Sussex vs Australia: Battle of the strugglers

Ryan Harris (L) and James Pattinson

Later this week, Sussex entertain Australia in a three-day tourist match. The match starts on Friday and if the weather stays hot then Hove will be packed with buzzing fans.

Sussex do have a T20 match against Kent on Wednesday before they play the Aussies. However, both sides go into the game in very bad form. Australia have got off to a poor start in the Ashes losing both of the opening Tests and the second by a monumental 347 runs.

Sussex were recently annihilated by Middlesex in the LVCC and have lost their last four T20 games – only winning one of their 8 T20 games so far which is pretty grim as a Sussex fan. Hopefully, this game can lift the spirits of the Sussex supporters.

The last time these two met was back in 2009. Australia travelled down to Hove to play a warm up match just before the Ashes began. The crowds swarmed in as the sun shone down and the beer was sipped. The game finished in an entertaining draw but it was a fantastic chance for the Sussex fans watch the Australians play.

I had the pleasure of watching players like Michael Clarke, Ricky Ponting and Brett Lee. It was also a learning opportunity to meet all of the Australians and receive pictures and autographs. I distinctively remember that I got an autograph from every single one of them except Ben Hilfenhaus who must have been wearing an invisibility cloak of some sort.

Anyway, I won’t forget that match and I hope this year’s meeting between the two of them can live up to the expectations again.