,000 wickets in more than 1,000 appearances, to all-rounders Charlie and Jack Oakes, born and raised on the ground. Last

season former Horsham captain Chris Nash was Sussex’s one-day player of the year while another Horsham captain, Will Beer, is on Sussex books and Robin Martin-Jenkins, Andrew Hodd, Carl Hopkinson and Michael Thornely have also played for Horsham and Sussex. Two Horsham Vice Presidents – John Barclay and Christopher Martin-Jenkins - have served as President of MCC and this season three young Horsham players, Devon Endersby, James Johnson and Owain Jones, are playing for MCC University teams against county opposition.

of fixtures for boys and girls from age 8 to accomplished cricketers competing in league cricket. As well as Festival Week there is a wealth of other representative cricket at all age groups ranging from county second XI matches, junior county cricket and ECB colts’ deciders through to school tournaments. The finals of local knockout competitions are held at Horsham while in the winter colts teams participate in the IDentilam Indoor League.

Yet Horsham is only a modest-sized town. Many larger places have been unable to make their mark on the game. So how has Horsham consistently supplied a conveyor belt of talent to Sussex and beyond?

With its two grounds and pleasant surroundings Horsham is an attractive place to play and the wickets are good and true. The extensive practice facilities opened by Christopher Martin-Jenkins are very popular with over 200 boys and girls coached on the meticulously prepared nets, including Chris Adams’s daughter, Georgia, who with other Horsham girls were in the county U-17s championship-winning side. Last year, Horsham’s Tom Clark made 133 captaining Sussex U-10s and is thought to be the county’s youngest ever centurion. Capture them young is a club maxim with mini cricket for 5-8 year olds providing a fun and informal introduction to the game.

The club is a welcoming place. Young players are actively supported and encouraged and every season there is an extensive programme

So much activity requires sound management. Horsham is fortunate to be administered by a committee of dedicated former players with a

Horsham is only a modest sized town. Many larger places have been unable to make their mark on the game


HorSHAM Festival 2012 close involvement in the game as senior players, umpires and groundsmen, backed by hardworking teams in the office, catering and bar together with legions of enthusiastic volunteers, especially during Festival Week and on big match days.

Groundsman Lawrence Gosling, his assistant Joe Cox and a small army of highly effective Colts Managers complete the picture ensuring a bright future for Horsham as they build on the incredible legacy of the game at Cricketfield Road.

On-field success and the number of outstanding young players coming through is a testament to the exceptionally high standard of coaching on offer at the club, the Horsham model replicating the county system. The structure comprises five elements – technical, tactical, physical, mental and lifestyle (including diet and nutrition). The senior coaching team focus on batting, bowling and fielding and is bolstered by specialists responsible for strength and conditioning, physiotherapy and injury recovery. Further expertise is available on a consultancy basis if and when required. The club has also developed a player exchange system with Canterbury Cricket to source Kiwi players and give a Horsham player the opportunity to play in New Zealand during our winter.

Horsham hasn’t just produced players for the Sussex team. Tim May (above) and Michael Bates (left) both played for their countries after cutting their teeth at Cricketfield Road

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HorSHAM Festival 2012

MEET THE SURREY SQUAD Bruce Talbot profiles this year’s Championship visitors to Horsham Rory Hamilton-Brown (captain) A Surrey youth player at the age of nine, Rory had three successful seasons at Sussex before returning to the Oval in December 2009 as captain. An ever present in all forms of the game for the last two years, Hamilton-Brown’s finest moments so far came in the final month of the 2011 campaign when he led his side to Championship promotion and starred in the CB40 final, anchoring Surrey’s successful chase with a mature 78. Steven Davies (vice-captain) Davies joined Surrey from Worcestershire in 2009 and has established himself as first-choice wicketkeeper in all formats. His elevation to full England honours at the age of 23 underlined his status as one of the finest players in county cricket. This is a reputation he has continued to bolster at Surrey, batting in the top and middle order and scoring over 1,000 first-class runs in 2010 and 2011. Steven was appointed vice-captain at the start of the 2011 season. Mark Ramprakash The evergreen Ramprakash is only the 25th person in history – and in all likelihood the last – to score 100 first-class hundreds. Now aged 42, he had a poor season by his own high standards in 2011,

two years after his 100th century, following knee surgery but is hoping to return to the peak of his game in 2012. ‘Ramps’ has been a thorn in Sussex’s side over the years for both Surrey and his former county Middlesex. Tom Maynard A hard-hitting batsman who joined Surrey from Glamorgan in January 2011. Capable of hitting boundaries all around the wicket and particularly dangerous in the one-day game, Maynard enjoyed an exceptional first season and was rewarded with selection in the England Performance squad last winter. As well as scoring 1,000 first-class runs for the first time last year, Maynard was an ever present in Surrey’s CB40 and t20 campaigns. Zander de Bruyn An experienced South African all-rounder who arrived at The Oval in December 2010. The consistency he has shown has been vital to Surrey’s recent success. As well as top scoring in the fourday game with 1,383 runs in 2011, de Bruyn also contributed 15 first-class wickets and offered his skipper a different bowling option. He is also an excellent limited overs player, using his versatility and powerful striking to play a key role in both the 40 and 20 over formats.

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HorSHAM Festival 2012 Gareth Batty

George Edwards

Jason Roy

Now in his second spell at The Oval, Batty returned to Surrey in 2009 from Worcestershire. Batty played in seven Tests and 10 ODIs and has always been impressive at domestic level with his penetrative off-spin bowling, useful lower-order batting and feisty fielding. Over the last two seasons, Batty has established himself as a key part of the Surrey squad, contributing in all forms of the game and playing a key role in Surrey’s 2011 triumphs.

A precocious 19-year-old fast-bowling talent from Spencer CC in Battersea who made his Championship debut against Worcestershire last month.

