Durham Match Thread 2019

[captaincolly]

A dire start. The batting failures all too predictable but letting Derbyshire recover from 0/2 to post 200 in the first innings and then failing to put them under pressure in the second was poor. Can't draw any conclusions after one game but if it wasn't a fluke and the bowlers are going to have problems on flat pitches then it will be a big problem. Time will tell.
Lees, Harte and Burnham are the ones to emerge with credit but that's about it imo.

I see there's an extra members forum on Friday night with Bancroft and Sir Ian. The latter probably there to act as a minder and dissuade anyone from asking awkward questions!

Yes but it's a very important it. With Steel, Bancroft and Eckersley to come in that gives us a pretty solid top 6. I suspect that Poytner's 80 against the students swayed his selection this time but, hopefully, the useless leprechaun will now disappear under a fairy circle never to appear again.
Given the batting selected for this game, we couldn't expect anything other than defeat once they posted that 2nd innings score.

Agreed. Although I have a feeling they will persist with Poynter!

[Durhamfootman]

me too

[Durhamfootman]

I'd go

Bancroft
Lees
Steel
Harte
Burnham
Raine
Eckersley
Trevaskis
Weighell
Salisbury
Rushworth

Harte's showing at the top of the order raises some interesting questions

Trevaskis looks worth persevering with for a bit

[westoelad]

I'd go

Bancroft
Lees
Steel
Harte
Burnham
Raine
Eckersley
Trevaskis
Weighell
Salisbury
Rushworth

Harte's showing at the top of the order raises some interesting questions

Trevaskis looks worth persevering with for a bit

Woody of course is available as a one off v Sussex. I'd also prefer Carse , whom I'd bat at 6, to Weighell and Trevaskis is certainly worth persevering with - he's at least proved he can graft. As for Eckersley, can't see the point in giving him a contract unless they're going to give him an opportunity in the 1st team.

[captaincolly]

I'd go

Bancroft
Lees
Steel
Harte
Burnham
Raine
Eckersley
Trevaskis
Weighell
Salisbury
Rushworth

Harte's showing at the top of the order raises some interesting questions

Trevaskis looks worth persevering with for a bit

Yes, Harte has done well since we found him and seems to be more than handy as a bowler too.Wood is supposed to be playing against Sussex, although who would be surprised if he doesn't?
I'd be keen to get Carse in, Colly rates him highly but the fitness record doesn't exactly inspire confidence.

[captaincolly]

I'd go

Bancroft
Lees
Steel
Harte
Burnham
Raine
Eckersley
Trevaskis
Weighell
Salisbury
Rushworth

Harte's showing at the top of the order raises some interesting questions

Trevaskis looks worth persevering with for a bit

Woody of course is available as a one off v Sussex. I'd also prefer Carse , whom I'd bat at 6, to Weighell and Trevaskis is certainly worth persevering with - he's at least proved he can graft. As for Eckersley, can't see the point in giving him a contract unless they're going to give him an opportunity in the 1st team.

Yes, makes no sense. Poynter's form probably wouldn't merit a contract extension but he's going to be unavailable after this year in any case so I can't understand not playing Eckersley. Of the three keeper options in the squad I think I'd have Poynter as a distant third choice - although he is a handy one day batsman down the order.

[SixSixEight]

The 2nds are playing friendlies in Chelmsford. One one dayer so far.
Runs for Clark and Scott Steel, not so much for Eckersley, and Cameron. No wickets for Carse. Pringle had a typically Pringle non first team match by the looks of it; some wickets, some runs......
This is from Monday https://www.essexcricket.org.uk/matchzo ... 48c4565c9c

I may go and have a look over the next two days depending on how much rain is forecast.

I'd drop anyone who is a runout waiting to happen - so Richo, Pointer and Weighell if Woody is playing, I quite like Weighell's bowling but his batting has not made it through the winter by the looks of it. Smith is not looking good right now, so him gone too. Trevaskis stays as he is a left hand bat, i'm also hoping he is sensible [and after Leicester where we only had Lees as LHB, Raine and Trevaskis add 2 more]. Steel/Burnham/Clark have to prove they are not runouts waiting to happen and can play sensibly [none of them did the last time I saw them]. Steel and Clark can provide bowling options, but I might pick Jack as he seemed sensible at Derby and perhaps Clark [but is he too one day specialist?]. If Carse does not get a sack full of wickets at Chelmsford then he stays in the 2nds till he does. We will see if Scott Steel is still feeling like he could take better things than 2nd team opposition in the coming days too. If Eckersley is not in form, can Bancroft keep wicket? So:

