That’s where I’m worried. Signings like this, I’m assuming he wasn’t cheap, suggest a prioritisation of T20. And as such take money away from potential CC reinforcements. There’s only so much in the budget after all.

Unsurprisingly Stokes is going to have knee surgery after this World Cup. Apparently should be fit for the India tour.
But with his performances so far, you’ve got to think this was probably a hurdle to far for his body, and considering he can barely run let alone bowl, this seems inevitable and probably makes his decision to play even more questionable.

I’m going on the assumption that his record will get better when he is playing with the likes of OHD and Rushworth, and on fair contest pitches, where sides need to score against him. Rather than in a pretty poor attack on a Hove pitch that’s been flat as a pancake for the last few years. Also looking at his stats the bulk of his red ball matches have been much earlier in his career when much younger. But we will see.

Part of me wonders if a signing like this, plus Booth, might make us sign a second red ball overseas for the first part of the season.
Get a batsman and seamer. Then during or after the T20, when we typically see a changing of the overseas, Garton might fancy playing some red ball like Maxwell did last season, and we may then only need 1 overseas going forward. But from the sounds of it, Robinson isn’t expecting him to play any red ball cricket in the first part of the season.

I do wonder how much we’re paying him. Because white ball contracts now for players like him are essentially t20 blast contracts.

So assuming we get all the way to the final of the blast and he plays all 17 matches and bowls his full allocation of 4 overs in each, you’re paying for 68 overs a year. Plus him swinging the long handle with a couple of quick 30’s a year.
So I do hope the pay matches that, as too many top players who give everything in all formats are getting 1 year deals and fighting for extensions whilst we see the likes of Booth and Garton getting handed 3 years.

Judging by his skill set, and what we’ve heard about Henry Brookes recently, seems like he’s going to be a replacement for Henry in T20.
Booth seems more akin to Norwell, bit of pace, bowls a heavy ball.
Guessing how much both play in red ball this season will depend on their fitness, injuries and who the overseas is.

Just listened to the interview. Seems from what Booth is saying that the club see him as an out and out pace bowler who’s pace is his ultimate weapon.
From what I saw in the couple of 50 over matches and the seconds highlights, he didn’t seem to be bowling that fast.
So I don’t know what they’ve seen, but it’s interesting that’s their approach and what they want him for.
Wonder if they see him as a Norwell replacement (because let’s be honest he’s not getting another deal), bowl a heavy ball and get wickets in less helpful conditions.

Looking at that. I am starting to understand why so many players fled Sussex like rats on a sinking ship over the last 3 years.
Compare the statement Middlesex or Durham gave about Jon Simpson or Rushworth leaving, to the whole short paragraph Sussex managed to put together about Garton.
I understand he hasn’t been there as long and isn’t of the same stature. But he’s a homegrown, England capped player, you’d have thought they’d be able to at least, even if through gritted teeth, put together a nicer send off.

Would be a shame, and once again a failure in part by the club to bring through a young home grown fast bowler to be a consistent long term contributor.
Though I feel the injuries have played a big part in this.
He almost looks like he’s trying too hard in T20 and 50 over. Trying to prove he’s still one of the fastest around.
In red ball, it’s more like he knows he’s always a stop gap, so unless he takes a 5 wicket haul he’s getting dropped, so he bowls like he has to take a wicket every ball. Trying too much, not just getting into a rhythm and hitting the top of off for 10-12 balls in a row. I think it’s why he did well on loan, he knew he was going to play so was more relaxed about his approach.

I’ve no idea either way. All I know is what my friend has told me. Though from the sounds of it, most of the people on his message board are sad to see him go.

What might be driving the forcing to buy it out is that Sussex apparently are in a tough place budget-wise.
Their entire financial plan was heavily reliant on updating the offices at the sea end of the ground and then leasing them out, but since Covid the demand for office space has gone off a cliff and they can’t lease them. The club are now having to work out how to sustain itself financially, and needing to be prudent financially.

