In fact, for the Albion squad, this is the last week of their summer break as they embark on pre-season training on Monday.

Regardless of the rights and wrongs of Dean Wilkins' departure, the return of Micky Adams has seen not only an upturn in season ticket sales, but in expectation of the supporters.

But expectation can sometimes be like an albatross around the neck of the Albion manager. However good a manager Micky is, and my feelings on that are well documented, I hope the Albion faithful give everyone at the club some bedding-in time.

Mr Kipling, Rudyard, not the cake maker, once wrote about being able to treat triumph and disaster just the same.

I wonder if those words have significance for Sussex captain Chris Adams.

After another successful season last year, it's been a totally different story in the summer of 2008.

And the reigning county champions now find themselves on the wrong end of another Twenty20 record.

A couple of weeks ago, in front of a capacity crowd at Hove, Adams' side became the first team in the history of the competition to score over 200 and then lose.

And, on Tuesday at Chelmsford, Essex's Graham Napier hit an English record knock of 152 in 58 balls, including 16 sixes.

Entertaining stuff for the punters, regardless of which team they support.

In defence of Sussex, and Adams, they have had some wretched luck with injuries.

But the next few weeks will be the ultimate test to see if they can pick themselves up from these setbacks and try to take something from what is turning out to be a somewhat forgettable season.

On the subject of cricket, a quick mention to a very special tournament this Sunday at the Littlehampton Sportsfield in memory of former Herald/Gazette sports reporter Ben Steppel — a well-respected and much-missed colleague.

The action starts at noon and if you can get down there and support a very worthy cause, please do.

I myself took in a bit of cricket earlier this week on Broadwater Green. I watched a thoroughly enjoyable Worthing Evening League fixture between The Cricketers and St Mary's.

A special mention must go to Paul Tolchard, who returned career-best bowling figures of 5-19 for the Cricks.

Re-emerging Broadwater take their club to the next level on Wednesday with the launch of their new colts section.

With strong set-ups at all the other local clubs, it's certainly not going to happen overnight but with the likes of Bob Reynolds, Lewis Chidwick and Neil Luker involved, something will develop that will create a stream of younger players for the club in years to come.

I was very pleased to see that the local corridors of power recognised the superb achievement of the Orchards football team's victory at Wembley Stadium last month.

Mayor Christine Brown, entertained sports master Grant Christie and the team in her parlour at the Town Hall recently.

And, earlier this week, the school staged a "world premiere" of the DVD of the game, which was kindly provided by Sky Sports. But a special thank you must go to Albion press and PR officer Paul Camillin, who arranged the whole thing with the broadcaster.

And finally, is it only a matter of days before Andy Murray stops being British for another 50 weeks?