Northampton lad Salisbury hoping for a happy homecoming with Sussex

Sussex coach Ian Salisbury will be hoping for a happy homecoming at the County Ground this week.
Sussex coach Ian SalisburySussex coach Ian Salisbury
Sussex coach Ian Salisbury

The former England leg-spinner was born in Northampton and grew up in Moulton.

He was in the Northants youth system as a boy, but was one that got away for Northants as he was instead snapped up by Sussex.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He made his debut for the south coast club as a teenager and went on to play for them for eight years, before moving on to Surrey and then Warwickshire.

The 51-year-old played 15 Tests and four one day internationals for England, and moved into coaching once his playing career ended.

Salisbury was appointed Sussex head coach over the winter. and makes his first visit to his home town with the south coast county this week.

And, as well as expecting a tough battle with Northants, he is also intending on taking the chance to catch up with his family!

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"Northampton’s my home town, so it will be nice to go back and see my sisters," said Sailsbury, who has seen his team win one, draw one and lost two of their four LV= Insurance County Championship Group 3 matches this season.

That's an identical record to the County, including the fact they have lost to Lancashire and Yorkshire, and he added: "Northants, like others that have been in the second division and haven’t had the chance to play against teams like Yorkshire and Lancashire, look like they have been invigorated by the format we’re playing.

"They’ve had two great matches in the last couple of weeks and they’ll be just as enthused by how they’re cricket is going as we are.

"I expect nothing else other than another tough, exciting game which will be another test for our team to see where we’re at."

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Sussex will be boosted by the first appearance of their Australian import Travis Head, who is available after undergoing his Covid-19 quarantine period.

And Salisbury is excited at what the left-handed batsman, who has played 19 Tests for Australia, will bring to his squad.

“I’ve had quite a bit of contact with Trav since taking over the job," Salisbury told sussexcricket.co.uk. "His enthusiasm for cricket is infectious.

"He’s been messaging me non-stop through the games and telling me how much he’s been looking forward to getting over here.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"He gives off a lot of energy and he’s fully invested in what’s going on here at Sussex and our strategy.

"Trav can’t wait to get started and wants to be part of the club for a long time to come.

"He said to me that he wants to be like Darren Lehmann was at Yorkshire: create a legacy here that lasts and make this his home during his winter year after year.”