Durham Match Thread 2024

[captaincolly]

And the sun came out the minute our innings ended

It’s lovely now. It was like March half an hour ago

Typical.

[Durhamfootman]

well gawd bless trigger finger steve o'shaunessy, because roderick was long way forward for an lbw dismissal

[Durhamfootman]

Siddle’s first over looked 10 times more threatening than any of Raine’s

Stokes on

[Durhamfootman]

Ben stokes

2 balls

[captaincolly]

Hopefully that wicket will slow the run rate down.

[Durhamfootman]

5 drops of rain and the umpires stopped play

Kashif Ali is the luckiest bloke on display today. Played and missed an extraordinary number of times. Potts beat him all ends up 3 times in one over. I reckon he’ll go on to make the biggest score in either innings

[Durhamfootman]

I reckon they’re all watching the football. There’s bugger all going on outside and it can’t be the light because the floodlights have been on since 4 o’clock

[captaincolly]

23 wickets on a day! Is it a terrible pitch or down to the overhead conditions? That pitch might come under scrutiny if this is over in double quick time - and that seems likely.

[captaincolly]

And two nightwatchmen! Campbell didn't sound too positive about Bedingham- hamstring injury and having scans.

[Durhamfootman]

Bad news about Bedders. He didn't seem to be injured when he was batting, but Coggers fielded for him from the start of their reply

A combination of factors today, I think. We prepared a green top for this match and both sides bowled well on it. Part of me wonders about this. There have been a lot of wickets falling in 5 of the 9 matches. Essex last week was played on a pitch that had been used twice, we prepared a green top for this. The schedule over the T20 part of the season is completely manic. Are counties preparing pitches that they think will produce a result in 2 days, just so the players can get an extra couple of days off? Am I just indulging in conspiracy theory?

Pottsy got the wickets he deserved in the end. He bowled really well and just couldn't catch a break in his first spell against Kashif. Kashif even nicked off against Stokes, didn't walk and the umpire didn't make him, but I was sitting close by and I heard the nick, everyone heard it... the whole team went up instantly. If it wasn't his bat, I have no idea what else it could have been... it wasn't a pad noise... maybe a thigh guard or something..... sounded like an edge to me

[Durhamfootman]

The acoustics were weird today. I could hear everything. The things the players were saying to each other, people coughing and laughing on the other side of the ground, Stokes banging his bat on the ground waiting for the bowler to run in. It felt really, really odd.

[captaincolly]

I wouldn't discount that idea of preparing pitches designed for quick results given the ridiculous schedule. I wonder if the duel nightwatchmen tactic means they think the pitch us a bit of a lottery.
Could easily be a scenario where we're 40/5 early on tomorrow and Campbell's comments suggested Bedders isn't going to make an overnight recovery. He also said the pitch will flatten out ...game probably will be over before it does!

[Durhamfootman]

Is it time to re-think Ben Raine's role in the side. He takes the ball and opens the bowling... every time. Has done for the last few years... leader of the attack..... but.... but....

He was really poor in his first 5 over spell. About as non threatening as an opening bowler on a green top can be. Yet he came back later and took 3 wickets for not many runs, testing the batters all the time. As the season has gone on, I've begun to notice that this seems to be becoming the norm. Expensive at the top, wickets later on. I'm beginning to wonder if Siddle should be opening the bowling with Potts. Siddle looked threatening immediately... and he's a gnarly, snarly little bugger. Imposed himself on the batters first ball.

Is that heresy?

[Durhamfootman]

Oddest thing..... Stokes came steaming in with the ball and then pulled out at the last minute, doubled over and everyone laughed at him. At first I wondered if he'd whacked himself somewhere tender as he ran in, but then I noticed he was retching like he was going to be sick. I think he must have swallowed a fly or something as he ran in. If it wasn't for the laughter, I'd have assumed he'd pulled something as he was hitting his delivery stride

[captaincolly]

Is it time to re-think Ben Raine's role in the side. He takes the ball and opens the bowling... every time. Has done for the last few years... leader of the attack..... but.... but....

He was really poor in his first 5 over spell. About as non threatening as an opening bowler on a green top can be. Yet he came back later and took 3 wickets for not many runs, testing the batters all the time. As the season has gone on, I've begun to notice that this seems to be becoming the norm. Expensive at the top, wickets later on. I'm beginning to wonder if Siddle should be opening the bowling with Potts. Siddle looked threatening immediately... and he's a gnarly, snarly little bugger. Imposed himself on the batters first ball.

Is that heresy?

No. I agree, Raine not made an impact with the new ball. I wasn't there today but surely Siddle- or Stokes- would have been better new ball options. Seems as if this is Siddle's last game for us, we'll need to get a suitable replacement in.