Durham Match Thread 2019

[Durhamfootman]

It's amazing how they manage to perform even worse than our lowest expectations. The bowling attack looks good but far from great and we've only got one quality batsman.

what we lack is application, rather than quality.

and experience

and more application

and a calming presence

and yet more application

when the wheels start to come off they come off quickly.

when does the T20 start?

[Durhamfootman]

We've been fodder for a while now, and so when wickets start to tumble they just fall apart. We are destined to become Leicester, I think, and go 2 years without a win.

Once it starts, it's hard to stop

at least we won't lose anyone to the 100 next year. We might be the only county able to say that

[captaincolly]

It's amazing how they manage to perform even worse than our lowest expectations. The bowling attack looks good but far from great and we've only got one quality batsman.

what we lack is application, rather than quality.

and experience

and more application

and a calming presence

and yet more application

when the wheels start to come off they come off quickly.

when does the T20 start?

Yep. We probably did better in the RL50 because preserving wickets by application isn't required in one dayers.
T20 starts in mid-July, after the World Cup. I see Imran Tahir has signed for Surrey and think it's for the whole competition.
The deadly duo both out cheaply again this afternoon!

[captaincolly]

We've been fodder for a while now, and so when wickets start to tumble they just fall apart. We are destined to become Leicester, I think, and go 2 years without a win.

Once it starts, it's hard to stop

at least we won't lose anyone to the 100 next year. We might be the only county able to say that

Yeah, probably have a good chance on the revamped RL50. It'll be a full strength side although aren't they banning overseas players?

[captaincolly]

Seems as if Eckersley was out to a ball that kept low. Might have a chance if we can add another 200 runs.

[captaincolly]

DFM wins the sweepstake.
Into the lead and 5 wickets down.

[Durhamfootman]

33 run lead with 4 wickets left

of course it matters not at this stage because, with the ball now flat and the bowlers now tired, we haven't any recognised batsmen left to take advantage.

maybe that's the key to success..... preserving wickets when it's hard, in order to score runs when it's easy..... who knew?

not me, that's for sure

[Durhamfootman]

I can feel a 7th wicket century partnership coming on

[Durhamfootman]

Not sure who would come in to improve matters, if I'm honest.

It may even be as simple as the wrong batting order.

Surely I'm not the only one who assumed that our international opener (former, of course) would open for us. He came in today in the fourth over, and in the first innings it was the second over (against Sussex he came in the ninth and the first over respectively), so he might as well be opening where hopefully he can blunt the opposition attack instead of inspiring them with 3 cheap wickets every innings.

Cam Steel appeared to me to be more productive at 3 in 2017 than as opener in 2018 (899 runs -v- 638), so he might benefit from moving down the order (which is where I envisaged him playing when Bancroft's signing had been announced).

Lees has to open, it's why we brought him in. If he can get himself going against the red ball, with the calming influence of Bangers at the other end, then he ought to do okay for us and that would take heaps of pressure off the middle order (who we know can score runs spasmodically) and hopefully allow them to score runs consistently.

I still think Ben Raine should be batting at 6. He scored 42 in the first innings from 8 and he's 4 runs away from being second top run scorer in this innings. I think he could do well at 6 as long as he isn't coming in at 97-5 every time

Eckersley at 7, where a wicket keeper should be batting, and then we have all kinds of options for 4 and 5 who could then be selected on form

Trevaskis seems a capable enough no. 8

[Durhamfootman]

I shouldn't have mentioned Raine being 4 runs away, because he's out now, still 3 runs short.......... my fault, sorry!

[captaincolly]

Not sure who would come in to improve matters, if I'm honest.

It may even be as simple as the wrong batting order.

Surely I'm not the only one who assumed that our international opener (former, of course) would open for us. He came in today in the fourth over, and in the first innings it was the second over (against Sussex he came in the ninth and the first over respectively), so he might as well be opening where hopefully he can blunt the opposition attack instead of inspiring them with 3 cheap wickets every innings.

Cam Steel appeared to me to be more productive at 3 in 2017 than as opener in 2018 (899 runs -v- 638), so he might benefit from moving down the order (which is where I envisaged him playing when Bancroft's signing had been announced).

Lees has to open, it's why we brought him in. If he can get himself going against the red ball, with the calming influence of Bangers at the other end, then he ought to do okay for us and that would take heaps of pressure off the middle order (who we know can score runs spasmodically) and hopefully allow them to score runs consistently.

I still think Ben Raine should be batting at 6. He scored 42 in the first innings from 8 and he's 4 runs away from being second top run scorer in this innings. I think he could do well at 6 as long as he isn't coming in at 97-5 every time

Eckersley at 7, where a wicket keeper should be batting, and then we have all kinds of options for 4 and 5 who could then be selected on form

Trevaskis seems a capable enough no. 8

I agree with all that. I might be being overly-negative but can't shake the feeling that the batsmen in this squad - with one obvious exception- aren't good enough to be playing in the same side - but they're obviously going to have to.
My crude characterisation of batsmen would be to put them in one of 3 groups- top class ones, journeymen types and rookies. And if you only have one top class one then failure is virtually guaranteed unless the journeyman types and rookies suddenly move up into the top class category. The chances are virtually nil imo.

[Durhamfootman]

and just to top things off, 5-fer Josh Tongue is on a hat trick

[Durhamfootman]

doesn't get it, but our lead is 77 with just Rushy or Matty Potts to go

Might not be a challenging target

[Durhamfootman]

and just to top things off, 5-fer Josh Tongue is on a hat trick

are you even allowed to do that, btw?

I thought you had to concede 30 runs for every tail ender's wicket you take

[captaincolly]

doesn't get it, but our lead is 77 with just Rushy or Matty Potts to go

Might not be a challenging target

81. On the bright side it would be a challenging target for us!