Roy became the first teenager to hit a T20 century for the club in 2008 and since then he has played in all formats, securing a regular first-team spot in 2011. A good season with the bat – combined with an innate natural talent for ball striking – saw the Academy graduate named on the England Performance Programme last winter.

Jon Lewis One of the most reliable and consistent bowlers of his generation, Lewis joined Surrey from Gloucestershire this year and against Sussex in April he took his 800th first-class wicket. Previously Lewis had been a stalwart of Gloucestershire cricket, having made his first-class debut in 1995. He has also played ODI cricket for England and made a solitary Test appearance in 2006. Tim Linley Sussex supporters might consider Linley as one that got away. He had a season on the Hove staff, playing one game in 2006, before joining Surrey in 2009 where he has become a popular figure in the dressing room and with Surrey supporters for his work ethic and character. Last season he took 73 first-class wickets at 18.34 and swept the board at the End of Season player awards.

Jade Dernbach Consistent Surrey performances were first rewarded with a place on the 2011 England Lions’ tour to the West Indies before a late call up to England’s World Cup squad made him the first Surrey Academy graduate to secure recognition at this level. An excellent year was capped with a Man of the Match performance in the CB40 final where his 4 for 30 helped lift Surrey to victory over Somerset. Stuart Meaker After a superb start to the 2011 campaign Meaker was way-laid by injury, but the Surrey Academy graduate came back firing and took four wickets in seven balls against Northamptonshire as Surrey’s promotion push gathered momentum. His 47 first-class wickets at 22.8 were rewarded with a place on England’s tour to India during the winter and he made his international debut in Mumbai in the fourth ODI. He was selected along with Dernbach for England Lions’ match against West Indies last month.

Chris Jordan Joined Surrey in 2007 when he was recommended to the county by former Sussex opener Bill Athey, who had coached the Bajan at Dulwich College. Injuries blighted his development but he broke back into the first team at the end of 2011 and played a vital role in securing Surrey’s Championship promotion and earned himself a new contract. Tom Lancefield Tom is an Academy product who got his first professional contract in 2010. Involved in Surrey Age Group sides since Under-9 level, Lancefield also plays for Banstead and was nearly a professional rugby player before deciding to focus his energies on cricket. Although he suffered an injury in 2011, Lancefield recently signed a one-year contract extension and will hope to establish himself in 2012.

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HorSHAM Festival 2012

Home from home In his role as Surrey’s team director, former Sussex captain Chris Adams brings his side to Horsham for the first time this week. Mark Pennell discovered why the man they all call ‘Grizzly’ regards Cricketfield Road as the happiest of hunting grounds as well as his spiritual home. If he avoids the ‘school run’ Chris Adams can drive to Horsham Cricket Club in less time than it takes to bowl a couple of overs, so little wonder he and his family are looking forward to this year’s Horsham Cricket Festival and the clash between his former club and newly-promoted Surrey. As a Sussex player Adams never lost a Championship match at Cricketfield Road, his seven appearances down the years there resulted in four draws and three emphatic wins for the Martlets. The fond memories Adams has for Horsham Cricket Week do not end there, however. The muscular right-hander posted an unbeaten 144 in the drawn game against Warwickshire here in 2004. While those who witnessed it will well remember his superb 193 in the innings and 102 run win over Durham five years ago. Recalling his performances at home in Horsham, Adams said: “It was always a good ground for me both from a batsman’s point of view and from that as a captain. “We generally managed to win a lot of games at Horsham and that’s down to understanding the nature of the ground and the wickets.

“I have always been a fan of taking cricket around the county, whether that was with Derbyshire, Sussex or now Surrey. It’s a great thing to do just as long as the facilities are up to scratch – and that’s the key element. “The notion of going to out-grounds is good, especially when they’re also scenic or pretty

“The notion of going to outgrounds is good, especially when they’re also scenic or pretty grounds like Sussex have in Horsham and Arundel.” grounds like Sussex have in Horsham and Arundel.” As for his assessment of the pitches at Cricket Field Road, Adams added: “I’m very much looking forward to going back because I always felt, as a top-order batter, it’s a wicket where you can score very quickly, and that really suited my game. “But, that said, it’s also a wicket where you’re never quite ‘in’ and there’s always a ball that


HorSHAM Festival 2012 seemingly comes from nowhere that can get you out. “It’s a pitch that keeps you on your toes and keeps you thinking and that’s an element to playing cricket at Horsham that I really like. The surfaces there keep you on an edge and generally the better quality players tend to do best under those sorts of circumstances.” As for his overall plans for the week, Adams added: “It’s the first time I’ll have taken Surrey to Horsham but the beauty for me is that my home is only about 10 minutes away. “In many ways it will be the nicest journey to work all year for me because it’s only just down the road. I’ve got the lads staying in a hotel just two minutes from me, so no doubt we’ll have the players round to my place for a barbeque and a couple of beers during the game at some point.” Looking back to 2007 when Sussex overwhelmed Durham by an innings, largely due to Adams’s season’s best innings of 193 from 202 balls with 23 boundaries and five sixes, Adams said: “Purely for selfish reasons it is the one Sussex game at Horsham that I probably recall the clearest. “I well remember Dale Benkenstein coming up to me afterwards and saying ‘Look, you played really well’. But deep down, all he wanted to really know from me was just how we had gone about deconstructing them so clinically. “Right from the moment they won the toss and batted Sussex bossed the game and we sent them packing inside three days with very little show for their trip. “At that point Durham were at a point in their development where they were trying, as a team, to work out how to win games of a four-day nature, and looking back now, I possibly gave Dale a little bit too much information that day. “He took all the lessons from that match on board and, from there on, Durham went from strength to strength winning the Championship twice inside three years to write their own bit of cricket history.” Chris Adams on his way to 193 against Durham at Horsham in 2007, the third highest individual score made on the ground

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HorSHAM Festival 2012

PERCY’S WORLD RECORD DAY Surrey’s Pat Pocock talks to Pat Gibson, of The Times, about the day he stunned Sussex on another of the county’s famous outgrounds Every festival has its own atmosphere and the Saffrons at Eastbourne, where Sussex used to make an annual pilgrimage, was a place which often induced “a little folding of the hands between lunch and tea,” according to the legendary Yorkshire cricket writer J.M. Kilburn. Only it was not quite like that in August, 1972, when Pat Pocock, the Surrey and England offspinner, set three world records to induce a lot of shaking of heads by the Sussex faithful and splitting of sides in the visitors’ dressing room.

