Durham Match Thread 2018

[captaincolly]

To be fair, almost every team has been horrific with the bat. Apart from Surrey and Warks.

Yes. There was a fair amount of uneven bounce this afternoon and Colly did say last night that 150/160 was the maximum he'd want to chase. That said it is a poor batting lineup and always likely to collapse under any pressure!

[westoelad]

To be fair, almost every team has been horrific with the bat. Apart from Surrey and Warks.

Yes. There was a fair amount of uneven bounce this afternoon and Colly did say last night that 150/160 was the maximum he'd want to chase. That said it is a poor batting lineup and always likely to collapse under any pressure!

I hope our new DoC isn't as charitable as you two
Having said that the Sky commentators were saying the restriction on the use of a heavy roller was preventing pitches flattening out as the game progressed.

[captaincolly]

To be fair, almost every team has been horrific with the bat. Apart from Surrey and Warks.

Yes. There was a fair amount of uneven bounce this afternoon and Colly did say last night that 150/160 was the maximum he'd want to chase. That said it is a poor batting lineup and always likely to collapse under any pressure!

I hope our new DoC isn't as charitable as you two
Having said that the Sky commentators were saying the restriction on the use of a heavy roller was preventing pitches flattening out as the game progressed.

I think they're right. Colly could do nothing about the shooter that bowled him and Poynter also undone by the low bounce.
Even in the first innings Richo - on 50 - went to play a pull shot only for the ball to keep low and trap him lbw ( although I'm not sure about the decision as it seemed to clip the top of his pad.)
There have been some odd scores though - two hat tricks by Somerset in two days and one of them to Tom Abell!

[Durhamfootman]

OFFS

goodnight boys.... close the door on the way out..... come back when you're good enough

what a *modded* shower

If we got rid of half of this lot, they wouldn't be *modded* missed

[Durhamfootman]

I'm looking forward to seeing how Colly got out

[captaincolly]

I'm looking forward to seeing how Colly got out

Bowled by one that kept very low! Lees got off to a fluent start again but when he was out lbw ( I missed it but the report on cricinfo described it as adjudged lbw...say no more ) the innings ground to a halt with Steel 2 not out after about 15 overs!!
It was good bowling on a pitch with uneven bounce but also a fairly predictable collapse epitomised by Davies getting run out not attempting a run but loitering outside his crease unaware that the ball was in the hands of the fielder who threw the stumps down from close range!

[Durhamfootman]

Ah well, chaps..... an underwhelming year.

Awful in the CC, awful in the 50 over cup, but signs of progress in the T20 to lighten the feeling of gloom around the county

Salisbury looks a good signing, Rushy proved ever dependable. Hopefully the new signings for next year will elevate the county from the pretty dire position it finds itself in

Thanks for all the hard work on the thread

nearly 200 pages and nearly 3000 posts represents a far better return than the team probably warranted or deserved

here's to next year

and actually the winter is probably a very good time for us fans, because the 2019 season hasn't gone completely t1ts up yet, so we can enjoy things for a while

[captaincolly]

Ah well, chaps..... an underwhelming year.

Awful in the CC, awful in the 50 over cup, but signs of progress in the T20 to lighten the feeling of gloom around the county

Salisbury looks a good signing, Rushy proved ever dependable. Hopefully the new signings for next year will elevate the county from the pretty dire position it finds itself in

Thanks for all the hard work on the thread

nearly 200 pages and nearly 3000 posts represents a far better return than the team probably warranted or deserved

here's to next year

and actually the winter is probably a very good time for us fans, because the 2019 season hasn't gone completely t1ts up yet, so we can enjoy things for a while

Surely will be better next year , I still think we need a couple of good middle order batsmen but finding them will be the problem.
If by some miracle the younger bowlers can stay fit ( or between them stay fit enough to sort of do a job share during the season) I reckon we should have a fair chance of challenging for promotion.

[captaincolly]

One last look at the div 2 table and we were by no means the worst side for batting points - same number as Kent who finished second and of other the teams above us we had more than Middlesex and Gliucestershire... And yet no side had fewer bowling points.
Clearly down to our habit of performing better in the second half of matches but still a surprise - going by the stars alone the batting was average and the bowling hopeless and yet I think - unless we can bring in a demon bowler - I think most of us would say the batting is our weakness.

[Durhamfootman]

Surely will be better next year , I still think we need a couple of good middle order batsmen but finding them will be the problem.
If by some miracle the younger bowlers can stay fit ( or between them stay fit enough to sort of do a job share during the season) I reckon we should have a fair chance of challenging for promotion.

I prefer 'a very modest chance of finding ourselves somewhere near being in a position to perhaps even challenge for promotion'

Captaincy will be interesting.... big boots and all that

[captaincolly]

Surely will be better next year , I still think we need a couple of good middle order batsmen but finding them will be the problem.
If by some miracle the younger bowlers can stay fit ( or between them stay fit enough to sort of do a job share during the season) I reckon we should have a fair chance of challenging for promotion.

