Cricket-Match-Special ... A forum for discussion

KingOttis wrote:

captaincolly wrote:

Durhamfootman wrote:Warks have confirmed the signing of Rushy on a 2 year contract with the chance of a further 12 months after that

It's a good deal for him, I think, and (although I hesitate to say it about a club legend) it might yet prove to be a good deal for us..... unless he does an Onions, of course

I agree on both counts.

I'm not sure how it can be a good deal for us. Even after a (for him) mediocre season, Rushworth would still walk into pretty much any county side, and I don't think our threadbare squad can just absorb his departure. If we had a decent sized squad, with players fighting to get into the side it might be different, but we were woefully short of strength in depth last season, and have since lost one of our better batsmen and our record wicket taker. Obviously his personal circumstances have dictated this situation, and after all his service to the club I respect his wishes, and hope that a move away brings him whatever he needs, but from a Durham viewpoint this feels to me like a huge loss. IMO we need at least two good quality batsmen and two bowlers (presumably one of which would be an overseas player). If I had faith in the decision makers to bring quality players in, then again, maybe Rushworth's departure wouldn't feel so depressing, but personally I don't, and when you take away players who will be snaffled by England next season, our squad is ridiculously light.

Oh I agree - if they do not use the money freed up by his departure to sign quality replacements it will be disastrous. I just think his best years are probably behind him - but it's hard to judge because conditions this year nullified his style of bowling and he also had personal issues that could have impacted on his performances.

the squad has been paper thin for a while and I share your worry about that KO

I came to the conclusion this year that with the ECBs preference for flat pitches (which Bostock seems to agree with so we comply), the relayed square which is expected to take a few years to bed in and which is kept as flat as a fart in the interim, the problem with the balls going soft (and the possibility that the ECB might switch to the kookaburra which go soft early anyway), plus us bowling him into the ground might mean that Rushy becomes less and less potent at the back end of his career. 34 wickets @ 27's is miles away from even a year ago and he had to miss 3 matches this year with injury which hardly ever happens

The reason I mentioned Onions is that I agreed with the decision to let him go after his contract demands and a couple of injury hit seasons. What nobody saw is that he would stay injury free for 2 years and make us look daft, but there you go, these things happen sometimes. I hope Rushy finds what he wants at Warkwickshire and it helps prolong his career like it did Onions. He's been wonderful for us, but I do rather think his best days may be behind him.

It's up to the club now to find the right players and I have no faith that they will do that, but I'm not sure that means it was wrong to let Rushy go if he wanted it

Crickinfo suggesting Ryan Campbell could be the new coach. Killeen also in contention but Harminson isn't.
Campbell had a heart attack earlier in the year!
Ryan Campbell in frame for Durham head coach job
https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/ryan ... ob-1343372

not a name I'm familiar with.

Durhamfootman wrote:not a name I'm familiar with.

I'd vaguely heard of him. Seems to have been a pretty gooc FC keeper/batsman. Has coaching experience so in theory probably wouldn't be a bad appointment.

captaincolly wrote:Crickinfo suggesting Ryan Campbell could be the new coach. Killeen also in contention but Harminson isn't.
Campbell had a heart attack earlier in the year!
Ryan Campbell in frame for Durham head coach job
https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/ryan ... ob-1343372

The only time I've heard of him was when he had a heart attack earlier in the year. He'll probably have another one when he sees our threadbare squad.

Durhamfootman wrote:not a name I'm familiar with.

Me neither really. Good players leaving and not being replaced, a first team squad so small it could hold a team meeting in a phone box, and an underwhelming coaching prospect. I'd like to think things might take a more optimistic turn, but I don't hold out much hope.

he doesn't seem keen to move his family here either, which doesn't help imo

is he only in the frame because of his North connections? We've been down that road several times now, with little benefit to the club, which makes it hard to imagine that North is not a big part of the problem. Quicker we're rid, the better, for me. I wonder what it would cost to get him to ssip off?

Might be money well spent

3 year contract extension for Lees. Excellent news and, unfortunately for him, I think he will be available for the season!

definitely good news for us

Durhamfootman wrote:definitely good news for us

Yes. Think he is just the type of player who is a real asset - top quality county cricketer but just short of international class so not lost to England.

Ryan Campbell confirmed as coach. Seems to be quite highly rated but unless we substantially strengthen the squad I don't think even the greatest coach of all time would succeed.
Going to have Lees and probably Potts available for more games than last year but that was the case on 2021 and it was obvious then that the squad needed strengthening.
North has said the overseas signing is going to be a bowler.

I've renewed my subscription for another year

Gawd knows why.... I must be a glutton for punishment

lets hope the overseas bowler is a good un

I see that North said that Campbell was appointed after an 'extensive recruitment process'

does this mean that he had to go through his little black phone book of western australia buddies from front cover to back cover before finding one that said "yes"?