Captains & coach answer Members' questions at AGM

Members of Sussex Cricket were given an opportunity to grill men’s head coach, Jason Gillespie as well as captains Ben Brown and Luke Wright during a question and answer session held at Tuesday night’s Annual General Meeting at The 1st Central County Ground.

The panel were asked if the club had plans to make any more signings ahead of the new season, what they thought would constitute success in 2019, whether they expected Jofra Archer and Chris Jordan to feature in this summer’s Cricket World Cup and how many sixes they predicted Sussex Sharks’ batsmen would hit into Cow Corner this season.

Those gathered also heard the trio’s thoughts on the recent ‘Mankad’ controversy in the IPL, the red ball versus white ball debate, the evolution of T20 tactics, England’s (and Australia’s!) World Cup chances and The Hundred, before joining the whole of the men’s playing squad for refreshments.

Earlier in the evening, Chairman Bob Warren had opened the meeting by paying tribute to the Vice Presidents, Members and members of recreational clubs that had died since the previous AGM. A minute’s silence was observed in their memory.

Following the Chairman’s report, Treasurer Ed Putnam gave a presentation of the club’s finances before the 2018 accounts were approved by Individual and Affiliated Club Members.

Members then elected Sir Rod Aldridge as Sussex Cricket’s new president. Sir Rod is the chairman of the Aldridge Foundation, the community regeneration and education charity, which has sponsored Sussex Cricket’s girls’ and boys’ emerging player pathways since 2014. He takes over the role from John Abbott CBE who has reached the end of his two-year term.

Following his appointment, Sir Rod said: “It’s an exciting time for cricket both nationally and for the club. It is important to use this moment to maximise the development of the game in Sussex at all levels.

“As President, I see the opportunity through the development programmes we have to bring young talent through at all levels, including building upon the massive interest that there now is in women’s and Girls cricket.

“Above all I would like to give boys and girls in our primary and secondary schools the chance to learn and enjoy this wonderful game.”

Jon Filby and Gary Stanley were re-elected unopposed to Sussex Cricket’s Board of Directors, while Abbot, Richard Barrow, Laurie Claydon, Tony Pigott, Nick Sharp and Don Smith were appointed as Vice Presidents. For Barrow, the meeting represented the end of 25 years as a Board Director.

Chris Coleman, Sussex Cricket’s head of community cricket, concluded the evening’s formal proceedings with a presentation of the Sussex Cricket Foundations’ activities during the past year.

Speaking at the end of the evening, Warren said: “Firstly, I want to pay tribute to the tremendous service that both Richard Barrow and John Abbott have given to the club over many years. Their selfless dedication over many years has been of unquantifiable benefit to Sussex Cricket and cricket in the county generally.

“We offer a warm welcome to our new Vice Presidents as well as to Sir Rod Aldridge, our President for the next two years. Sir Rod’s dedication to young people in our community is well-known and fits entirely with our values and strategic aims at Sussex Cricket.

“I’m delighted also that Jon Filby and Gary Stanley will serve a further term on the Board; they are fine people to work with when it comes to the governance of our club.

“It was great to chair a well-attended meeting this evening and the question and answer session with Dizzy, Ben and Luke was entertaining and enlightening. We will be making this a feature of future AGMs as well.

“Seeing our Members sharing a drink and chatting with the players at the end of the evening was a pleasing sight; it encapsulated the open, warm atmosphere that we have here at Sussex Cricket.”

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