“You need a lot of skill to score a hundred but you need a lot of luck as well and the same thing applies when a bowler gets wickets.” Surrey had been resigned to their fate when Sussex, set to score 205 to win, reached 187 for one thanks to a second wicket partnership of 160 between Geoff Greenidge and Roger Prideaux. Then Pocock, whose first 15 overs had cost 64 runs without a wicket, broke through by bowling Greenidge for 68. Two balls later, he also bowled

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HorSHAM Festival 2012 Michael Buss for a duck and three balls after that he caught and bowled Jim Parks for two.

equalled Bill Copson’s performance for Derbyshire against Warwickshire in 1937; his six wickets in nine balls and seven in 11 have never been matched.

It all seemed in vain when Pocock began his final over, by which time Sussex needed only five with six wickets still in hand, but then Prideaux, trying to settle it with one blow and complete his second century of the match, holed out to Robin Jackman at long on.

“It was all a bit daft really, considering the position they were in – 18 to win off three overs with nine wickets in hand – and they played the wrong shots,” Pocock said modestly before coming up with a more philosophical explanation.

Pocock had Mike Griffiths caught by Roy Lewis next ball to complete his hat-trick and made it four in four when he had Jerry Morley stumped by Arnold Long in hilarious circumstances.

“The thing is you never see a batsman score a hundred without playing and missing half a dozen times,” he said. “ If one of those times he had got closer to it and nicked it he would have been out.

“Jerry came down the wicket to me, played over the top of the ball and just carried on walking but it hit ‘Longy ‘ on the pad and just dropped at his

“You need a lot of skill to score a hundred but you need a lot of luck as well and the same thing applies when a bowler gets wickets. You need skill but you also need a bit of luck and if everything synchronises with the requirements of the game strange things can happen.”

Geoff Greenidge shared a secone wicket partnership with Roger Prideaux. feet,” Pocock said. “Jerry, who was yards out of his ground by then, made a dash to get back and I was yelling ‘Longy, take the bloody bails off then’ before he eventually bent down and picked the ball up to stump him.” And still Pocock had not finished. John Spencer managed to get down to the other end with a single but he bowled Tony Buss before Joshi was run out going for a second run off the last ball. Sussex finished reeling on 202 for nine – three runs short of victory – and Pocock had those three world records to his name. His five wickets in six balls

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Surrey left the field elated at having drawn a match they thought they had lost and their mirth was unconfined when Ian Payne, twelfth man that day, regaled them with the story of how Arthur McIntyne, their coach, had rung at the start of Pocock’s penultimate over to find out what was going on. “Percy (as they all called Pocock) has just got a wicket but it looks like we’ve lost this game,” Payne began. “They only want a few with eight wickets in hand … oh, Percy’s just got another wicket … and, hang on, coach, he’s got another one.” “OK,” said Arthur Mac, “I’ll just hold on and see if he gets his hat-trick.”

Sussex collapsed horribly after Pocock bowled Geoff Greenidge for 68

“He’s got it, he’s got the hat-trick!” screamed Payne.” Now he’s got another one … and coach, he’s got another.” “Payney,” growled Mac, who was reckoned to be a bit of tyrant by the younger players on the staff, “if you’re taking the mickey out of me just you wait till I get hold of you.” “Honest coach,” said Payne, “I’m serious … and he’s just got another one.” And what tickled the Surrey players was that dear old Arthur would still not have believed him until he saw the scorecard.


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HorSHAM Festival 2012

Back to his roots Chris Nash treads familiar ground this week hoping to emulate his last performance on home turf. By Bruce Talbot They say absence makes the heart grow fonder and that is certainly the case for Chris Nash and Cricketfield Road. Like virtually every other cricketer, Lord’s is Nashy’s favourite place to play but Horsham, where he first picked up a bat on the late Dr. John Dew’s field of dreams for the first time more than 20 years ago ranks a close second. Two years ago Nash finally achieved a long-held ambition when he scored his maiden first-class century on his home ground. Mind you, he wasn’t the only Sussex batsman who dipped his bread against Derbyshire that week. The top four all made centuries, only the second time that happened in Championship history since 1923. “That was a fantastic moment for me and one of the highlights of my career so far,” he admitted. “When I broke into the Sussex side it was one of the things I wanted to do and that was some game to do it in, with the first four of us all getting hundreds.” Last year Nash missed Horsham for the best possible reason as he made his England Lions debut in a three-match one-day series against Sri Lanka. It wasn’t a bad game to miss as it turned out as Worcestershire inflicted Sussex’s first Championship defeat here since 1997. But when the fixture list was released last

good as anything you would find on an November the first game Nash picked out was outground. You don’t hear the opposition Horsham Week – and he can’t wait to tread complaining too often.” familiar turf again. “This year’s game is superb really,” he said. “Surrey are one of our big rivals and I’m sure we will get big crowds as it’s a Bank Holiday week and the kids are off school.” Nash, 28, almost treats Horsham Week like a holiday. He goes home for a few days to spend time with his parents and even sleeps in his old bedroom! Family ties with Horsham Sports Club remain strong. His brother Mark is a former Horsham first XI captain and Dad Nick still coaches

