Hardy Yardy saves Sussex

 
I only managed to hear the last 45 minutes of the game, and by that time it had really come down to a question of whether Michael Yardy was going to reach a century for the first time this season – which he duly did. And it sounds like it was a well deserved hundred, batting out the game so that Surrey were forced to shake hands shortly after the hundred was reached. Curse that missing day! Surrey haven’t really suffered at meteorological hands this year but they may well end up ruing the miserable weather on day two.

Equally Sussex, given the way they were batting latterly, might also feel slightly aggrieved. Yet a draw for the leading division two championship side might keep those sniffing around behind them a little interested.

Even if the end of the match petered out to a rather tame draw the day appears to have started perfectly. From what I gather Chris Tremlett claimed a wicket with the first ball of the day – caught by a certain Mr Ramprakash, no less. Then an annoying little partnership between Goodwin and Joyce sprung up (it becomes very difficult to concentrate on your work when you keep debating the wisdom of looking at the score every five minutes) which ended when Joyce was bowled by Batty for 40. Goodwin reached 23 when Meaker struck – but the partnership had given the impetus to Sussex at this point.

The real damage seems to have been done by Yardy and Ben Brown, who combined to dismiss any hopes Surrey may have had at forcing a result in their favour. Brown finally was caught by Davies off the bowling of Batty for 52, but with Yardy still going strongly too much of a chunk had been taken from the game in order to allow anything other than a draw. Arafat and Yardy got together, played some nice shots, and kept going long enough to allow Yardy to reach his well-deserved ton.

Whilst not especially a Sussex supporter, although I have nothing against them either, you have to say well done to Mr Yardy for his captain’s innings. Sussex does seem a very adaptable side who can cope mostly with whatever gets thrown their way. Having lost Robin Martin-Jenkins to the teaching profession, and now with the news James Kirtley is also to retire at the end of the season; Sussex will feel the loss quite keenly although no doubt they have many talented players to step into those big shoes. There seems little doubt that Sussex will go back up, deservedly so, but the question is – will they stay there? Surrey have spent a goodly amount of time yo-yoing up and down between divisions, or clinging on by their fingernails as a result of losing several key players to retirement at the same time. Hopefully this won’t happen again in the future.

I do hate hearing of retirements, though. Tends to make the Rampants a tad nervous. We all know Mr R can’t go on forever in the game (he has one year left on his contract), and we’ll be mighty sorry when the decision is taken to stop. Still, I hope Surrey allow him to reach that decision for himself and don’t manoeuvre him into it. That would be showing considerable ingratitude towards a player who’s up there with Jack Hobbs in terms of giving so much to his club.

Oh dear...think I might have made a lot of Rampants very miserable for bringing the subject up!