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Who's going up this year?

Arthur Crabtree wrote:Who's going up this year?

I'll be very surprised if Durham go up! Thought the Smith and Rimmington signings were going to be the start of a proper recruitment drive but once again I was wrong.
Middlesex & Warwickshire for me. With Sussex and Kent the other contenders.

Hard to predict CC2. There's often an unsung team that comes in second.

Not getting a gut feeling towards Durham, though I'm no expert and the signings and releases will make a difference. Surely Middx will go up though.

There's often a temptation to expect the relegated side to make hay in CC2, but so often it doesn't materialise.

Arthur Crabtree wrote:Hard to predict CC2. There's often an unsung team that comes in second.

Not getting a gut feeling towards Durham, though I'm no expert and the signings and releases will make a difference. Surely Middx will go up though.

There's often a temptation to expect the relegated side to make hay in CC2, but so often it doesn't materialise.

I agree. i think of Warwickshire as a team who should be in div 1 but when Sussex went down I assumed they'd be straight back up and they're still there.

MCCU v Durham CCC Cancelled

The two day match Fenner’s planned for 25th and 26th of March has been cancelled due to the impact of the recent extreme weatheron the pitch.

No play today in Middlesex v Durham friendly.

Now they've announced the cancellation of next weeks home friendly against Yorkshire. Wonder what's going on there?

so is it reasonable to suggest that the pre-season preparations are going well, then?

I wonder who put together the pre-season arrangements, and how much they were paid for doing it?

I wonder if they will get any play in this university match, not looking good at the moment.I can't remember such a cold wet late winter early spring.

wearside willow wrote:I wonder if they will get any play in this university match, not looking good at the moment.I can't remember such a cold wet late winter early spring.

Yep, I don't expect any play.

wearside willow wrote:I wonder if they will get any play in this university match, not looking good at the moment.I can't remember such a cold wet late winter early spring.

Improving forecast from Thursday onwards.

It will be interesting to see who opens the batting against the University. I would not imagine Markram has arrived by then, it looks like two from Steele, Clark and Smith,unless they give one of the 2nd team batsmen a go.
I can't see any reason why Rimmington will not be over by Friday and ready to play. Not sure if Potts is fit but Carse out for a few months so seam options are reduced a bit. My one worry about the seamers is it looks like a diet of right arm meduim pace.

wearside willow wrote:It will be interesting to see who opens the batting against the University. I would not imagine Markram has arrived by then, it looks like two from Steele, Clark and Smith,unless they give one of the 2nd team batsmen a go.
I can't see any reason why Rimmington will not be over by Friday and ready to play. Not sure if Potts is fit but Carse out for a few months so seam options are reduced a bit. My one worry about the seamers is it looks like a diet of right arm meduim pace.

Rimmington arrived last week ( there was a tweet from the club accompanied by a photo of him at the airport.)
I agree about the diet of medium pacers - a real concern and we struggled badly to take 20 wickets in games last year.
Also who is going to open the batting when neither Markram or Latham are here?

I wonder if Patel isn't available for the T20 competition? We're looking for a second overseas player and he is a one day international - a spin bowling all rounder would seem ideal for T20.

Squad vs Durham MCCU (13-15 April)
Paul Collingwood (c), Cameron Steel, Will Smith, Gareth Harte, Graham Clark, Michael Richardson, Stuart Poynter, Matthew Potts, Nathan Rimmington, Barry McCarthy, James Weighell, Chris Rushworth

N.B. No Pringle