“Horsham is a big sports club – not just squash but tennis and hockey as well – and Cricket Week brings everyone together.” squash. The Nash family will be here again en masse this week. “I think Horsham sums up what Festival cricket is all about,” said Chris. “Horsham is a big sports club – not just squash but tennis and hockey as well – and Cricket Week brings everyone together. “People take a few days off to help out with all the jobs that need to be done and because of the hard work I think the facilities for the players are as


HorSHAM Festival 2012 And when Nash takes the now familiar walk from dressing room to middle with opening partner Ed Joyce this week he will scan the spectators and pick out any number of familiar faces. Playing in front of so many friends and family used to bring a pressure all of its own but Nash believes finally scoring that first hundred for the county here represented a big barrier overcome. “It was important but it’s definitely left me wanting more,” he said. “When I’m batting or fielding I can normally pick out people who I know from school or who I played with in the juniors when Dr. Dew was looking after the colts for all those years.” Nash dedicated his century to the man who did so much to launch the careers of Nash and the other youngsters who came under his tutelage and ended up in the Sussex first XI and needless to say he would love another this week. Whatever happens Horsham always provides interesting cricket. “It’s a fast-scoring ground so if you like to get a move on you can get runs very quickly,” added Nash. “But there is always something in it for the bowlers. It usually turns on the third and fourth days and we have seen over the years for the quicker bowlers they can get something out of it. I’m really sure it will be another successful week.” Even more so if Sussex return to winning ways thanks to a stellar contribution from the local boy made good but who has never forgotten where it all started. Nash in action earlier this season against this week’s opponents Surrey

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HorSHAM Festival 2012

11 reasons why Horsham is better than the Olympics From meeting your heroes to post-match pints, Daniel Brigham on why more fun will be had in Horsham than Stratford this summer. 1 Opening up The Olympics will have an opening ceremony that lasts four hours, cost £27m and features a few fireworks, lots of athletes walking around, a speech from Seb Coe, hundreds of oaths, the lighting of a torch and, genuinely, Europe’s largest bell. The Horsham Festival will not. 2 Post-match pint After a day spent taking in the delights of GrecoRoman wrestling you’ll be thirsty. So, when you’ve finished battling your way through the 80,000 people emptying from the Olympic Park, it will soon dawn on you that the only thing London’s east end offers in the way of pubs is a pint of generic lager, a plate of jellied eels, Chas ‘n’ Dave on the juke box and Barbara Windsor throwing a pint over your dad (possibly). A day spent at Horsham, however, can be celebrated in one of the many top local pubs with a vast selection of excellent local ales including Hepworths and W.J. King. 3 Activities There is no synchronised swimming at the

Horsham Festival. 4 Getting involved At Horsham, kids can get on the pitch at intervals to have a bat and bowl and mimic their cricketing heroes. There’s even a chance of catching a six while sat in the stands. This kind of interaction won’t happen at the Olympics, with no kids allowed on the field to clamber on top of a horse and mimic their dressage heroes. Admittedly, it is probably best that you can’t catch anything launched into the crowd. Javelins can have someone’s eye out. 5 Views Olympics might have beach volleyball for the ’ogglers (yes, you in the corner with the binoculars) but, if you’re lucky, at Horsham you might catch a glimpse of Joe Gatting’s uncle Mike with his shirt off. 6 Americans Americans are lovely. They really are. But ask anyone who’s been to the Edinburgh Festival and they’ll tell you that, when touring in large

numbers, their booming, relentless questions (“Can you point me to the washroom? Thanks, have a nice day”) can become tiresome. While Americans love the Olympics and don’t need an excuse to head to good ol’ London town to spot the Queen wearing a top hat, Americans don’t even know what cricket is so you’ll be in no danger. 7 Length The Horsham Festival lasts five days, takes in three matches and plenty of possible results. The Olympics lasts 17 days and Usain Bolt wins. 8 Meeting your heroes At the Festival you’ll be in touching and autographsigning distance of the likes of Monty Panesar and Rory Hamilton-Brown. At the Olympics, stars will whizz by you behind their blacked-out windows in the VIP lane, desperate not to be late for their canoe slalom race. Following them in the VIP lane will be rich businessmen and corporate sponsors, but no fans.


HorSHAM Festival 2012 9 Location Everyone loves the seaside, especially a stroll along the beach on a pleasant evening after a day watching sport. The Olympic Park is over 100 miles from the seaside. To get to it you have to negotiate the M25, service stations and Southend. Horsham is one of the loveliest market towns in England and in the middle of some breathtaking countryside. And the sea is only 15 miles away. 10 Silly sports Hot-air ballooning used to be an Olympics support. So did tug of war. Seriously. This is the kind of event we’re dealing with. You can rest assured there will be no ballooning at the Horsham Festival, although the Surrey fans might be providing plenty of hot air about their chances of winning the Championship for the first time since 2002. 11 Costs Building the Olympic site cost nearly £10bn and, after all of that, the aquatics centre looks like a giant Pringle (savoury snack, not Derek). The Horsham ground cost about £10bn less to build and your tax bill didn’t pay for it.

There’s a good chance Monty will sign your autograph book. Usain Bolt? Forget it. Daniel Brigham is features editor of The Cricketer magazine.

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HorSHAM Festival 2012

Dan Brigham asks the Sussex fast bowler Amjad Khan for his take on the Olympics Q What’s your favourite Olympic event? A The 100m. From a sporting point of view it’s

fascinating. If you don’t get it right to the split second then you’re out of there. As a bowler if you have a bad spell you can come back and make up for it in your next spell. Sprinters only have one shot.

Q Who would win in a 100m sprint between the Sussex boys?

A I think James Anyon would comfortably win

it. He’s seriously quick. I wouldn’t be putting a mortgage on Mike Yardy winning it though. He’s my skipper so I can’t say too much, but he might be lagging behind in the sprints. He’d be better at something like hockey. Sadly my sprinting isn’t what it used to be. My discipline would be 400m.

Q Chris Nash told us you would fancy a bit of synchronised swimming … A Oh yes I’m sure he would love to see me doing a bit of that. I think I’ve got too much fear of drowning, which isn’t great for swimming really.

