Durham Match Thread 2026

[Durhamfootman]

looks as though I may be back

[captaincolly]

looks as though I may be back

Excellent!

[captaincolly]

We probably had a decent day - I'm assuming conditions were favourable for batting and we kept chipping away and keeping the run rate down.
Still think though there are too issues-:the signing of ageing overseas bowlers and the struggle to get wickets with an older ball.

[Durhamfootman]

agreed

although, on the plus side.... Parky bowled 23 overs with the old ball, conceding the same number of runs (47) as that ageing overseas player managed in 9 and getting the other bowlers back in the dressing room with an extra hour of recovery time. I'd be very surprised if we weren't the first match to finish with all 96 overs completed.

If we were relying on just the 4 prong seam attack to bowl all day (like we did v Kent), they might have been there until 7pm having conceded 320/330 runs on the first day and even more tired tomorrow morning when ideally we need them to blow away the tail

We seem a more balanced side with a spinner in it, and Parky has been doing a very decent containment job since his return to the side.... to say nothing about his very valuable runs last week. Without that 10th wicket 80 stand, we might not have won that game as comfortably as we did

[captaincolly]

agreed

although, on the plus side.... Parky bowled 23 overs with the old ball, conceding the same number of runs (47) as that ageing overseas player managed in 9 and getting the other bowlers back in the dressing room with an extra hour of recovery time. I'd be very surprised if we weren't the first match to finish with all 96 overs completed.

If we were relying on just the 4 prong seam attack to bowl all day (like we did v Kent), they might have been there until 7pm having conceded 320/330 runs on the first day and even more tired tomorrow morning when ideally we need them to blow away the tail

We seem a more balanced side with a spinner in it, and Parky has been doing a very decent containment job since his return to the side.... to say nothing about his very valuable runs last week. Without that 10th wicket 80 stand, we might not have won that game as comfortably as we did

Yes, he has done well - Campbell mentioned hr had been working hard on his bowling and batting. That innings last week and the partnership was crucial.
I suppose the problem taking wickets with the older ball is one that a lot 9f teams have- Lancs found that out last week and the last round saw a lot of high scoring draws.

[Durhamfootman]

According to the cricketer that may be partly down to the new pitch penalties. Instead of a pitch rated poor leading to a max 8 point deduction, from this season a poor pitch will cost the home side all of the points they gained in the match. Given that a road is never considered to be a poor pitch, clubs are leaning towards them in their preparations. Another case perhaps of unintended consequences?

I see, from the report that we dropped Robson very early in his innings and also Higgins when on 26. Both should have been pretty regulation catches

[Durhamfootman]

pitches are rated poor if they show signs of excessive turn or uneven bounce on day 1 (might be days 1 and 2)

the new regs were intended to stop clubs from walking away from a 5 session victory and a points deduction with as many points as they would have got in a 4 day snore draw on a feather bed

[captaincolly]

According to the cricketer that may be partly down to the new pitch penalties. Instead of a pitch rated poor leading to a max 8 point deduction, from this season a poor pitch will cost the home side all of the points they gained in the match. Given that a road is never considered to be a poor pitch, clubs are leaning towards them in their preparations. Another case perhaps of unintended consequences?

I see, from the report that we dropped Robson very early in his innings and also Higgins when on 26. Both should have been pretty regulation catches

Very costly drops. I think you're right about the pitches, erring on the side of caution. A draw would he alright here but plenty of work to do.

[Durhamfootman]

Very costly drops.

the difference between 450 and 330, I reckon

[Durhamfootman]

Ouch.... the women were slaughtered by Notts, who at 135-7 managed to finish on 240-8. The old story

as it happens, even the 135 would have been a challenging target.

whenever there are failures for Wilson and Armitage we have very few runs in the tank.... Wednesday being a rare exception, but against a side no better than us

[Durhamfootman]

another 5fer for BR, who I am in future going to refer to as IBR... the inimitable Ben Raine

[captaincolly]

Ouch.... the women were slaughtered by Notts, who at 135-7 managed to finish on 240-8. The old story

as it happens, even the 135 would have been a challenging target.

whenever there are failures for Wilson and Armitage we have very few runs in the tank.... Wednesday being a rare exception, but against a side no better than us

Not much sign of building on some promising signs last year.

[captaincolly]

Think we will surely lose Gay to England.

[Durhamfootman]

looks like it, but England are stupid. I think they'll ask Rew to open in place of Crawley and slot Bethell straight back in at 3

I see that Woody is hopeful of bowling again this summer, but not a mention of bowling for us... 'laser' focused on bowling for England in some format

[Durhamfootman]

A first FC wicket for the new Big Luke

It hadn't occurred to me that this was his FC debut