Vitality Blast match day interview: George Garton

On each Vitality Blast match day at The 1st Central County Ground, we're bringing you an exclusive interview with one of Sussex Sharks' star players. Today, it's the turn of George Garton. The all-rounder spoke to Jack Butler from Sussex Cricket's Official Newspaper Partner, Sussex Newspapers, before this year's tournament started...

Without a doubt, a trophy would be a fantastic start for the inaugural year of the Ian Salisbury-James Kirtley tenure at Sussex Cricket. For the Sharks to achieve that, their best bet looks to be the shorter format where the tools are certainly in place to not only attack but win the Blast.

Despite the loss of spinner Danny Briggs, who has joined Warwickshire, Sussex still have a plethora of T20 talent in their ranks. Luke Wright, Phil Salt, Tymal Mills, Ravi Bopara, Rashid Khan, Travis Head, Chris Jordan and Jofra Archer are in a squad stocked with talent - and it's a line-up that George Garton admits SHOULD be at Finals Day.

“We’ve been there and thereabouts for the past few years,” says the all-rounder, whose impressive performances with bat and ball saw him scoop both of Sussex’s Young Player and Player of the Season Awards in 2020. “We have a very clear and strong mindset and we back our ability a lot. I don’t see any reason why we can’t win it."

This year, the Sharks will be selecting from a squad featuring overseas stars Travis Head and Rashid Khan – in addition to David Wiese, who no longer qualifies as non-overseas. Head couldn't get to Hove for his Sussex career to beging last year – and Khan missed 2020 in England too after travel restrictions created by coronavirus. Head will bring more experience to an already powerful batting line-up, while Khan’s skill, passion and enthusiasm will once again be a popular addition down in the nets at Hove. 

“It's a great challenge,” Garton says of Khan. “You watch him make the batsmen look silly. When you're in the nets you know you’ve come up against the best spinner in the world. 

Travis Head is one of Sussex's overseas options in this year's Vitality Blast

"Travis adds another really good batter. He’s versatile and can bat almost wherever he wants. We have a lot of international players, with the likes of CJ, Jofra, Travis, David Wiese and Rashid. That's so many leaders on the pitch that drive the energy and training to be at such a high standard. It's hard not to create such a good environment where everyone is pushing each other.”

While an experienced core will be at the heart of any Sharks’ success, there are a few youngsters that have shown that they are more than capable. Alongside Delray Rawlins, Garton stood up when the Sharks were missing a few of their stars to the international schedule. No more so was this evident than when the 24-year-old took 4-27 before smashing 24 off nine balls to guide the Sharks into the quarter-finals with a win over Middlesex at Hove. 

After a fantastic campaign in 2020, George has already taken eight wickets in this year's Vitality Blast

"I always expect high standards of myself and I always want to put in match winning performances,'' he adds. “It was nice to show that I could do it [because] it gives you confidence for this year. You’re training against a very good and a very quick seam attack which makes playing a bit easier." 

Sussex do have pace in abundance. Add the spinning options and the Sharks have a bowling line-up that would make even the biggest global T20 franchises green with envy. Charged with putting it altogether is coach James Kirtley, who will oversee the T20 campaign. 

“He’s a great bloke to tap into with game plans and game knowledge,” says Garton, when asked about the appointment of Kirtley. “James is numbers, precision and he's very analytical with what he does. He's brilliant with the younger seamers, knowing when to dip in and give them a bit of positive feedback and when to tell them to switch on.”

For Sussex the first challenge involves getting out a very competitive South Group, and then getting past a quarter-final hurdle that the Sharks have fallen at in their past two attempts.

"I don’t think we have to do anything different,” Garton states. “The quarter-finals are just another game of cricket to go out and enjoy. In 2019 Moeen Ali played one of the best knocks I have ever seen and when someone does that you just have to shake his hand and say 'well played'. Last year, we just didn't quite get it right against Lancashire.

“I just have to produce the best I can and make the most of my ability. I want to focus on putting my best performances in for Sussex and being part of a winning side."