Q What’s Olympics sports are big in Denmark?

A Handball. The Danes pride themselves on playing handball really well. Q What’s that then? A It’s similar to basketball but the goals are like indoor football goals. You’re not allowed to go into a penalty area and you have to shoot from outside that area. It’s big in Scandinavia, and I think the Spanish are very good at it as well. Q Were you any good at it? A When I go back to Denmark they try and suck me in and make me follow it but I always refuse! I was quite good at it at school – I used to love throwing it from miles away as hard as I could. It

seems I’m quite good at throwing things. I would love to see some of the boys playing handball so I should try and get it in as a warm-up before matches to see how they go. Especially Chris Nash.

Q Hot-air ballooning, tug of war, pigeon shooting and swimming an obstacle course have all been Olympic sports. Which would you bring back? A Tug of war sounds unbelievable. Was that really in there? Amazing. That would be ridiculous, I’d love that. Not so keen on the hot-air ballooning. I’m not great with heights, and too much can go wrong when you’re up there. How can you get competitive when you’re that far up in the air? Too dangerous for me.

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HorSHAM Festival 2012

MEET THE FALCONS Bruce Talbot profiles the CB40 visitors to Horsham Wayne Madsen (captain) Durban-born opening batsman who secured his future with Derbyshire after scoring two hundreds in his first four games after debuting in 2009. Madsen, 28, also bowls off breaks but has yet to score a List A hundred for the Falcons. Chesney Hughes Became the third Anguillan to play county cricket (after Omari Banks and Cardigan Connor) when he debuted in 2010. Powerful 21-year-old left-hander, he was recommended to the county after being spotted in the Lancashire League. Martin Guptill Now a mainstay of the New Zealand side across all formats, Guptill made 122 on his ODI debut against West Indies in 2009. The 25-year-old from Auckland is in his second season with Derbyshire. His success is even more remarkable given that a forklift accident left him with two toes on his right foot. Wes Durston Once of Somerset, Durston revived his career playing for the Unicorns in 2009 when his destructive 117 against Sussex caught the

attention of Derbyshire, who signed him a few weeks later. Has become a mainstay of their batting across all formats and scored a CB40 hundred against Unicorns in the opening round of this season’s competition. Ross Whiteley 23-year-old left-hander who debuted in 2008 but has only just started to show his potential. 130 against Kent in the Championship last year hinted at his undoubted potential. Mark Turner

Jon Clare Clare made an immediate impression with five wickets on debut in 2007 and has become a useful all-rounder who made his career-best with the bat – 130 against Glamorgan – last year. He celebrates his 26th birthday next week. Dan Redfern Talented young left-hander who made his debut at the age of 16 in 2006. Got his season up and running with 133 in the Championship against Hampshire last month.

Derbyshire became Turner’s third county when he David Wainwright joined last year after spells with his native Durham and Somerset. Aged 27, he bowls waspish medium Slow left-armer and capable batsman who was pace. often a thorn in Sussex’s side during his Yorkshire days, most memorably when he made a century at No.10 in 2008. Had eight season at Headingley Tim Groenewald before joining Derbyshire this season. After a frustrating time with Warwickshire, Groenewald has blossomed with the Peakites in Tom Poynton all three formats having made his debut in 2009. Took his best one-day figures so far (4-22) against Wicketkeeper who has established himself as Worcestershire in last year’s CB40. first-choice this season following Luke Sutton’s retirement. Still only 22, this is a big season for him.

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HorSHAM Festival 2012

Versatility key for Guptill Derbyshire’s Kiwi opener is happy to test himself in different formats to improve his game. By Mark Eklid THE modern international cricketer has to be many things. He has to be fit, he has to not mind living out of a suitcase for months on end and he has to be very versatile. Martin Guptill, who will lead the batting for the Derbyshire Falcons in Sunday’s CB40 game at the Horsham Festival, is learning fast that if you want to be an international success in all formats and you also want to expand your game by playing in county cricket you have to be very versatile indeed. Three years after making his international debut for New Zealand and now firmly established as one of the batting stars of a young Black Caps side, Guptill is coming to the end of his second spell with Derbyshire. He is to leave for Florida to link up with the rest of the international squad for their series against the West Indies. They will play two t20Is in the USA before the first of five ODIs in Jamaica followed by two Tests. That means, in the space of less than two months, Guptill will have played in five formats – four-day and 40-over cricket for Derbyshire and then t20, 50-over and five-day matches for New Zealand. The potential for confusion does not end with making sure you have the right coloured clothing in the kit bag but Guptill says he is getting used to it.

“We have to chop and change from the different formats and when you start doing it for a time you get used to being able to adapt to the different situations,” he said. “That makes you a better cricketer. “It can be difficult at first but then you get into a different routine and it becomes a lot easier. “Different people adapt differently. Some guys are still learning and some have got it off pat. I’m still learning it myself and hopefully I’ll get to the point where I’m comfortable with it in two or three years because I’m still enjoying playing all forms of the game.

“For myself, I don’t want to have to choose one format over the other because I want to carry on playing them all.” “For myself, I don’t want to have to choose one format over the other because I want to carry on playing them all. You have to learn to adapt but I wouldn’t have it any other way.” Guptill has certainly showed a liking for the 40over game in his time with Derbyshire, scoring two centuries in only five innings for the Falcons last season and starting this season’s competition with an outstanding 125 against Unicorns at Wormsley.

“I’ve only played a handful of CB40 games but I’m enjoying it,” he added. “With 40-over cricket you can afford to be a little bit more attacking. There’s less time to get bowled out, so you can play with a bit more freedom.” His return to county cricket this year came after Guptill decided to turn his back on the IPL in order to accept the offer of another short-term contract with Derbyshire.