I prefer 'a very modest chance of finding ourselves somewhere near being in a position to perhaps even challenge for promotion'

Captaincy will be interesting.... big boots and all that

I agree. Think your choice of words is better because there's so much uncertainty - a betting man would not put money on those bowlers suddenly shrugging off the injury issues.
Unless we bring in a player another player as captain - or give it to Bancroft or even Raine( although as an all-rounder it'd be a very tough ask ) - I don't think there are any obvious choices. Rushy as a certain starter maybe but I'm never keen on bowling captains. Lees and Steel could both do with another season in the ranks imo.
One thought I had would be a short term fix - bat Smith in the middle order after a top 3 that looks at least potentially strong and get him to captain in all 3 formats. It'd be a big risk though as we'd be appointing a captain who may well not have been in the team otherwise but someone with his experience should make runs if the top 3 can perform decently.

[westoelad]

Ah well, chaps..... an underwhelming year.

Awful in the CC, awful in the 50 over cup, but signs of progress in the T20 to lighten the feeling of gloom around the county

Salisbury looks a good signing, Rushy proved ever dependable. Hopefully the new signings for next year will elevate the county from the pretty dire position it finds itself in

Thanks for all the hard work on the thread

nearly 200 pages and nearly 3000 posts represents a far better return than the team probably warranted or deserved

here's to next year

and actually the winter is probably a very good time for us fans, because the 2019 season hasn't gone completely t1ts up yet, so we can enjoy things for a while

Surely will be better next year , I still think we need a couple of good middle order batsmen but finding them will be the problem.
If by some miracle the younger bowlers can stay fit ( or between them stay fit enough to sort of do a job share during the season) I reckon we should have a fair chance of challenging for promotion.

Burnham has been quoted as being now out of contract and has heard nothing from the club. Appears,then, that it is the parting of the ways not surprisingly.
Batting was the weakness in the CC last year undoubtedly but I have mixed feelings regarding further strengthening; it takes newcomers a lot of times ,if ever, to adjust to Riverside conditions with last year being particularly challenging. With that in mind I'd be prepared to persist with Clark, Smith and Richardson. Important to remember that Clark was prolific in T20, Richardson in RL50 and Smith steady in both.Harte hinted at having the ability whilst it was encouraging to learn that Colly has such a high opinion of Carse. He, Potts and Weighell are all capable all-rounders. We only need one of them to be fit at any one time.
So

Steel
Lees
Bancroft
Smith(c)
Clark
Harte
Richardson(w/k)
Raine
Carse/Weighell/Potts
Salisbury
Rushworth

Res.
Jones
Davies
C.Steel
Rimmington.

[captaincolly]

Ah well, chaps..... an underwhelming year.

Awful in the CC, awful in the 50 over cup, but signs of progress in the T20 to lighten the feeling of gloom around the county

Salisbury looks a good signing, Rushy proved ever dependable. Hopefully the new signings for next year will elevate the county from the pretty dire position it finds itself in

Thanks for all the hard work on the thread

nearly 200 pages and nearly 3000 posts represents a far better return than the team probably warranted or deserved

here's to next year

and actually the winter is probably a very good time for us fans, because the 2019 season hasn't gone completely t1ts up yet, so we can enjoy things for a while

Surely will be better next year , I still think we need a couple of good middle order batsmen but finding them will be the problem.
If by some miracle the younger bowlers can stay fit ( or between them stay fit enough to sort of do a job share during the season) I reckon we should have a fair chance of challenging for promotion.

Burnham has been quoted as being now out of contract and has heard nothing from the club. Appears,then, that it is the parting of the ways not surprisingly.
Batting was the weakness in the CC last year undoubtedly but I have mixed feelings regarding further strengthening; it takes newcomers a lot of times ,if ever, to adjust to Riverside conditions with last year being particularly challenging. With that in mind I'd be prepared to persist with Clark, Smith and Richardson. Important to remember that Clark was prolific in T20, Richardson in RL50 and Smith steady in both.Harte hinted at having the ability whilst it was encouraging to learn that Colly has such a high opinion of Carse. He, Potts and Weighell are all capable all-rounders. We only need one of them to be fit at any one time.
So

Steel
Lees
Bancroft
Smith(c)
Clark
Harte
Richardson(w/k)
Raine
Carse/Weighell/Potts
Salisbury
Rushworth

Res.
Jones
Davies
C.Steel
Rimmington.

That's a good lineup. Top order looks solid if they can play anywhere close to their potential. A lot of depth to the batting as well.

[Durhamfootman]

Wood?

I might like to see the absence of 'The Sister', but not sure JJB would

[captaincolly]

I'd forgotten about Wood!
'The Sister' - took a while before I got it. Very good! And I agree with you, he seems to be guaranteed to play.