Down memory lane fixtures

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DOWN MEMORY LANE - THE FIXTURE LIST 2 DECADES AGO - 1983
Probably little logic will be seen in this biased article
The fixture list for 2001 is now complete. Soon it will be published and the players and parents will look forward to the variety of arranged games. How does County cricket today compare with 20 years ago ?
Click on photo
County 1983 side at the County Ground, Hove
Back row: Doug Cashman*Nicholas Page*Robin Hanley*Andrew Hill*Barry Burt*Geoffrey Stevens*Paul Grover*
Front Row : John Price* Jonathan Linford * Stephen Palmer*Mark Dalloway Paul Williams*
*capped player

Click on photo
County 2000 side at Ardingly College
Back row
Ian Gillespie Manager; Jeremy Green Howard Hassen;Christopher Philcox; Matthew Sleep Jack Hepburn Alex Dodsworth.Rodney Brearley Scorer
Front row Christopher Grammer Peter Towner Rory McCann Hugo Shephard captain Christopher Grammer James Robinson

Extracts from the Annual Reports
1983
"One of the most disastrous starts weatherwise we have ever had. 7 matches were rained off. We were only able to play one game up to half term. This was a very happy team. I feel sure they enjoyed their cricket and that is what the game is about."
Team Manager the late Ken Kerr, Hove Knoll School for Boys . Manager of the Under 15 side for over 25 years. Totally eccentric- about whom numerous tales are still told - most of them true. He always purchased a bat for players who scored a century. We now know that he peronally often paid for the hire of grounds and lunches. He left a sum of money to Sussex Schools Cricket Association and young players in Sussex are still benefitting from his kind donation.
2000
"The record suggests an average season affected by the weather, which perhaps is a fair assessment at the end of the day but in truth it nearly provided so much more. Rain caused the premature abandonment of the Middlesex game and the toal abandonment of the Buckinghamshire game."
Team Manager, Ian Gillespie, father of four young children and successful teacher at William Parker School, Hastings. Ian is a highly qualified coach being appointed Staff Coach in 1999. His brother - in law, Jason Finch, Hastings CC was the recipient of a Ken Kerr bat when he scored over 200 runs v Hertfordshire in 1985. A score which was considerably higher than that of Dominic Clapp 189 in 1999 shown as the record score in Sussex Youth Cricket in the County Handbook 2001 page 35.
Comparison of averages
BATTING qualification 100 total runs in season.

1983 2000
Innings Total Runs Average Innings Total Runs Average

Stephen Palmer 15 579 52.60 Jeremy Green 10 281 35.13

Paul Grover 13 449 37.40 Hugo Shephard 9 191 27.29

Robin Hanley 13 279 27.90 Christopher Piper 8 177 22.13

John Price 10 199 19.90 Christopher Grammar 13 166 15.09

Geoffrey Stevens 15 288 19.20

Douglas Cashman 11 172 17.20

Paul Williams 12 114 12.20

BOWLING qualification total of 10 wickets or more in the season.

1983 20000
Overs Runs Wickets Average Overs Runs Wickets Average

Nicholas Page 98 233 19 12.40 Hugo Shephard 81 183 16 11.44

Stephen Palmer 164 412 26 14.70 Jack Hepburn 84 190 11 17.27

John Price 80 227 10 22.70 Christopher Grammer 101 284 16 17.75

Paul Williams 133 355 13 23.60 Matthew Sleep 89 268 13 20.61

Andrew Hill 96 284 10 28.40

Keeping comparison from Inter County school matches only

Catches Stumpings

Jonathan Linford 13 4

Rory McCann 6 0

**1983** **2000**
	Innings	Total Runs	Average		Innings	Total Runs	Average
Stephen Palmer	15	579	52.60	Jeremy Green	10	281	35.13
Paul Grover	13	449	37.40	Hugo Shephard	9	191	27.29
Robin Hanley	13	279	27.90	Christopher Piper	8	177	22.13
John Price	10	199	19.90	Christopher Grammar	13	166	15.09
Geoffrey Stevens	15	288	19.20
Douglas Cashman	11	172	17.20
Paul Williams	12	114	12.20

**1983 20000**
	Overs	Runs	Wickets	Average		Overs	Runs	Wickets	Average
Nicholas Page	98	233	19	12.40	Hugo Shephard	81	183	16	11.44
Stephen Palmer	164	412	26	14.70	Jack Hepburn	84	190	11	17.27
John Price	80	227	10	22.70	Christopher Grammer	101	284	16	17.75
Paul Williams	133	355	13	23.60	Matthew Sleep	89	268	13	20.61
Andrew Hill	96	284	10	28.40

In 2001 at under 15 level the County team have 11 one day matches and 2 two day games
In 1983 at under 15 level the County team had 31 one day matches
In 2001 the matches are arranged through the County Club
In 1983 23 matches were arranged by the Schools Association and 8 were arranged by the Clubs' Junior Cricket Festival
In 2001 a track suited school teacher coaches and manages the programme
In 1983 a school teacher in a suit managed the games
In 2001 bowlers are restricted in the number of overs bowled to 10 per match
In 1983 you bowled for as long as you could.
In 2001 players wear a cap and are " capped" players
In 1983 players were presented with their County badge and thus became " capped " players. 10 of the squad were capped.
In 2001 players purchase sponsored kit
In 1983 players wore a variety of non-matching items
In 2001 the player of the year wins a trophy
In 1983 there were four trophies to be won for batting/bowling and fielding
In 2001 there is no tour
In 1983 there was tour of the West Country playing 5 matches
In 2001 there is a game on the County Ground. For several years the ground has not been available.
In 1983 the team played on several County grounds.

HOW DOES THE END RESULT DIFFER - IF AT ALL ?

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SUSSEX SCHOOLS CRICKET ASSOCIATION
UNDER 19 SIDE 1985

The side leave the County Ground with JOHN NORTH and ALAN HANSFORD leading the applause. In the background, the young Neil Lenham, a member of the Sussex CCC squad having joined in 1984.
Not seen in this photograph but also in this age group were MARTIN SPEIGHT , JAMIE HALL and ROBIN HANLEY. Another player of the same age, KEITH GREENFIELD joined the County Club from Brighton and Hove CC.
Thus FIVE players plus Keith joined the County Club on professional contracts.
Stephen Palmer chose to go to Cambridge University to study engineering. He gained a Blue and thus also figures in the First Class Averages. On leaving Cambridge he signed for Ipswich Town FC and was transferred for £100,000 to Watford FC . He skippered the side and played in the Premier Division. The side has since been relegated and Stephen continues to play in the First Division. Some people believe that he would have made a good professional cricketer.
In 2001 MATTHEW PRIOR signed professional terms. Other recent signings in 2000 from the Youth cricket squads are PAUL HAVELL, DOMINIC CLAPP and MICHAEL YARDY.
One could make a case out that the " average " side of 1985 had just as much ability as the 2000 side which became National Champions. They did not have the professional drive and support and their technique was perhaps more individualistic.
They probably were not as fit as the present Under 19 squad.
I would however put my shirt on the 1985 side to give the 2000 side a good run for their money.

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