HorSHAM Festival 2012 It was a decision he took when his Auckland Aces made an early exit from last year’s Champions League in India in September, with defeats by Somerset and Kolkata Knight Riders in the qualifiers, though he acknowledged that was a bold – and potentially very expensive – judgement call. “Especially after the t20 season I had back home!” he said. Guptill was the top run-scorer in New Zealand’s domestic t20 competition, the HRV Cup, with 504 runs in 10 games at a strike-rate of 151.35 as he led Auckland to victory in final with a knock of 70 against Canterbury. “That’s alright. I made the decision I wasn’t putting my name in the IPL auction list and I’m happy with it. “I decided to come back to England when I was at the Champions League with Auckland. We didn’t have a very good couple of games over there and I was a little bit grumpy because I wasn’t scoring runs, so I decided to get my Test game sorted and the only way to do that is to play first-class cricket. “We don’t play too much in the summer in New Zealand so what better way than coming back to Derbyshire and play here to get a few games under the belt for the next tour. “I stick by the decision and we’ll see what happens. I might put my name in the IPL auction list next year.” Mark Eklid reports on Derbyshire for the Derby Evening Telegraph

Martin Guptill has learned to adapt between Test and one-day cricket during an increasingly successful career for New Zealand and Derbyshire

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HorSHAM Festival 2012

Festival memories John Barnett, who commentates on Sussex games for BBC Sussex, remembers some thrilling encounters at Horsham into 320 all out before Sussex collapsed to a ninewicket defeat. A year later, Essex converted 173 for 7 into maximum batting points, courtesy of a maiden century from James Foster and a first 50 by Angus Fraser’s brother Alistair. Lancashire were at it again in 1994 when tenth wicket pair Mike Watkinson and Peter Martin put on 100 to save the follow-on, and even the second innings had a twist in the tail as Wasim Akram’s astonishing 98 turned an apparently tame draw into a thrilling final session as he was last man out as the Red Rose fell 50 runs short. The following year turned out to be the Jason One man with happy memories Lewry show as this time the home side needed of this venue is Richard some late, late resistance of their own. Lewry’s Montgomerie, having reeled off three wickets in four balls on day one had reduced three centuries and two fifties. Surrey to 117 for 7, but he was then required to survive 71 deliveries at number 11 to save the took four catches and I wondered if he might play match. Most galling of all had to be 1997 when near for Australia one day too… neighbours Kent wrestled unlikely control on the Wash-outs on the Sundays over the next two third afternoon courtesy of last man Ben Phillips years were disappointing, but the Championship and Steve Marsh to leave Sussex - depleted matches went ahead and Lancashire and Essex following the turmoil of the previous winter but both took promising positions away from Sussex unbeaten in the Championship - with just the draw thanks to some late-order resistance. to play for on the final day which, to their credit, Lancashire’s Paul Allott and Graeme Fowler they almost managed. batting at eight after suffering a head injury Last year, after 13 years without a four-day defeat fielding on the first morning - turned 224 for 8 Now I may not have the same range of shots as Chris Nash nor the all-round ability of Robin Martin-Jenkins, but we did all pass through Horsham Cricket club’s junior section and it was here that I saw my first ever Sussex match. The opponents for a Sunday League in 1989 were Essex whose squad featured familiar England names in Graham Gooch, Neil Foster, John Childs and Derek Pringle, though the latter did not play. There was also the name of Waugh in their team - the then-uncapped and lesser known Mark. He

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HorSHAM Festival 2012

here, the curse of the tail-enders returned as Alan Richardson and Ben Scott performed a similar rearguard action, adding 56 for the last Worcestershire wicket and Sussex’s last-day target of 336 proved to be 34 too many. The Championship-winning years all featured comprehensive home victories and Mushtaq Ahmed not surprisingly enjoyed some very fruitful

days. One of the highlights was in 2003 when after a run-feast for the first three days Sussex dismantled the Nottinghamshire batting on the final morning en route to a ten-wicket triumph. Mushy took six scalps including a brilliant onehanded slip catch from Tony Cottey to dismiss Kevin Pietersen cheaply. Pietersen had produced a typically pugnacious century in the first innings, as had Matt Prior for Sussex, but they were eclipsed four years later by a master-class from Chris Adams on the third day when the skipper fell seven runs short of a double century as Durham were crushed by an innings. One man with happy memories of this venue is

Luke Wright launched a thrilling assault to reach the finishing line with 10 balls to spare. Sussex’s name was on the trophy from then onwards. Richard Montgomerie, having reeled off three centuries and two fifties, including carrying his bat in 2002 against Leicestershire, a match also significant because a bowler from each side took seven wickets in an innings - Robin Martin-Jenkins, on his home patch, and Devon Malcolm. But they were not the first magnificent sevens in that particular fixture, as a quite phenomenal performance from Eddie Hemmings in 1993 hurried Sussex to an innings victory inside three days despite the first day being washed out. The hosts only recorded a moderate 271, but just over 24 hours later the 44-year-old had followed up his 5 for 27 with 7 for 31.

For me, though, the two most memorable days came in limited overs cricket and in starkly contrasting weather. The post-revolution team of 1997 had not won a Sunday League game and would have been outsiders at tea after a strong Kent side had posted 220 for 9, but a perfectly timed chase on a sun-drenched afternoon reached fulfilment in the final over with an unbeaten century from “Barnacle” Bill Athey Nine years later and a C&G group game with Somerset was reduced to 24 overs a side and in pursuit of 159 the Sharks were in a mess at 16 for 4, but added 50 without further loss when the rain returned. With Somerset well ahead on Duckworth Lewis and any revised target likely to do Sussex no favours it looked as if the game was up, but a seriously concerted effort by groundstaff and plenty of volunteers got the game back on with 122 needed off 17 overs. Matt Prior was out straightaway, but Martin-Jenkins and an emerging Luke Wright launched a thrilling assault to reach the finishing line with 10 balls to spare. Sussex’s name was on the trophy from then onwards. As with all out-grounds, how much longer the festival will last is unknown but it will be a great shame when the domestic fixture list ceases to feature the club that can stake an honest claim to be the foremost junior club cricket in Sussex, thanks to the late Dr. Dew. This opened up a path trodden by generations of youngsters no matter what their ability. We can but hope.

