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

Here we go, pre-season is underway.

Zimbabwe tour as last year, consisting of two 3 day games and 4 T20's

The England boys have been given the tour off, so no Potts, Carse, Lees, Robinson. BdL joined late so missed the first 3 dayer, and it was a first outing for new boys Parky and Ackers

First 3 day game
https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/dur ... -scorecard
Durham win by 9 wickets

Second 3 dayer
https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/dur ... -scorecard
Durham win by 136 runs

I think the most interesting thing in these first two matches is that the capt opened the batting in 3 of the 4 innings. The big mystery last year was why sign Ackers... where does he fit into a side that was so successful last year and that accumulated so many batting points? Well, it looks as though Durham have a plan after all. If Borthwick opens, Ackers can slot in at 3 or perhaps 4 (if Bedders moves up one and he seems comfortable batting anywhere and in any situation). It means the corporal can dip in and out of the side should Lees get called up for England or the lions.

Borthwick scored fifties in both matches. Ackermann scored 130 in match one and a fifty in match 2.

very encouragingly, after some members seemed to think that perhaps we signed the wrong Parky, Callum Parkinson cleaned up in the final innings of both matches with a 6fer in the first and a 4fer in the second

I watched some of the feed for day 2 of the first match and Parky trapped 2 batters lbw, bowled two through the gate with turn, had a sharp catch taken in the slips and finished off with a c&b, so everything was on display


It was a bit of a flashback seeing a Mustard behind the stumps again

Borthwick opening the batting is interesting. It's probably the best way to get Ackermann in the line-up.

well, it's competition for the two openers if nothing else. Lees was terrific last year and although the corporal's return for the season was decent enough, he was a bit hit and miss at times. Lees scored double the runs that Jones did

Durhamfootman wrote:well, it's competition for the two openers if nothing else. Lees was terrific last year and although the corporal's return for the season was decent enough, he was a bit hit and miss at times. Lees scored double the runs that Jones did

Good to have options. Jones would be a bit unlucky to miss out but there's no other obvious candidate when everyone is available.

For all Jones had a decent year, he still only scored 600+ championship runs and averaged 32 or something. He scored roughly the same number of runs as the captain, but Borthwick averaged 40 odd..... and took the odd wicket with his pies.... and didn't drop as many in the slips as Jones

Jonesy dropped a load of chances last year and together with 670 runs or whatever it was and I'm not sure they are div 1 stats

If that is the way Campbell is thinking, I reckon Jones will benefit from the competition for places and end up being a better player for us. If either Crawley or Duckett pick up an injury, Lees will surely be uppermost in England's mind as a replacement, alongside any Lions matches, so Jones will have a part to play for us throughout the season, I'm sure...... and then there's the white ball stuff too. Jones did pretty well at times in the T20. He scored almost as many runs as Lees, Clark and Robbo and they would be considered undroppable in our poor T20 team

I'd like to think that Bedders will play a full part in our T20 campaign this year

Durhamfootman wrote:I'd like to think that Bedders will play a full part in our T20 campaign this year

Me too.

First T20 scorecard -v- Mountaineers as part of Zimbabwe's domestic T20 comp

https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/zim ... -scorecard
Durham win by 53 runs

second T20 -v- Mashonaland Eagles starts later today

Lees and Robbo are back after Lions duty for the T20's, but no Potts and Carse

big runs for Lees and wickets for Luke (Stan) Robinson

BdL didn't get carted around the park and scored 40 off 24 at no.3

another failure for the corporal

Sowter is with us for this series

we have chosen to bat in the second match. First T20 XI plus Coughlin and Gibson in the squad for this match

I think playing in domestic T20 comp is a really good idea

same team as match 1

Lees bowled for 1 in the first over

This is more like Durham in the T20's

25-3 in the 5th over

Ackers and Robbo with the job of stopping the rot

Robbo out for 17..... 4, 2, 6, holes out

Durham 46-4 after 7

Ben Raine in at 6