Down by the Riverside 2021

[KingOttis]

Pudsey is off to America

https://www.thecricketer.com/Topics/cou ... t_usa.html

Good luck to him. Had a really good career in the end, after it seemed for a while that he might blow it. Just a pity so much of it wasn't at Durham.

[KingOttis]

nope

tell him to sit on a carrot

Absolutely agree!

[westoelad]

Why missuse such a healthy food?
On pure cricketing ability Scott Steel would undoubtedly enhance both our current white ball teams in both batting our bowling. He's undoubtedly made some bad decisions in the last 12 months or so. afaia he chose to go to Leicestershire to advance his career being promised opportunities in all 3 forms which didn't materialise But he's only 22 year old; he's been either badly advised or not advised. Durham management know more about the situation so it's up to them.
However, I'd prefer to dangle the olive branch rather than the carrot

[captaincolly]

I think I'd dangle the olive branch too. It always seemed odd that we didn't offer him a deal more attractive than the one Leicestershire made.

[Durhamfootman]

Leaving the carrot where it is, from a purely cricketing point of view I don't see where he fits into the side now, even just white ball. He wouldn't replace Clark or Lees or Bedingham. He wouldn't oust Trevaskis or Borthwick with the ball. If he wasn't happy playing T20 and a bit of 50 over before whilst sitting on the sidelines for everything else last time, why would he suddenly settle for even less now. He'd be far better off going somewhere else where they are desperate for an allrounder in all forms of the game. I'm thinking Kent Glamorgan Derby or similar.... Probably add MIddlesex to that list

[captaincolly]

Leaving the carrot where it is, from a purely cricketing point of view I don't see where he fits into the side now, even just white ball. He wouldn't replace Clark or Lees or Bedingham. He wouldn't oust Trevaskis or Borthwick with the ball. If he wasn't happy playing T20 and a bit of 50 over before whilst sitting on the sidelines for everything else last time, why would he suddenly settle for even less now. He'd be far better off going somewhere else where they are desperate for an allrounder in all forms of the game. I'm thinking Kent Glamorgan Derby or similar.... Probably add MIddlesex to that list

Very good point. I was thinking of him as a useful squad player but he will want more than that. I suppose he could be q contender for the one middle order slot that could be up for grabs but definitely no guarantees.
With Burnham gone though we'll presumably have to look for a signing or two because we are short of options in the batting department.
I see Handscomb has left Middlesex to prepare for the Aussie season, presumably Bancroft will have gone back too?

[westoelad]

I'm certainly not desperate for him to return and,at present,only as a white ball player. He's proved that he can be a very destructive opener at T20 and,I'd fancy, a useful finisher in 50 over cricket. He's also a useful bowler in both white ball forms. It all depends,of course,on what terms he left Durham.
No, I'm not Scott Steel's agent!
Strong rumour at Jesmond during the 2nd team game was that Bancroft had already returned home. Almost certain he will have given protocols and Aussie season starting on 12th September.
So we're 3 players down on the start of the season in addition to 6 last season who weren't replaced. Recruitment essential,then, which is why I mentioned Steel.
Typical Durham,asking members to renew but no mention of squad strengthening.

[captaincolly]

I'm certainly not desperate for him to return and,at present,only as a white ball player. He's proved that he can be a very destructive opener at T20 and,I'd fancy, a useful finisher in 50 over cricket. He's also a useful bowler in both white ball forms. It all depends,of course,on what terms he left Durham.
No, I'm not Scott Steel's agent!
Strong rumour at Jesmond during the 2nd team game was that Bancroft had already returned home. Almost certain he will have given protocols and Aussie season starting on 12th September.
So we're 3 players down on the start of the season in addition to 6 last season who weren't replaced. Recruitment essential,then, which is why I mentioned Steel.
Typical Durham,asking members to renew but no mention of squad strengthening.

Yes, recruitment is essential. I wonder why Steel has had limited opportunities at Leicestershire- he did well in the T20 and it's not as if they have a great squad by any stretch of the imagination.
The ironic thing could be that had he stayed with us he almost certainly would have been given a chance to establish himself in all formats but presumably one of the reasons he left was because he thought his chances were better at Leicestershire- unless there was some sort of falling out. If we can get a couple of decent signings there is every reason to believe the promise of this season could be the start of a real rennaisance. Bedingham surely will have attracted a lot of interest from other counties so his decision to stay will hopefully send out a signal to potential signings that thjs is a club on the way back.

[Durhamfootman]

NZ are over again next May and June for a 3 test series, so Will Young might fancy a 4 or 5 game spell with us ahead of that. One of the more impressive early season performances of the last several years. That would also allow Jones to drop down to 5 where I think he'd get a better chance in early season conditions. I don't usually like keepers batting at 6, but it seemed to work pretty well with Mr Ned this year. That then gives us options at 7 to pick players according to conditions

[captaincolly]

I wonder if the cancellation at Old Trafford means Wood will be available for the last 2 games?

[westoelad]

I wonder if the cancellation at Old Trafford means Wood will be available for the last 2 games?

Thanks but no thanks. If he was allowed to play no doubt ECB would place some restrictions on his usage. Not Woody's fault ,of course.

[captaincolly]

I wonder if the cancellation at Old Trafford means Wood will be available for the last 2 games?

Thanks but no thanks. If he was allowed to play no doubt ECB would place some restrictions on his usage. Not Woody's fault ,of course.

True, bound to be a bit rusty too. Has it been definitely decided that the league will now be decided by average points per game? Number crunching isn't a strong point but if that is the case could that Surrey cancellation go in our favour given we have taken maximum points from one game?

[Durhamfootman]

wouldn't the 4 points from the Essex defeats also be included? That final session at Chelmsford will keep coming back to haunt us this season. I have no complaints about the home defeat, we were just outplayed in every single dept there

[westoelad]

According to the current table on the ECB website the 4 pts from the Essex games has been included.
https://www.ecb.co.uk/matches/county-ch ... hip/tables

[captaincolly]

According to the current table on the ECB website the 4 pts from the Essex games has been included.
https://www.ecb.co.uk/matches/county-ch ... hip/tables

Oh yes,, I forgot about carrying points forward!