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Burnett casts doubt over title bid
Eastbourne Cricket Club's head coach Richard Burnett has all but conceded the Sussex Premier League title with 11 matches still left to play.
The Saffrons outfit are 78 points behind front-runners Preston Nomads, roughly the equivalent of two wins and a draw, as the season nears its halfway mark.
And despite recording their first win after back-to-back losses, with a comfortable victory over struggling Lewes Priory last weekend, Burnett feels the gap is just too large for his side to close.
When asked if recent defeats had put paid to Eastbourne's title hopes, Burnett said, "Realistically, I think so. You never say never until it's all over, but 80 points is a lot to overhaul.
"If Nomads slip up, then that gap can be narrowed and that's what we'll be looking to do, but it will be difficult."
Burnett again put his side's inconsistent performances down to having to chop and change the side due to the unavailability of Sussex professionals.
He said, "If you look at Preston Nomads, they very rarely change their team so they have that continuity of team selection that we don't.
"If we had our pros on a regular basis, we'd be up there challenging them."
Today (Saturday), Eastbourne travel to third-placed East Grinstead, the only side looking capable of wresting the title away from Nomads.
Ollie Rayner and James Kirtley are playing for Sussex against Australia, but Tom Smith and Ben Brown could be involved.
Ragheb Aga may also line-up against East Grinstead, if he recovers from a side strain.
The home side's main weapon is 24-year-old Aussie spinner Cullen Bailey, who has taken 23 wickets this season, at just 18.57.
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Weather for Eastbourne
Sunday 12 February 2012
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