Durham Match Thread 2021

[Durhamfootman]

Do you know what? I knew that was going to happen. I deliberately avoided the score until lunch so that I couldn't be blamed for it

I've said it over and over again throughout this match.... there is a reason why Essex have been county champions two years running

It's very disappointing though, but for all we could have won this game (should have won this game) ultimately we had one centurion and one late order partnership in the whole game and everyone else pretty much fell apart, which isn't a winning formula

[captaincolly]

Do you know what? I knew that was going to happen. I deliberately avoided the score until lunch so that I couldn't be blamed for it

I've said it over and over again throughout this match.... there is a reason why Essex have been county champions two years running

It's very disappointing though, but for all we could have won this game (should have won this game) ultimately we had one centurion and one late order partnership in the whole game and everyone else pretty much fell apart, which isn't a winning formula

I'm glad I missed it too! Had a predictable feel about it but 7-40 is bad even by our standards.
Still, we probably should have won it and at least gave them a far tougher workout than anyone probably expected so still some positives to take.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Commiserations fellas. Bit of a blow that one.

[captaincolly]

Commiserations fellas. Bit of a blow that one.

Thanks!

[Durhamfootman]

big blow.

Marty E keeps bashing on about this format. He refutes the notion that all counties can win the CC, because very quickly in the season, the top two in each conference emerge and once that happens the rest of the season for 12 counties is effectively a whole series of dead rubbers. If you start slowly in this format then you're out and have nothing to play for, which could easily be as early as after the first 5 matches. If you start slowly, then even if you build momentum and form later and go on a bit of a run.... it's too late

Taking his argument further.... I suppose it brings the whole idea of players going to the IPL into question, because by the time they return, your season might already be as good as over, so why give them a contract and pay them a lot of money if they aren't going to be around at the part of the season where any chance of going for the title is decided. Equally, there is no point signing Aussie overseas players, because by the time they arrive, your season could already be effectively over. It could be that counties only sign expensive overseas players for the first 2 months of the season, saving themselves some money if the season starts badly, and gambling on bringing players in later if it goes well

The other point Marty keeps making is that back in the nineties the England test team was a shambles, so they brought in a 2 division structure of 16 matches to improve the domestic game.... and it worked well enough to see England rise to the top of the test rankings. Despite having seen how well the format worked they reduced the 4 day games by two because there was 'too much cricket' only to expand the T20 instead. I suppose the suspicion is that the ECB are now looking to erode the 4 day game even further in order to make even more room for the Folly........... then in a few years time, with England bottom of the test rankings and never getting anywhere near a world test championship final, they'll scratch their heads and wonder where it all went wrong, and what they'll need to do to fix it

[captaincolly]

Yes, I think the 5 match group stage is a big flaw. The other commentator mentioned that Essex won the title in 2019 and didn't win any of their first 3 games ( two draws & a defeat) but went on to win the title.
They couldn't have done that with this format.

[Durhamfootman]

I look at the tables and note that despite being well placed to win both of our first matches we only have 3 points more than Leicester who have been completely out classed, out played and have conceded enormous amounts of runs in both of theirs, and look strong contenders for the worst county of the season award

[Durhamfootman]

Derby next

thank goodness Critchley isn't in any sort of form, or we could be in trouble

[captaincolly]

Derby next

thank goodness Critchley isn't in any sort of form, or we could be in trouble

What could possibly go wrong!

[Durhamfootman]

13 man is announced

Carse out (bit of a niggle) replaced by Potts

[westoelad]

13 man is announced

Carse out (bit of a niggle) replaced by Potts

Yeh, but no doubt Coggers will get the nod in the final X1

[Durhamfootman]

I don't think so, but I've been wrong before. I imagine Potts will replace Carse and the only question then is whether a place can be found for Thomson, although that feels unlikely because Salisbury has been bowling pretty well and equalled his highest ever score batting in the last match to boot. We were short on spin in the last match and it cost us the game, so who knows?

[captaincolly]

I see Dom Sibley has a broken hand and won't be available to play against us when we take on Warwickshire Unfortunate!

This loan signing is baffling- especially as the weather seems ideal for spin bowling. Is he a specialist 12th man?!

[captaincolly]

We won the toss and are batting. Looks as if Coughlin is in!

[Durhamfootman]

yes, I spotted that

I also spotted that last week the club match preamble mentioned Essex quick Peter Siddle, who wasn't available at that point, and this week they talk about Derby's Billy Stanlake, who I'd guess probably isn't available either (or Bancroft would likely be available to us), so I'd imagine this stuff was written ages ago with suitable gaps in which to insert our squad names

I have been wrong before though. It's equally possible that all Aussie players are available this week except ours, because we cocked up the signing and other counties didn't

we'll find out soon enough