Groundsman Askew pleased with well-praised Horsham track

Horsham look set to maintain their fine reputation for producing excellent wickets after more praise for this year’s track.
By The Newsroom
Published 24th Jul 2015, 13:30 BST

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Littlehampton Cricket Club get the ground ready for the coming season. Pictured is Cpt, James Askew on the roller. Littlehampton. Picture: Liz Pearce LP1500702 SUS-150328-191152008Littlehampton Cricket Club get the ground ready for the coming season. Pictured is Cpt, James Askew on the roller. Littlehampton. Picture: Liz Pearce LP1500702 SUS-150328-191152008
Littlehampton Cricket Club get the ground ready for the coming season. Pictured is Cpt, James Askew on the roller. Littlehampton. Picture: Liz Pearce LP1500702 SUS-150328-191152008

Horsham and Sussex groundsman James Askew’s hard work along with his team looked to have paid off after the umpires reportedly commented that it was the best wicket they have seen all season.

Sussex skipper Ed Joyce and coach Mark Robinson have both praised the track which is a big talking now at the festival after it received national acclaim.

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Askew was pleased with the outcome but admitted the icing on the cake would have been a Sussex triumph.

Sussex batting at Horsham CC on Tuesday. Pic Steve Robards SR1517447 SUS-150721-160059001Sussex batting at Horsham CC on Tuesday. Pic Steve Robards SR1517447 SUS-150721-160059001
Sussex batting at Horsham CC on Tuesday. Pic Steve Robards SR1517447 SUS-150721-160059001

He said: “I spoke to the umpires at the start of day three and they said ‘it was very good’ I do not know what they have officially marked it.

“The liaison officer, who was appointed by the ECB, said ‘it was a very good wicket’ which is great. It’s a good reputation and we have got very good wickets here.

“For me, I would have preferred it if it was a very good wicket with Sussex winning on it, but I will wait for the umpires report which I will get in the next couple of days and I will know more then.”

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He added: “It played very similar to last year obviously Notts got a bigger score than Warwickshire last year, but Sussex did bat first last year.

“That was probably not down to the wicket, but as Robbo (Mark Robinson) will tell you, we didn’t bowl particularly well after Mags (Steve Magoffin) and Ollie (Robinson). They got away a bit.

“We thought before the game about 350/400 would be a good first-innings score on it, we knew spin would come into it and it did with Keedy.

“It played well, it’s just a shame that it hasn’t gone to the fourth day, not just for the players and Sussex, but for Horsham as well.

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“Obviously we have not got a fourth day crowd, but hopefully people will come out for Sunday and we will get a big crowd then.”

Askew and his team will now be preparing the track as to Sussex’s preferences for Sunday’s Royal London One-Day Cup match against Lancashire on Sunday.

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Related topics:SussexEd JoyceWarwickshire