Mushtaq's forced retirement ends greatest era for Sussex: The Independent

By Angus Fraser, Cricket CorrespondentThursday, 28 August 2008

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A glorious chapter in county cricket and the most successful era in Sussex's history was brought to an end yesterday when Mushtaq Ahmed, the Pakistan leg-spinner, announced his retirement from first-class cricket. The decision, enforced by a persistent knee injury, finishes the career of the most influential cricketer in the modern day county game.
When Sussex signed him for the 2003 season not even the club expected him to have such an impact. His initial deal was on a modest basic salary with huge bonuses for taking wickets. The contract worked. Mushtaq claimed five 10-wicket hauls to become the first bowler in five years to take 100 county championship wickets in a season, and Sussex's 164-year wait for the county championship ended.
It would by grossly unfair on the other members of Chris Adams's side to say that Sussex were a one-man team, but in the two following seasons, summers where Mushtaq had less success, the county finished in third and fifth place. But he was back to his best in 2006 and 2007 taking 192 wickets at an average of 22.6 to win Sussex two more county titles.

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