A new generation of Sussex cricketers

Posted by Tony Hutton

As spectators returned to Headingley's historic cricket ground on Thursday, after a long absence due to the pandemic, I could not help think back to my first sighting of the visiting side, Sussex, which took place some seventy one years ago. In the middle of my school holidays in August 1950, along with a couple of friends, I took the long bus journey from south Staffordshire via Birmingham for my first ever visit to the county ground Worcester to see the second day of a three day game between Worcestershire and Sussex.

Looking back at the scorecard from that day the Sussex side contained some very long serving players, notably the two Langridge brothers, opening bat John and all rounder James (who was the captain). The Oakes brothers, Charlie and Jack, both all rounders, and George Cox, sometime professional footballer, were also mainstays of the side. Being August three University players were added to the team. They were David Sheppard and Gilbert Doggart from Cambridge, both of whom later played for England and Chris Winn from Oxford who played rugby for England.

The side was completed by three younger men the opening bowlers Ted James and left armer Jim Wood, together with wicketkeeper Rupert Webb, who much later in life found fame as a bit part film actor. The first day had been interrupted by rain and obviously I remember little of the action after all these years but I did see George Cox and Charlie Oakes score fifties in a total of 261 and Worcester reduced to 158-5 by the close. This included a rare first class wicket for Gilbert Doggart who removed the eminent Worcester captain R.E.S. Wyatt.

More memorable was the then rural setting of the ground and the friendly and relaxed atmosphere of county cricket as it was in the nineteen fifties. However to return to this week's events it was good to greet so many friends after a long absence and to actually meet up with new friends made during Zoom events in the past months, even though some were heavily disguised by their masks. Yorkshire were greeted with a welcoming round of applause from the good crowd, still limited in numbers of course, but well segregated by the efficient seating arrangements.

Spectators return to Headingley

Sussex, having been put into bat, were soon in trouble. They fielded what looked like a very young side, somewhat lacking in experience, although reinforced by the Australian Travis Head who spent a brief period with Yorkshire in 2016 and the South African veteran Stiaan Van Zyl. Opener Tom Haines, who has been in the runs this season, was the first to go, followed fairly rapidly by Van Zyl. The other opener Alastair Orr, making his first class debut, stuck around for an hour and a half but only made 15.

Early wickets for Yorkshire.

Jordan Thompson took his second wicket to dismiss the danger man, Travis Head, and at 68-4 Yorkshire could be happy with their morning's work. However Aaron Thomason, recruited from Warwickshire, got his head down in no uncertain manner and skipper Ben Brown, so often a thorn in Yorkshire's side took over the scoring role, looking in fine form. These two proceeded to put on a century partnership and even when the obdurate Thomason was out, the second debutant Dan Ibrahim certainly put his mark on proceedings.

The Emerald Stand at Headingley.

We discovered that Ibrahim is only sixteen years old and although born in Lancashire went to school in Sussex and is a product of the county's age group system. He plays for the Preston Nomads club at a lovely ground set in the Sussex Downs which I visited a few years ago. After giving centurion Brown good support on day one, he proceeded to a confident half century on day two, thus becoming the youngest player ever to reach this milestone in county championship cricket. Quite an achievement.

Ibrahim brings up his fifty.

Dan Ibrahim 

Once the young man was out the tail rather subsided and Yorkshire were somewhat relieved to finish Sussex off for 313, which was much more than expected after the first morning. However the visitors attack opened by youngsters Henry Crocombe and James Atkins posed little threat and with only Stuart Meaker, once of Surrey, having much experience, their bowling attack looked decidedly thin. Young Ibrahim showed his all round talent by taking his first wicket, that of Kohler-Cadmore for 25 and Atkins produced a beauty to bowl Adam Lyth for 48.

The floodlights were on for much of the cloudy day one.

After that it was very much one way traffic as the experience of Malan and Ballance proved too much for the largely teenage attack. Sussex of course are suffering from the loss of not only Archer, through injury and Test calls but their most regular wicket taker, Ollie Robinson, is also performing for England. Add to that the fact that Jordan, Luke Wright and Bopara are apparently all 'white ball' cricketers only, the lack of experience in championship cricket is considerable. Yorkshire should progress to a substantial total today and ought to finish them off tomorrow. One can only hope that Sussex's band of youngsters will all progress to match the deeds of their famous predecessors.