Interesting one from a Sussex fan friend of mine.
Apparently Gartons mum is a rabid Sussex fan, and she posted that essentially Garton fell out with Farbrace and asked to be released from his contract.
Robinson used Burgess and Briggs as examples of players who’ve made the same move and succeeded as a way to convince Garton to sign for the Bears, as he had a lot of other suitors.

The fall out, (again according to Gartons mother) was from earlier in the season when multiple times Farbrace wouldn’t pick him and kept claiming to the press that he was injured despite Garton saying he was fit and made himself available to play all formats.
Some Sussex fans think this is a combination of Farbrace thinking Garton was unreliable fitness wise and was trying to push him out as he’s an expensive player and they have some money issues caused by Rob Andrew, and want to make some big overseas signings to bolster an inexperienced side.

I really don’t understand this club sometimes.
We release homegrown prospects like Johal and Garrett. But sign an identical player from South Africa on a 3 year deal.
I mean a 3 year deal?!?!?

I wish him all the best, but seems baffling to me.
Half expecting a bowling version of Benjamin. 1 breakout performance, and to live out the rest of his time based on reputation.

Middlesex apparently are willing to let expensive players go because their financial punishments have meant they need to lower costs.
They need to reduce the number of expensive senior players and one format players too. TRJ apparently could be on the way out.
Sussex were desperate for an experienced multi format keeper, wanted Burgess or Cox from Kent, but couldn’t afford them as they’re younger and in their prime.
A friend of mine is a Sussex fan, Carter apparently isn’t a great gloveman and his batting flatters to deceive. Scores easy runs typically on a very flat Hove pitch. But now he can sit behind Simpson, maybe play as a batsman and work on his game.
Simpson was a cheaper option because he’s only got a 2-3 years left. He provides experience and depth.

The ECB with some serious questions to answer after the shambolic showing in this World Cup so far.
Bet Strauss is rubbing his hands with glee, eyeing up another pointless and overpaid review.
The county game will somehow be blamed for this, as is always the case.

I think after a day in the field they’re allowed to be pretty calorific.
Pizza, chips, burgers etc. it’s about getting the calories back in.

On the injury front and why players seem more injured. I’ve always thought that it’s not about more injuries, it’s about medicine/scans improving to the extent that more injuries are found. Previously they’d have been written off as a sprain, minor pull or something like that. Now they can identify them better.
That affects how the attitude has changed. If you’re told it’s a sprain then you’re expected to strap it and go. If you’re told it’s a contusion of the cartilage (I don’t know if that’s a thing but sounds serious), then seems more reasonable to sit out.

On those 2 points.
1) as much as coaches do know about players attitudes, abilities etc. if this was 1 young seamer I’d understand. But it’s 2 this year. And countless over the last 10 who haven’t been brought through from academy to first team regular. They can’t all have poor attitudes and don’t put in the effort.

2) whilst a players attitude and effort and all those things are part of the judgement for sure. At the end of the day, players need to be judged on their performances on the pitch. That’s what counts the most. And being a great bloke and trying your hardest is irrelevant if you’re not taking wickets, or end up with a top 3 as robust as wet toilet paper.

Hard to know for sure, but considering where he was 2 years ago, you’ve got to think there’s been some significant issue that’s caused his performances to drop off.

Shame really, but once again a club failure to bring through a promising young seamer. You just hope the likes of Che Simmons can come through and buck that trend.

I have so much more respect for the Indians and BCCI because they’re not even pretending that they care about the matches other teams are in.
No opening ceremony, but a big show before the India vs Pakistan match. Grounds bordering on a quarter full unless India are playing. They’re not hiding anything, they don’t care what everyone else thinks.

Is anyone else struggling to get into this World Cup?
I don’t know if it’s because there’s been no close matches, the crowds seem small due to the cavernous stadiums, or if because it’s so long that none of the early matches seem important.
Doesn’t quite have the appeal yet.

7/10 is definitely fair.
Almost but not quite sums up a lot of the players too.
Plenty had good moments without having a great season. We just lacked that something, whether it was a bit of luck, a key moment, or a difference maker on our side that would have taken a good season to a great season.

Think the top 3 really needs looking at for next year. Far too often we were 3 down inside 10/15 overs or the power play . Tough to win any competition like that.