Who's Sorry Now: Down by the Riverside

[Durhamfootman]

Basically find a couple of new Benkensteins and Gibsons!

Cook

[Durhamfootman]

I do have big problems with kolpaks. Not those who commit themselves long term to a club... Benks, Diva, Big Ottis... players who bring genuine class and experience who can then work with and improve the younger players coming through..... but long term... has to be long term. It really ssipes me off when kolpaks suddenly decide that they don't want to be kolpaks any more, then they just flit from country to club and club to country. Taylor, Jarvis, McLaren et al. Backwards and forwards.... just taking the ssip. Mercenaries who go whichever way suits their own personal interests and *modded* everybody else. They contribute nothing to the long term health of a club and i want nothing to do with them. Find me another Benks, and I'll happily accept him, but I'm not sure that Cook is that man..... not sure he's good enough to be that man

[Arthur Crabtree]

How's it going to go next season, with the same teams but Middx/Warks for Notts/Worcs? Another year of flux or something better?

[captaincolly]

How's it going to go next season, with the same teams but Middx/Warks for Notts/Worcs? Another year of flux or something better?

I think the Middlesex bowling attack should be very potent so if they can score reasonable totals they will probably go back up. Not so sure about Warwickshire, if their senior players play on and can find some inspiration the team should be too good for most opponents but I have a feeling they might have a struggle.
Year of flux probably likely for Durham but if we can make a couple more good signings there's no reason why we can't challenge for promotion. If we can get a good strike bowler in and then have a bit of luck I will be reasonably optimistic...unless , as DFM suggested , the Ashes campaign is a disaster and FTECB persuade Colly to take over as England coach!

[wearside willow]

How's it going to go next season, with the same teams but Middx/Warks for Notts/Worcs? Another year of flux or something better?

I think Middx will be next seasons Notts especially with that pace attack. Warks on paper look strong for the 2nd division but even though they are signing players it could be that a few of their stalwarts are still on the decline. Its amazing how poor Bell has been since he returned to county cricket.

[westoelad]

Not so sure that Middlesex attack will be that potent. TRJ may well get a central contract,especially given Wood and Stokes' probably won't be renewed, and Finn is nothing special thesedays. I rate Murtagh but he misses a fair number of games because of Ireland commitments. Not so sure that there's the gulf between 1st and 2nd div as some claim. Sussex and Durham have struggled since demotion and Notts went up on default. Unless Warks strengthen their bowling considerably I can't see them winning many games.

[captaincolly]

May be nothing but...a BBC sports editor has tweeted a hint that some news due out tonight will make the current predicament in English cricket even worse! Another Twitter user ( who appears to have an irrational dislike of Durham!) says some news due out later today is sure to enrage Sir Ian.

No idea if those two tweets are accurate or referring to the same thing. Only thing re Durham is I'm sure some of the recent reports hinted that Onions and Jennings would not be the last to leave Durham. Thing is though apart from the fringe players who else could possibly go?!

[westoelad]

May be nothing but...a BBC sports editor has tweeted a hint that some news due out tonight will make the current predicament in English cricket even worse! Another Twitter user ( who appears to have an irrational dislike of Durham!) says some news due out later today is sure to enrage Sir Ian.

No idea if those two tweets are accurate or referring to the same thing. Only thing re Durham is I'm sure some of the recent reports hinted that Onions and Jennings would not be the last to leave Durham. Thing is though apart from the fringe players who else could possibly go?!

New central contracts are imminent with Wood and Stokes unlikely to have there's renewed?
OR
The Stand has been condemned and we've lost the ODI.

[captaincolly]

May be nothing but...a BBC sports editor has tweeted a hint that some news due out tonight will make the current predicament in English cricket even worse! Another Twitter user ( who appears to have an irrational dislike of Durham!) says some news due out later today is sure to enrage Sir Ian.

No idea if those two tweets are accurate or referring to the same thing. Only thing re Durham is I'm sure some of the recent reports hinted that Onions and Jennings would not be the last to leave Durham. Thing is though apart from the fringe players who else could possibly go?!

New central contracts are imminent with Wood and Stokes unlikely to have there's renewed?

That sounds like a distinct possibility. Wood almost certainly won't have his renewed and this Stokes situation seems increasingly serious - no new developments in the press but a definite consensus seems to be emerging that he will not tour and could face significant repercussions from FTECB.

[captaincolly]

"More to come out" on the Stokes/Hales saga according to Simon Hughes.

[Aidan11]

"More to come out" on the Stokes/Hales saga according to Simon Hughes.

Looks like The Sun are going to get mileage out of this.

Today they reported Stokes allegedly mocked Katie Price's disabled son. Obviously that is wrong if true but this rag certainly likes to keep things going until the authorities take strict action. They'll keep going until the ECB ban him for life. He may yet deserve this but when you think of other cases...Warner punching Root and in football Joey Barton being..well just being Joey Barton you can understand it being a bit harsh if such a stiff punishment was handed out.

Then again the ECB did once sack a player judt for looking disinterested.

[captaincolly]

"More to come out" on the Stokes/Hales saga according to Simon Hughes.

Looks like The Sun are going to get mileage out of this.

Today they reported Stokes allegedly mocked Katie Price's disabled son. Obviously that is wrong if true but this rag certainly likes to keep things going until the authorities take strict action. They'll keep going until the ECB ban him for life. He may yet deserve this but when you think of other cases...Warner punching Root and in football Joey Barton being..well just being Joey Barton you can understand it being a bit harsh if such a stiff punishment was handed out.

Then again the ECB did once sack a player judt for looking disinterested.

Yep , they must be releasing things bit by bit. Ironically their editorial today is calling for Stokes to retain his Ashes place and that their story was in the public interest.
There must be something significant coming because yesterday the media talk was focused on whether or not he would tour but today every story seems to assume he will not.

Could be the double whammy - central contract renewed by FTECB so Durham have to pay for him next year! Or maybe he'll have to go to Notts!

[Durhamfootman]

If Stokes is to get a lengthy ban from th England team.... ain't it just typical that it will come at a time of the year when there is no domestic cricket for him to play for us?

perhaps that will worry him..... after all, if it was possible for durham to gain some advantage from him serving an international ban, FTECB would likely exonerate him completely

"nothing to see here" (except us sticking two fingers up at ITB)

[captaincolly]

If Stokes is to get a lengthy ban from th England team.... ain't it just typical that it will come at a time of the year when there is no domestic cricket for him to play for us?

perhaps that will worry him..... after all, if it was possible for durham to gain some advantage from him serving an international ban, FTECB would likely exonerate him completely

"nothing to see here" (except us sticking two fingers up at ITB)

Yeah, would be typical misfortune if he was banned all winter and then back at the start of the summer. Probably a distinct possibility!
My assumption was that FTECB would select him for the Ashes unless there were any legal reasons why he couldn't travel but that assumption looks like being wrong and his chances of going to Australia appear very slim.

[Durhamfootman]

it won't do him any harm

the penny might even drop.... who knows?