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HorSHAM Festival 2012

Thommo’s great memories Sussex legend Ian Thomson once took ten wickets in an innings against Warwickshire, but he regards another match against the Bears as the highlight of his wonderful career. Paul Weaver catches up with him. Former Sussex seamer Ian Thomson doesn’t watch much cricket these days but a recent holiday in Cape Town brought back happy memories. “I met the headmaster of the school where I coached Tony and Ian Greig all those years ago, in the sixties, and it brought back nice thoughts of my playing days,” he said. “But the best young player I worked with out there was Daryll Cullinan, who had so much natural ability but who retired earlier than I thought he would,” he says. “While I was in South Africa I watched some of the England versus Pakistan series on TV. But, to be truthful, I never was much of a spectator.” Thomson, who was 83 in January, was the finest medium-pace bowler produced by Sussex since Maurice Tate. “The highlight of my career at Sussex was winning the Gillette Cup in 1964. We had already beaten Worcestershire in the first final, in 1963, and we returned the following year to beat Warwickshire. “I was man of the match after picking up four wickets for 23. The game started early and it swung. Tom Cartwright, who was a friend of mine, couldn’t understand why he couldn’t make the ball wobble about too, but the pitch had

flattened out by then and there wasn’t the same moisture. “Mike Smith was also playing for Warwickshire that day and because of the way I bowled he picked me for that winter’s tour of South Africa, which he captained.” Thomson won all of his five Test caps in South Africa, so the recent holiday will have had a number of nostalgic associations. He had been called into the England squad a decade earlier, to play Pakistan, but was left out, so it was a long wait for his first cap.

“a bowler I always admired was Derek Shackleton, because he came in off this easy run and swung it both ways.” He is perhaps best remembered for taking all ten Warwickshire wickets at Worthing in 1964, when he finished with 15 in the match, so Warwickshire don’t have the happiest of memories of him. But in his own memories, Thomson places that Lord’s final ahead of what had happened in Worthing three months before. Perhaps that’s because despite his 15 wickets

Sussex contrived to lose the match by 182 runs after being bowled out for 23 in the second innings, with David Brown, Jack Bannister and Cartwright doing the damage as spectators looked on, open-mouthed, “My happiest memories are of playing under David Sheppard in 1953. It was my first full season and we so nearly won the Championship. David gave up the job after that and we went down the pan fairly quickly. He was such an inspiring captain and a joy to play for.” “A few years later, though, I really enjoyed playing under Ted Dexter in the one-day games, and of course he was the skipper in those Gillette Cup wins.” Thomson took 101 wickets at 20.06 that year, having made his debut only the previous season. He went on to take 100 in a season on a dozen occasions, just two fewer than Tate. His total of 1,597 first-class wickets also reflect what a fine bowler he was. He bowled mainly in-swing. But when he added the leg-cutter to his armory he was even more dangerous. In that regard he resembled Alec Bedser, though Bedser bowled with more pace. “Alec wasn’t really a hero of mine,” he says. “I


HorSHAM Festival 2012 never really had heroes. But a bowler I always admired was Derek Shackleton, because he came in off this easy run and swung it both ways. I don’t know how he did it.” Thomson retired in 1965 but returned for a couple of games in 1972 and also played in a few one-day games. When he retired a second time he went into the car trade and by the time Sussex went one better than 1953 and actually won the Championship in 2003 he was a supply teacher. He is now living in Henfield where he is “busy locally” and enjoying holidays and his small garden. “I was in the garden when I heard the news about Sussex winning their first Championship. “I was absolutely delighted. My only slight disappointment was that so many of the players didn’t come from Sussex. County cricket has become a little more like football. But Mushtaq Ahmed was terrific – and if we had had him in 1953 we would have win the title. “Our bowling was Ted James, Jim Wood, Alan Oakman, Robin Marlar and myself, so we did well to get as close as we did.”

Ian Thomson bowls Warwickshire’s Billy Ibadulla during the 1964 Gillette Cup final. Ian considers that game the highlight of his career

Ian (inset)

45


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HorSHAM Festival 2012

Matt does the honours Sussex and England wicketkeeper has loaned some marvellous memorabilia of his own after opening the Sussex Cricket World museum Sussex Cricket World was officially opened by England wicketkeeper Matt Prior in early May during the rain-affected tour match against West Indies. As he cut the light blue ribbon Matt spoke passionately about the importance of preserving the great heritage of Sussex cricket and told the large crowd who had gathered that he knew that “this was only the beginning for this brilliant facility.�As if to back up that assertion Matt then handed to our beaming archivist, Rob Boddie, the bat with which he scored his 100 in the 2011 Sydney Test, his wicket-keeping gloves from the 2009 Ashes Test ( remember the stumping at The Oval?) and the helmet which he wore in his first 40 Test matches. Matt has kindly loaned these cherished treasures to Sussex Cricket World and they will soon be on display for all to see. The opening of the new exhibition brought to an end a very busy winter for the Rob, the Trustees and our growing band of volunteer helpers. After the setbacks of the early winter when water ingress and dampness meant that we had to again empty the museum, we moved back in during early January. We immediately set to work sorting out the 150 boxes of items that had been in storage and build the displays for 2012, featuring a very good exhibition of West Indies-related items

loaned by David Pye, who was the physiotherapist for the West Indies teams of the 1960s. We are also very fortunate to have been loaned, by Mark and Lloyd Smallwood, a remarkable collection of 161 large black and white photographs, mainly signed by the subjects, of all the great cricketers who played at Hove during the 60s and early 70s. These photographs were lovingly taken and developed by their father, Arthur Smallwood, and in the current exhibition we are displaying the West Indies-related photos but visitors to Sussex Cricket World in coming months will be able to view further parts of this truly outstanding collection. The winter also saw the installation of four large screen televisions which, thanks to the dedicated professionalism of Phil Barnes, are now showing a wide range of images from our collection featuring both the great Sussex teams of the past and further items with a West Indies connection. In the years to come, Sussex Cricket World will become a place where grandparents and their grandchildren can come and learn more about the heritage of Sussex Cricket whilst having fun in our increasingly interactive museum. Entry is free and everybody who comes to our home matches at Hove is encouraged to call in. We are very grateful and completely indebted

to our many friends, patrons and volunteer helpers. If you would like to become a volunteer or support us in other ways please contact me at jonfilby@blueyonder.co.uk or call in to Sussex Cricket World next time you are at the PROBIZ. Jon Filby, Secretary