Bancroft
Lees
Harte
2 of Steel/Burnham/Clark
Raine
Eckersley
Trevaskis
Wood [Weighell]
Salisbury
Rushworth

[captaincolly]

The 2nds are playing friendlies in Chelmsford. One one dayer so far.
Runs for Clark and Scott Steel, not so much for Eckersley, and Cameron. No wickets for Carse. Pringle had a typically Pringle non first team match by the looks of it; some wickets, some runs......
This is from Monday https://www.essexcricket.org.uk/matchzo ... 48c4565c9c

I may go and have a look over the next two days depending on how much rain is forecast.

I'd drop anyone who is a runout waiting to happen - so Richo, Pointer and Weighell if Woody is playing, I quite like Weighell's bowling but his batting has not made it through the winter by the looks of it. Smith is not looking good right now, so him gone too. Trevaskis stays as he is a left hand bat, i'm also hoping he is sensible [and after Leicester where we only had Lees as LHB, Raine and Trevaskis add 2 more]. Steel/Burnham/Clark have to prove they are not runouts waiting to happen and can play sensibly [none of them did the last time I saw them]. Steel and Clark can provide bowling options, but I might pick Jack as he seemed sensible at Derby and perhaps Clark [but is he too one day specialist?]. If Carse does not get a sack full of wickets at Chelmsford then he stays in the 2nds till he does. We will see if Scott Steel is still feeling like he could take better things than 2nd team opposition in the coming days too. If Eckersley is not in form, can Bancroft keep wicket? So:

Bancroft
Lees
Harte
2 of Steel/Burnham/Clark
Raine
Eckersley
Trevaskis
Wood [Weighell]
Salisbury
Rushworth

Good to hear from you!
I think the fundamental problem is that there are not enough quality batsman in the squad in general and especially the middle order- Colly was the only one and the middle order was very poor despite his 1000 runs- when he struggled last year the entire lineup collapsed almost every time. They haven't replaced him. All of the options look to me like ones who should bat at 6/7 behind a strong top 5 but we're going to have them all in a row between 4-7. The bowling looks strong with good options ( fitness depending) but is it strong enough to compensate for the batting frailties? I'm not so sure it is.

[westoelad]

Ditto, happy New Cricket season 668. I think that there was a hint of a solid top order during the Derby debacle with
Lees
Bancroft
Steel
Harte
Burnham
With the added bonus that Harte could fill or share the 4th seamer role.
The batter w/k remains an issue but Eckersley has to be given a chance.

[captaincolly]

Ditto, happy New Cricket season 668. I think that there was a hint of a solid top order during the Derby debacle with
Lees
Bancroft
Steel
Harte
Burnham
With the added bonus that Harte could fill or share the 4th seamer role.
The batter w/k remains an issue but Eckersley has to be given a chance.

Yep. There were encouraging signs from those players so cause for optimism with the two incoming players. Down the order looks ok too with Raine and most other bowlers capable of contributing. The keeper situation is a great mystery - batting Poynter at 6 would be a bad idea if Alastair Cook, Joe Root, Steve Smith and Kohli were in the top 4!

[Durhamfootman]

Ditto, happy New Cricket season 668. I think that there was a hint of a solid top order during the Derby debacle with
Lees
Bancroft
Steel
Harte
Burnham
With the added bonus that Harte could fill or share the 4th seamer role.
The batter w/k remains an issue but Eckersley has to be given a chance.

Yes... welcome back 668

share rather than fill, for me. Not sure I'd want to rely on him, but he's handy to have as a bowling option

[Durhamfootman]

I'd forgotten that Woody was available, so Weighell comes out

I think they'll keep the Sister, perhaps because the one dayers start after this next match and I suspect they have him earmarked to keep in the white ball stuff, whilst simultaneously giving them time to look at Eckersley in the seconds

[captaincolly]

I'd forgotten that Woody was available, so Weighell comes out

I think they'll keep the Sister, perhaps because the one dayers start after this next match and I suspect they have him earmarked to keep in the white ball stuff, whilst simultaneously giving them time to look at Eckersley in the seconds

Ah yes, I'd forgotten there were just two CC games before the one dayers start.

[westoelad]

2nds are playing a 3 day friendly in Essex where Eckersley is playing so it looks like sister act again v Sussex.

[captaincolly]

2nds are playing a 3 day friendly in Essex where Eckersley is playing so it looks like sister act again v Sussex.

Marvellous.