Blast from the past: James Kirtley & Luke Wright

Our look back at the twenty20 Cup winning side of 2009 as part of the Blast from the past ticket offer for this year's Vitality Blast continues! Today, we examine the performances of two Sussex legends, one of whom will be looking to win another T20 title as part of this year's squad...

JAMES KIRTLEY

 

Appearances: 12

Wickets: 17

Average: 10.88

Economy: 6.85

Best: 3-9

James Kirtley was ever-present during the most successful decade of Sussex’s history, and the 2009 twenty20 Cup was the seventh title of his lengthy career with the club.

Featuring in all but one match, the right-arm quick was the Sharks’ leading wicket-taker in the competition. Often used in short bursts, Kirtley had a knack of making top-order breakthroughs that proved invaluable to his captain. Nine of his 17 wickets were those of batsmen batting in the top six.

Another wicket for James!

He was also remarkably consistent in his potency. After missing the first match of the tournament, Kirtley went wicketless in only one match. This was made all the more impressive by the fact that the only time he bowled his full allocation was in the eight wicket win against Hampshire at Hove.

Following on from his heroics in the 2006 C&G Trophy, James once again demonstrated his knack for big performances in finals by recording his best figures of the tournament against Somerset at Edgbaston. His 3-9 from just two overs included the key wicket of Marcus Trescothick who was looking extremely threatening with 33 runs from 14 deliveries at the top of the order. By removing their danger man, Kirtley dealt a fatal blow to Somerset’s hopes of chasing Sussex’s total.

LUKE WRIGHT

Appearances: 9

Runs: 199

Average: 22.11

Highest: 58

Wickets: 6

Average: 32.5

Economy: 7.50

Best: 2-28

Luke Wright is one of two players from the 2009 twenty20 Cup campaign still in the Sussex squad today. He played in nine of Sussex’s matches in the tournament, missing four group games whilst on England duty in the World twenty20.

Back then, Luke was still bowling as well as launching boundary-clearing assaults with the bat and his all-round contributions were a big part of the Sharks’ trophy win.

Luke Wright bowls in the quarter final win over Warwickshire

He was often asked to bowl during the powerplay or at the death, which no doubt contributed to Wright’s slightly expensive figures during the campaign, but his ability to winkle out key men at key moments underlined his value to the side as a bowler. Batsmen of the calibre of Grant Elliot, Alastair Cook and Dawid Malan all fell victim to the blond bustler during the course of the competition.

With the bat, Luke’s tournament got off to an inauspicious start with a golden duck in Sussex’s opening defeat to Hampshire. He was straight back to his destructive best in the next match, however, top-scoring with 58 off 46 balls as the Sharks beat Surrey by 21 runs.

A typically belligerent Luke plays a match-winning innings against Surrey

Upon his return from the international stage, Wright got the Sussex innings off to a strong start in almost all their remaining fixtures. He provided quick runs against Hampshire (28) and Surrey (31) to help the side through to the knockout stages. Then, another top score in the quarter final against Warwickshire (38 off 31 balls) and the foundations for Sussex’s match-winning totals in the semi-final (18 off 13) and final (20 off 20).

Tickets for all seven of Sussex Sharks’ Vitality Blast group matches at The 1st Central County Ground, Hove go on sale at 10am on Thursday 1st March and can be purchased online or by phone on 0844 264 0202.

The Blast from the past promotion offering adult tickets for the match against Surrey on Friday 13th July at 2009 prices will then be available until the end of March.

An even better value way to catch that match and the rest of Sussex’s home group games is the T20 Blast Pass, which provides adult entry for the equivalent of £14.14 per match. For more details click here.