Kirtley: We’ll be back for more goes at glory
James Kirtley insists it was not Sussex Sharks’ last hurrah at Finals Day – despite them now losing key players.
The Sharks have enjoyed a bumper era in the Vitality Blast having progressed from the South Group in each of the last four campaigns – while finishing runners-up in 2018.
Opening batter Phil Salt and key fast bowler Chris Jordan will both depart now – with Saturday’s semi-final defeat to Kent Spitfires their last match for the club.
But Kirtley insists more
T20 success will follow. When asked if he could see Sussex returning to this stage he said: “Without doubt. I can see us being able to bolster in a couple of areas. The scheduling will help us as well if it is in one block.
“We need to look at the squad as a whole properly. They are two big holes to fill. There aren’t many batterkeepers available or someone with the skills of CJ.
“They are hard people to replace.
“So there is a balance to find from the English qualified players and then look for overseas options.
“We will delve into that in good detail when we have got over this match and the game against Derbyshire next week.”
George Garton underlined his all-round talent in the 21run defeat with impressive figures of two for 24 before smashing a 23-ball 41.
The left-arm speedsters now jets off for the IPL and Kirtley believes the club’s cultivation has boosted his career.
He said: “We have nurtured him. George has benefited from that. We back him. We back his all-round talent. I wish him well in the IPL.”
On the defeat Kirtley added: “Clearly we put ourselves under from the start and while we wrestled it back well we never really got ahead of the game at any point.”
Sussex skipper Luke Wright said: “We’re obviously disappointed but credit to Kent - they played really well. DBD (Daniel BellDrummond) up top played outstandingly.
“He got that big score and we didn’t have anyone who went on and got that big score. Then Stevo - old man Stevo! (Darren Stevens) finished it off nicely for them and got them a decent total. It was probably always going to be just above par. We still felt if we got a platform we could chase it down but we lost early wickets and that made it difficult.” Pictures from the day: westsussextoday.co.uk