Ravi Bopara wants to bring a bit of gold dust to Sussex.

The type of Midas touch that has made his former club Essex the most prolific trophy winners in county cricket in recent years.

But the 2019 double winner, who has transferred his services from Chelmsford to Hove, says there are no secrets about winning big prizes.

It comes down to the players – although a “crazy” set of results can help on occasion.

Bopara was second in the batting averages only to Sir Alastair Cook as Essex won the Specsavers County Championship this year.

That is good going but not, one suspects, the prime reason why has is heading to Sussex after 18 years with one county.

The accent will be on white-ball cricket, specifically the shortest format.

Bopara would love to enjoy success again in the Vitality Blast next year and glory on Edgbaston’s big day is undoubtedly a major Sussex goal.

They looked set to challenge strongly this year until losing three in a row at home and suffering personnel changes, not all of which were expected.

Essex handed them the first of those Hove defeats – and went all the way to success in the final.

So how do they do it? What makes Essex serial trophy winners?

And how did they go all the way from near-elimination to top spot in the Blast?

Bopara told The Argus: “You can never look past the players.

“We’ve won all of the competition. I’m not sure how many trophies in total.

“I can certainly say in the Championship we had a very good set of players.

“We had individual players who could win you a game.

“The introduction of a very good spinner in Simon Harmer made a huge difference. You always need to take 20 wickets.

“Essex is a tricky place to bat. When you know how to bat there, that has been a major factor.

“In T20 cricket, we had probably underachieved over the last few years. Getting to Finals Day was a big thing.

“Individual performances in the T20 is what contributed massively to us winning there.

“As well as a massive team effort, you need individual players to stand out on the day.”

Essex were almost out of the running when they came to the South Group leaders at Hove in late August.

The Sharks were not at their strongest or their best that night but could still have won the game.

Bopara’s 45 off 24 balls helped Essex home by nine runs and sparked that amazing run-in.

He said of the Sussex match: “I remember it clearly. I remember thinking Sussex are a very good side.

“For me, at the start of the competition I thought they had to be one of the favourites.

“It was a formidable bowling line-up and a very dangerous batting line-up.

“The way they started the competition sent a message out to the rest of the group that they were the best side.

“For us, the chat that night was that, whatever happens from now, just give 100%.

“Every game was must-win and you never know what might happen.

“We thought we could maybe squeeze into the fourth spot and play a knockout game.

“Everything went Essex’s way. It was crazy. I think 12 results had to go our way and they all did.”

Could Sussex follow suit in 2020?

Bopara said: “They were capable of doing it this year. Losing Tymal (Mills to injury) was a massive blow. He is a top bowler and a match winner.

“Up front and with his death bowling he is a huge part of the team. One over from him can win you a game.

“I’m hopeful I can bring that missing ingredient or a bit of gold dust to help us go all the way.

“With the players we have at Sussex, we have a chance of doing that.

“Travis Head is a very good signing. He is a good player and being a left-hander makes a difference. You need a couple of left-handers.”

The cricketing calendar is set for an overhaul next year.

But Bopara’s comments when he signed about putting his T20 career first suggest he will not be around at the time of the IPL or CPL, if selected for franchises. For now, he is non-committal about that.

He said: “At this stage it is hard to say. I’d like to play IPL. It’s the biggest and best out there.

“But it’s hard to say because there is a long way to go before then.

“I can see myself being available for the draft.

“I’ve not put four-day cricket to bed. I will still play red-ball cricket but less of it.

“It’s important for me to spend time developing my T20 game.

“I’m so far away from the top boys at the moment.

“As an all-rounder, it’s really hard to find the rest time and the practice time with all the cricket that goes on to really develop that side of the game.

“I want to know how good I can be. I don’t want to die wondering.

“I believe I can still play international cricket and I want to give that a real go. I want to play in leagues around the world.”

Those big competitions will include The Hundred in this country.

“It’s a new concept. I can see it being exciting, unpredictable. Nobody knows what a good score will be.”

All part of a big change ahead which sent Sussex into national sports news bulletins last week with their new addition.

Admittedly, the accent was on Bopara leaving Essex after almost two decades rather than his destination.

But it showed the sort of profile Sussex’s new signing enjoys.

He said: “I knew it would be big news. I saw that coming.

“That was why I was wrestling with when it was going to go out.

“It was a tough one but the reaction has been fantastic, so many nice messages from Essex supporters and Sussex supporters.

“It has been a really emotional time and a tough time but it is so nice the way people have reacted.”