‘Just so proud of them’ – Farbrace pays tribute to Sussex troops after third-place County Championship finish
Paul Farbrace has spoken of his huge sense of pride at Sussex overcoming off-field problems to finish third in the top division of the County Championship.
They secured third spot – one better than last year’s final position – with a thumping win over relegated Hampshire at the Utilita Bowl inside three days thanks to a Tom Haines century and a Tom Price five-wicket haul.
It was a seventh win in 14 games in a season that started with Sussex on -12 points following ECB intervention over financial mismanagement at the club which has hit the playing squad, with major cutbacks in the budget now being implemented.
Sussex won by 197 runs in Hampshire – after taking a 116-run first innings lead, Haines’ 130 took them to 244 in their second innings and they bowled out their hosts for 238 with Price taking 5-33.
Farbarce, the head coach who is now becoming director of cricket, said after the final match was won: “We’ve had a few heavy speeches that got a bit emotional, I’m just so proud of them.
"We’ve talked about it pretty much every week, we’ve been through some really tough times as a club and we’re still going through that from a financial point of view, but the players in our dressing room have been absolutely outstanding.
“They try for one another and they’re very pleased with one another’s success, and they’re very proud of one another’s success, and that’s unique in professional sport.
“There’s so many that I’m proud of, even the lads that are moving on, Fynn Hudson-Prentice, Henry Crocombe, Tom Alsop, George Thomas, they’re great people and I just can’t be more proud of them as a group."
Sussex have often been short of key players – sometimes through injury, sometimes through international calls – but those called into the side have stepped up superbly, while regulars have delivered consistently.
Farbrace added: “We’ve had no [James ]Coles last week, no [Henry] Crocombe this week, no [Ollie] Robinson last week – he started off as our captain and he’s finished off in the England team and hopefully he gets a central contract and is part of what goes on with England over the next couple of years to come.
“When I watch them in there watching the last few balls of the Yorkshire game and the cheer that went up because they knew they finished third, that’s where you get your enjoyment as a coach.
“One thing we’re really proud of is our dressing room culture. You think of the overseas players, they’ve come back year after year, not because they’re earning loads of money, not because we’re winning trophy after trophy, but they love being in that unit.
“We get a lot of stick about certain things, we’ve made mistakes financially and that’s why we’re in the position that we’re in.
"But there’s loads of other good people at Sussex who haven’t made mistakes, who haven’t got things wrong, and do nothing but care about the cricket and the players and the club, and they’re the people that days like today are about."
Warwickshire won the title – and Sussex were the only team to beat them in the whole summer – while Hampshire finished bottom and Leicestershire occupied the other relegation spot.