All Pretty Vacant, Down by the Riverside

[Durhamfootman]

not sure I'd leave either of Trevaskis or Whitehead out for someone who hasn't played in Blighty before. Ok if we get to finals day and he's played a few matches for us, but not yet

[Durhamfootman]

Remember we'll have to budget for Wood next season as I can't see him getting another England contact. I'd like to see Latham back and would be happy with a top five of
Latham
Steel
Lees
Clark
Harte.
Hopefully Davies, Jones and S.Steel will push on to be realistic challengers.
Trevaskis appears to be hallmarked by JJ to take Pringle's place.

don't forget Jack Burnham will have finished his ban and presumably be available for selection again next year

[Durhamfootman]

assuming Colly does retire

Lees
Steel
Burnham
Clark
Richardson/Harte
Smith
Davies (wk)
Wood
Weighell
Salisbury
Rushworth

Insert big snarling early season overseas fast bowler into that bowling line up where appropriate and replace him with a prolific late season overseas spin bowler where appropriate

could win promotion with a line up like that

if Axar can make a real impression in the CC between now and the end of the season, he could realistically earn himself a nice regular bit of work post IPL next year and for a few years to come. Whether he's good enough to do that, or whether English conditions will suit him, I'm not sure

[westoelad]

assuming Colly does retire

Lees
Steel
Burnham
Clark
Richardson/Harte
Smith
Davies (wk)
Wood
Weighell
Salisbury
Rushworth

Insert big snarling early season overseas fast bowler into that bowling line up where appropriate and replace him with a prolific late season overseas spin bowler where appropriate

could win promotion with a line up like that

if Axar can make a real impression in the CC between now and the end of the season, he could realistically earn himself a nice regular bit of work post IPL next year and for a few years to come. Whether he's good enough to do that, or whether English conditions will suit him, I'm not sure

Rumour is that Burnham's contract has been cancelled.

[captaincolly]

assuming Colly does retire

Lees
Steel
Burnham
Clark
Richardson/Harte
Smith
Davies (wk)
Wood
Weighell
Salisbury
Rushworth

Insert big snarling early season overseas fast bowler into that bowling line up where appropriate and replace him with a prolific late season overseas spin bowler where appropriate

could win promotion with a line up like that

if Axar can make a real impression in the CC between now and the end of the season, he could realistically earn himself a nice regular bit of work post IPL next year and for a few years to come. Whether he's good enough to do that, or whether English conditions will suit him, I'm not sure

My worry is the batting looks potentially fragile - question marks over all of them as they're either unproven or the more experienced ones don't have a track record of scoring heavily. If Steel can make some big scores in the remaining games and Lees shrugs off his poor form over the last 2 years ( and there's no reason why the change of club won't do the trick ) it would be ideal but I think we need at least one more batsman with a healthy average and a recent record of prolific scoring. And I think such a signing is necessary even if Colly does play on - I suspect he won't but if he does the chances of him scoring 1000 CC runs as well as performing well in the one day competitions are not great.

I also think we need a strike bowler ( in addition to overseas ) because we can almost guarantee Weighell, Wood and the likes of Carse ( seems to be a feeling that his career may even be in jeopardy ) Potts, McCarthy will have their customary injury absences. I think Rimmington could be useful in the 4 day game if he is part of a very strong seam attack and despite being infuriatingly erratic he has had some good performances in the one day matches.

That said I think we'll do very well to persuade a top class batsman and bowler to join - there's the financial issue and also even without that we are not likely to be anywhere near the top of anyone's wish list of clubs to join. If Colly goes it will free up some cash but will Woody have any sort of England contract?

Other thing is - if Colly goes and we don't manage to bring in a big signing of two - who will be captain? Smith would be the safe choice but perhaps not certain of his place otherwise it'd have to be either someone trying to establish themselves whilst also captaining ( could be disastrous!) or give it to Rushy who for all his admirable qualities does not seem to be captaincy material. Woody maybe? On second thoughts ...no!

[Durhamfootman]

quite possible that future captaincy possibilities may have been part of Smith's thinking when he moved back north

Equally possible that we may sign Latham for the whole season (and not the pretend 'whole season' we were promised last year), in which case he would be a candidate

although that would mean kissing goodbye to the snarling fast and prolific spin overseas..... and therefore promotion too

[Durhamfootman]

Rumour is that Burnham's contract has been cancelled.

I hadn't heard that one, but then my ear is not particularly close to the ground. Would be a shame, I think.... unless, of course, he hasn't turned his life around, in which case he's an idiot

[Durhamfootman]

more chance of Wooody's horse getting the captaincy, than Woody himself

[captaincolly]

quite possible that future captaincy possibilities may have been part of Smith's thinking when he moved back north

Equally possible that we may sign Latham for the whole season (and not the pretend 'whole season' we were promised last year), in which case he would be a candidate

although that would mean kissing goodbye to the snarling fast and prolific spin overseas..... and therefore promotion too

I haven't checked the dates but the World Cup is likely to throw a spanner into the works by ruling out a load of potential overseas candidates for the first part of the season. We seem either not interested in or unable to make Kolpak signings too.

Rumour is that Burnham's contract has been cancelled.

I hadn't heard that one, but then my ear is not particularly close to the ground. Would be a shame, I think.... unless, of course, he hasn't turned his life around, in which case he's an idiot

Yes. He must have known he was on a final warning. I can't remember if his ban included club cricket? I suspect it didn't and if that's the case I wonder if he has been scoring a lot of runs?

[captaincolly]

more chance of Wooody's horse getting the captaincy, than Woody himself

The horse would probably be a better choice! If Colly goes and we aren't keen on any existing candidates then perhaps the offer of the captaincy might help bring someone in - or maybe it would work the other way because that job has ruined a few careers over the years!

[Durhamfootman]

I'd forgotten about the world cup

Have we got any matches?

we must have, because we were threatened with losing them if we contested the draconian measures handed down by FTECB

[captaincolly]

I'd forgotten about the world cup

Have we got any matches?

we must have, because we were threatened with losing them if we contested the draconian measures handed down by FTECB

England v New Zealand
Sri Lanka v South Africa
Sri Lanka v Windies.

Looks as if a new signing is being announced tomorrow.
https://twitter.com/durhamcricket/statu ... 17377?s=21
Any guesses? Someone who played at the Riverside in 2017- could it be Cook as a Kolpak? ( Although the wording implies it's someone who hasn't played for us before.) Unlikely to be an official overseas player unless it's someone who has no chance of playing in the World Cup.

[Durhamfootman]

Agreed.....doesn't have to be someone who played for us.... just has to be someone who played a match here in 2017

I'm getting the sense that people think it's a West Indian cricketer, although I don't know why. That would satisfy the kolpak/associate theory

[Durhamfootman]

Sunil Narine

DFM

[Durhamfootman]

or Cameron Bancroft

for the whole season, across all 3 formats, seemingly