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

if he does play again before the end of the season, then I think it would be fair to assume that it isn't the wrist that he uses to hold his bat when trudging off the field after being dismissed for a low score

Shock, horror. Durham withdrawing academy team from NEPL.Must be more to this than meets the eye. Come on SW -spill the beans.
http://nepremierleague.pitchero.com/nor ... cket-52385

It seems an odd decision to withdraw the Academy. I don't know anything about league cricket though so maybe there is a logical reason.

captaincolly wrote:It seems an odd decision to withdraw the Academy. I don't know anything about league cricket though so maybe there is a logical reason.

Sorry, just picked this up.

I do not have an inside track on this yet but suspect it may be the result of a complete review of the operations at The Riverside by the new CEO.

It may make sense in terms of cost benefit and the financial restrictions that Durham now operate.To fulfill
the commitment to play a competitive XI each Saturday is quite demanding on the young cricketers in the Academy and the numbers required makes it expensive ,knowing that some will never succeed. The emphasis is, probably, now to focus on preparing the few, really talented ones, to develop into real assets in the Pro world through 2nd XI comps and possible progression to 1st class opportunity.

I do know one or two Academy players have requested an early release to their clubs as they felt they were being underplayed in their specialism . At their clubs they believe they could still be coached,managed and played so that their skill may develop in time. Remember Rushworth, Weighell and Whitehead all left the Academy only to return to to the squad after a period in league cricket.

There may be other reasons as well and if I do glean them I will report.

I think that there will be other important changes too, probably towards the end season or after.

southwood wrote:I think that there will be other important changes too, probably towards the end season or after.

let's hope it involves replacing Lewis with Collingwood

westoelad wrote:Shock, horror. Durham withdrawing academy team from NEPL.Must be more to this than meets the eye. Come on SW -spill the beans.
http://nepremierleague.pitchero.com/nor ... cket-52385

Club statement on above-clear as mud to me.
https://www.durhamccc.co.uk/news-and-me ... t-of-nepl/

westoelad wrote:

westoelad wrote:Shock, horror. Durham withdrawing academy team from NEPL.Must be more to this than meets the eye. Come on SW -spill the beans.
http://nepremierleague.pitchero.com/nor ... cket-52385

Club statement on above-clear as mud to me.
https://www.durhamccc.co.uk/news-and-me ... t-of-nepl/

I see that Lewis makes it clear that it wasn't his idea!

News from Martin Emmerson - Axar Patel is going back home after the next two games. BCCI have recalled him for a domestic tournament.
So the batting is going to be even worse for the last couple of games but presumably an opportunity to give one of the young bowlers a chance and the pressure won't be on 'cos luckily there is no third division.

thank goodness there's no 3rd division

Durhamfootman wrote:thank goodness there's no 3rd division

Indeed!

I haven't seen any of the matches, but I've been somewhat appalled by the low scores from pretty much everybody, at any and every time of the year, in any and every sort of conditions. Is the pitch a shocker these days? A few years ago (when I did used to attend regularly) there were 300 run stands taking place (although not from us, naturally), now there's barely 300 runs scored across both the first innings in most matches

we did get a new groundsman a couple of years ago.... does he know his job?

Durhamfootman wrote:I haven't seen any of the matches, but I've been somewhat appalled by the low scores from pretty much everybody, at any and every time of the year, in any and every sort of conditions. Is the pitch a shocker these days? A few years ago (when I did used to attend regularly) there were 300 run stands taking place (although not from us, naturally), now there's barely 300 runs scored across both the first innings in most matches

we did get a new groundsman a couple of years ago.... does he know his job?

I think they are regularly poor pitches but it's strange as there have been some big scores - Leicestershire and Derbyshire and then we had those extraordinary second innings recoveries before skittling them in the last innings. Although our bowling was poor for much of the early season with Rimmington opening the attack. It's much better now.
Even in that Leicester follow on we seemed certain to bat out a draw only for a sudden collapse that , ironically , worked to our advantage.

In general though it has always looked to me that a collapse from any side is a distinct possibility and I agree with Lewis when he said today that a target of 150 would have been challenging.
Can't remember what game it was but last year there was a game with a dreadful pitch and Colly criticised the groundsman- not directly but said something about how he was sure he'd be fine once he got used to the ground.

That said there are some fragile lineups around in this division and none more suspect than ours. Apart from the overseas openers there wasn't anyone in the squad apart from Colly with a track record that inspires confidence - the younger ones are still trying to establish themselves and the more experienced ones have pretty ordinary records. Markram and Cook in the past two years had a trying time although I'm fairly sure they'd have both done well had they been here longer.
Poor Colly has had a shocker but must have been in early in just about every innings.

Ben Raine returning next season. That should be an excellent signing given he was wanted by division 1 clubs.
According to cricinfo he's staying at Leicestershire until the end of the season because they still could get promoted.

captaincolly wrote:Ben Raine returning next season. That should be an excellent signing given he was wanted by division 1 clubs.
According to cricinfo he's staying at Leicestershire until the end of the season because they still could get promoted.

Certainly an excellent seam attack in Rushy, Sainsbury and Raine. None of the new signings will have come cheaply so presumably the funds have come from Colly's impending retirement.

http://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Playe ... 26386.html

westoelad wrote:

captaincolly wrote:Ben Raine returning next season. That should be an excellent signing given he was wanted by division 1 clubs.
According to cricinfo he's staying at Leicestershire until the end of the season because they still could get promoted.

Certainly an excellent seam attack in Rushy, Sainsbury and Raine. None of the new signings will have come cheaply so presumably the funds have come from Colly's impending retirement.

http://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Playe ... 26386.html

I suspect you're right about Colly. I think if we could just somehow find one quality middle order batsmen we'd be in fine fettle for next season.