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HorSHAM Festival 2012

Great fun to play and watch Test Match Special’s Jonathan Agnew has not played at Horsham, but he remembers affectionately his own experience of out-ground cricket and argues that festival cricket has to be nurtured by the counties I’m a real lover of county festival cricket, for the simple reason that it’s great fun to watch and great fun to play in. During my own playing career with Leicestershire (it’s funny - some people these days have totally forgotten that this ever happened!) I had the great fortune to try to bowl fast on a succession of slow, low club grounds at festival weeks. Only kidding. The county cricket festival is a traditional part of the English game which needs to be nurtured and supported. It brings the county side to venues at which the staging of senior cricket is important for the continued growth and health of the game. It would be no good to anyone if county teams simply played all the time at their main headquarters. The very essence of festival cricket is that the county’s best players get closer to their public. I can remember fielding on the boundary during county cricket weeks and the banter and the atmosphere is always different at the more intimate grounds where festival matches are held. Ladies Day at Canterbury Week might not be typical, as most county festivals are more prosaic than that, but tents around the boundary, jazz bands playing in the lunch interval, champagne corks popping and

picnic baskets packed with goodies are all part of the fare you still mercifully see on many parts of the county circuit. I am of course too modest simply to recall here some of my own performances at cricket weeks but I do remember with affection playing at places such as Cheltenham, Scarborough and The Mote in Maidstone. At Tunbridge Wells, in 1981, a certain David Gower made a lovely hundred for Leicestershire against Kent – which I always thought was appropriate, not just because of the

“I do remember with affection playing at places such as Cheltenham, Scarborough and The Mote in Maidstone.” beautiful setting but because Gower had been born in Tunbridge Wells, which is not widely known. The fact that I was very much a bystander in that particular contest – it was rain-affected, two innings were forfeited, I bowled just two overs and was bowled for nought by Derek Underwood in Leicestershire’s only innings – does not lessen my

affection at the memory of appearing at the picturesque Nevill Ground. There are other festival grounds I recall fondly from my playing days: The Saffrons in Eastbourne, the Pen-y-pound ground at Abergavenny, Dean Park in Bournemouth, Queen’s Park in Chesterfield, and the Wagon Works Ground at Gloucester where, in 1988, Leicestershire won a fierce low-scoring game on a seaming pitch against a Gloucestershire side who were spearheaded by David ‘Syd’ Lawrence, Terry Alderman and Kevin Curran. Our first innings score of 189 remained the highest of the match, but luckily our seam attack in those


HorSHAM Festival 2012 days was not too bad – Phillip DeFreitas, the rapid West Indian George Ferris, Chris Lewis plus myself – and we ended up winning by 60-odd runs. North Marine Road, Scarborough, will always be a favourite ground of mine for the simple reason that I made my highest first-class score of 90 there in 1987, against Yorkshire obviously, before being denied a maiden hundred by Paul Jarvis, who had me caught at the wicket by dear old David Bairstow. They are great memories to have, though, and it is the spirit of festival week cricket which I think best sums up its timeless appeal. During rain interruptions on Test Match Special, the conversation often turns to incidents during games past. One of the funny stories I’ll always remember is of the time a match was held up by a mole burrowing up through the surface of the pitch. I’m sure it didn’t happen during a festival week first-class game… but perhaps it could easily have done.

Affectionately remembered: Aggers fondly recalls matches at Scarborough (main image), Tunbridge Wells – birthplace of David Gower – and Cheltenham College

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HorSHAM Festival 2012

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sussex results & fixtures 2012 Results LV=CC Surrey LV=CC Lancashire LV=CC Warwickshire UNI Leeds/Bradford MCCU Tour West Indies LV=CC Lancashire

Lost by 86 runs Won by 10 wkts Drawn Lost by 79 runs Match Drawn Match Drawn

CB40 Unicorns LV=CC Worcestershire CB40 Northamptonshire CB40 Yorkshire LV=CC Nottinghamshire

Won by 144 runs Match Drawn Won by 12 runs Won by 4 wkts Lost by 7 wkts

Fixtures - Home - Subject to change (please check webiste for details) Date Type June Wed 6th LV=CC Sun 10th CB40 Thur 14th FLt20 Fri 22nd FLt20 Sun 24th FLt20 Fri 29th FLt20 July Sun 8th FLt20 Mon 16th CB40 Wed 18th LV=CC Sun 22nd CB40 August Wed 1st LV=CC Fri 10th LV=CC Wed 15th CB40 September Tue 4th LV=CC

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Surrey Derbyshire Hampshire Middlesex Essex Kent

Home Home Home Home Home Home

Horsham Horsham PROBIZ PROBIZ PROBIZ PROBIZ

Surrey Kent Durham Northamptonshire

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PROBIZ Arundel Arundel Arundel

Worcestershire Middlesex Warwickshire

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Somerset

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LV=CC LV= County Championship | t20 Friends Life t20 | CB40 CB40 Clydesdale Bank 40 | TOM 1 Tourist match | UNI University | FL Floodlit


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