Durham Match Thread 2018

[captaincolly]

Says something about the nature of the county season these days, when 3 of the 7 home CC games are being played in September

No wonder England can't bat in tests - 4 day game at the very start and end of the season. Apparently the counties want more T20 games too so in the group stages everyone plays each other home and away.

[Durhamfootman]

well, in fairness, that makes more sense than playing 14 games

for the CC too

[captaincolly]

I agree, makes sense to play everyone home and away but knowing the ECB they'll fit in any extra T20 games by cutting another round of CC games!

[westoelad]

I agree, makes sense to play everyone home and away but knowing the ECB they'll fit in any extra T20 games by cutting another round of CC games!

In earlier times when FTECB were simply ECB, the 1 day 40 over game followed the 3 day CC games. That structure proved very popular. No reason why we can't revert to that with T20 fixture following the CC fixture or v.v., this halving the amount of travel time.
There's little correlation between T20 strength and CC strength so It would be as if the 2 T20 divisions had been randomly drawn. You would play every team H and A over a 18 week period ( every team would have 2 vacant weeks because of an odd number of teams in each division).
The current season is 24 weeks long; still room therefore for a B&H form 50 over competition at the beginning of the season.
Q.E.D.

[captaincolly]

I agree, makes sense to play everyone home and away but knowing the ECB they'll fit in any extra T20 games by cutting another round of CC games!

In earlier times when FTECB were simply ECB, the 1 day 40 over game followed the 3 day CC games. That structure proved very popular. No reason why we can't revert to that with T20 fixture following the CC fixture or v.v., this halving the amount of travel time.
There's little correlation between T20 strength and CC strength so It would be as if the 2 T20 divisions had been randomly drawn. You would play every team H and A over a 18 week period ( every team would have 2 vacant weeks because of an odd number of teams in each division).
The current season is 24 weeks long; still room therefore for a B&H form 50 over competition at the beginning of the season.
Q.E.D.

That sounds like a sensible plan to me.

[westoelad]

I agree, makes sense to play everyone home and away but knowing the ECB they'll fit in any extra T20 games by cutting another round of CC games!

In earlier times when FTECB were simply ECB, the 1 day 40 over game followed the 3 day CC games. That structure proved very popular. No reason why we can't revert to that with T20 fixture following the CC fixture or v.v., this halving the amount of travel time.
There's little correlation between T20 strength and CC strength so It would be as if the 2 T20 divisions had been randomly drawn. You would play every team H and A over a 18 week period ( every team would have 2 vacant weeks because of an odd number of teams in each division).
The current season is 24 weeks long; still room therefore for a B&H form 50 over competition at the beginning of the season.
Q.E.D.

That sounds like [b]a sensible plan to me.[/b]

No chance then.

[captaincolly]

I agree, makes sense to play everyone home and away but knowing the ECB they'll fit in any extra T20 games by cutting another round of CC games!

In earlier times when FTECB were simply ECB, the 1 day 40 over game followed the 3 day CC games. That structure proved very popular. No reason why we can't revert to that with T20 fixture following the CC fixture or v.v., this halving the amount of travel time.
There's little correlation between T20 strength and CC strength so It would be as if the 2 T20 divisions had been randomly drawn. You would play every team H and A over a 18 week period ( every team would have 2 vacant weeks because of an odd number of teams in each division).
The current season is 24 weeks long; still room therefore for a B&H form 50 over competition at the beginning of the season.
Q.E.D.

That sounds like [b]a sensible plan to me.[/b]

No chance then.

None whatsoever!

[Durhamfootman]

I've bashed on about this for years now

link the one day cup groups and the T20 Blast groups to the two CC divisions and play T20 on a Friday, the one dayer on a Sat and the CC Sun to Wed. 16 weeks. That allows for one week off in every 3 weeks, thus ameliorating the risks of player burn out

too simple for FTECB sadly

the move to 8 and 10 for the CC ruins it anyway

[captaincolly]

I suppose a problem with not playing the T20 in a block is it would make it hard to get overseas players. Then again if the new 100 ball thing is going to be the a-list tournament it won't matter.

[Durhamfootman]

wouldn't matter at all

although the 100 might mean we'd lose players as well as not being able to sign any

I say 'we', but I really mean 'every other county apart from us'.... obviously

[captaincolly]

wouldn't matter at all

although the 100 might mean we'd lose players as well as not being able to sign any

I say 'we', but I really mean 'every other county apart from us'.... obviously

Just had a thought - by 2020 the Irish players are supposedly going to be classed as overseas ...so we might lose our two overseas signings Poynter and McCarthy to one of the big franchises.

[Durhamfootman]

and it's this chance for the ECB to concentrate all the IPL style, advertising, razzmatazz, glory hunter, bean countery stuff into the 100 that represents its biggest value to cricket in England (and Wales)

[Durhamfootman]

I'm sure Poynter, in particular, would be in great demand

[captaincolly]

and it's this chance for the ECB to concentrate all the IPL style, advertising, razzmatazz, glory hunter, bean countery stuff into the 100 that represents its biggest value to cricket in England (and Wales)

It'll make the IPL seem like a minor counties second X1! Billions of viewers all around the world bad venues sold out months in advance.

I'm sure Poynter, in particular, would be in great demand

The Irish Gilchrist!

[Durhamfootman]

I had a look at Ireland's domestic first class league.... and it has 3 teams in it

we complain that we can't play everyone home and away

they must be complaining about having to play everyone home and away 4 times

might as well be playing football in the Scottish Prem