Durham Match Thread 2019

[captaincolly]

I can see it now - Hales on strike for the last over with 17 needed and Stokes marking out his run up!

[Durhamfootman]

in the full and certain knowledge that he'll only have to bowl 3 balls in that last over

[captaincolly]

in the full and certain knowledge that he'll only have to bowl 3 balls in that last over

Indeed!

[Durhamfootman]

worth mentioning that I have no idea why Burnham was fielding at 3rd slip when he missed catching Wells the other day. His fielding today out on the square leg boundary was very ordinary at best...... yes he took the 2 catches, but they were dollies and he missed saving a couple of boundaries... one of which he misjudged, ran too far and watched the ball bounce over the spot where he'd been standing just a split second before. He dropped quite a few of his warm up catches during the interval and seemed to struggle with the pick up and throw exercises. I confess my heart was in my mouth when Wakeley and then Holder lobbed the ball towards him. I was certain he was going to drop them...... although he didn't. Still.......... he doesn't strike me as being the safest pair of hands for such a crucial fielding position as 3rd slip in a championship match

turns out that Burnham dropped Bunny just before he launched the match winning pair of sixes into the distance....... after that reprieve he must have felt that it was his day

[captaincolly]

worth mentioning that I have no idea why Burnham was fielding at 3rd slip when he missed catching Wells the other day. His fielding today out on the square leg boundary was very ordinary at best...... yes he took the 2 catches, but they were dollies and he missed saving a couple of boundaries... one of which he misjudged, ran too far and watched the ball bounce over the spot where he'd been standing just a split second before. He dropped quite a few of his warm up catches during the interval and seemed to struggle with the pick up and throw exercises. I confess my heart was in my mouth when Wakeley and then Holder lobbed the ball towards him. I was certain he was going to drop them...... although he didn't. Still.......... he doesn't strike me as being the safest pair of hands for such a crucial fielding position as 3rd slip in a championship match

turns out that Burnham dropped Bunny just before he launched the match winning pair of sixes into the distance....... after that reprieve he must have felt that it was his day

A very costly drop. He had a comment on twitter about how it's amazing what you can do by closing your eyes and swinging the bat, or words to that effect! Think it was in the script that he'd do something special.

[Durhamfootman]

and now I find that he also dropped Jones in the final over

ball follows him around, doesn't it

[captaincolly]

Hales return on Friday officially confirmed.https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.bbc.co ... t/48126799

[KingOttis]

Just knew when it got to squeaky bum time that the traitor would play a successful cameo.

Traitor! No way. Excelled for years, and never let us down, playing a vital part in our success. If anything, he was let down by Durham. Still there's always Rimmington to fall back on...

It was tongue in cheek. Durham, I believe, offered him a provisional deal for the 2nd year which was perfectly reasonable. He was also demanding a coaching role- you can't just conjure them out of thin air. I can't help thinking his agent was the agent-provocateur. Can't believe he'd have wanted to disrupt his kids' schooling.

Apologies for missing the subtlety. I'm still lightly seething about the Onions decision, and think it was a big mistake, and a pretty shoddy way to treat a club legend. Should probably let it go now, and stop spluttering with indignation....

[SixSixEight]

Apologies for missing the subtlety. I'm still lightly seething about the Onions decision, and think it was a big mistake, and a pretty shoddy way to treat a club legend. Should probably let it go now, and stop spluttering with indignation....

I think the club were loath to treat another legend with the benefit of the doubt. I think Bunny suffered from what happened with Harmison's stupidly generous 'legend' treatment; an expensive sicknote who could only be tempted down to the ground to do Sky commentary! Graham's work ethic was always exemplary, and he is still as skinny as ever! If anyone was going to do well I'm glad it was him. Like Gidman he may come back at a later date, I'd like to think so.

Although he got lots of wickets last year, his team still dropped out of the first division. Yes he was fit so we could have done with him last year for that reason, but I'm not sure that he would make our present bowling attack any more effective, and most of them have more promise with the bat. I just remember sitting through matches in 2017 thinking him and Rushy were not making enough breakthroughs with the new ball.

While they are still fit I'd quite like to see Potts and Carse open, or even one of them with Salisbury, who may be tighter after this white ball stint [there were no wides in the last 2 matches]. [Keep Rushy fresh for when one of them twangs something].

The weather is looking a bit duckworth for Friday, I hope the forecast improves.

[SixSixEight]

and now I find that he also dropped Jones in the final over
ball follows him around, doesn't it

Told you...his fielding is rubbish. Out of the matches that I have seen [so not Worcs] I think our bowling has been very competitive, and better than I've seen for some time; I think the fielding has let it down at times. [This statement comes from someone who never looks at where the ball is pitching cos I'm generally looking at the bowler or the batsman through the lens at the time. I think there has been less of our bowlers being cross with themselves as the ball is creamed to the boundary and more looking expectant, slight time delay, and then looking pissed off].

I don't understand why Burnham is keeping Harte out of the team [unless they want to keep Harte free from white ball twitchyness for the four day stuff?] Clark's fielding is much better although in the unlikely event of Stokes playing.... and in the unlikely event of Woody playing I'd have him in for Weighell, whose batting seems to have gone awol.

[captaincolly]

Wood ( but not Stokes) is in the squad tomorrow alongside Pringle & Eckersley with Clark and Weighell omitted. Harte is still in so I guess it's a choice between him & Eckersley to replace Clark.
The forecast isn't great with around 50% chance of rain throughout the afternoon so there's a good chance DL will come into play once more.

[westoelad]

Wood ( but not Stokes) is in the squad tomorrow alongside Pringle & Eckersley with Clark and Weighell omitted. Harte is still in so I guess it's a choice between him & Eckersley to replace Clark.
The forecast isn't great with around 50% chance of rain throughout the afternoon so there's a good chance DL will come into play once more.

Yes, Wood for Weighell is a straight choice and I suspect Pringle is named offering a 2nd spin option with it being an unknown venue. I suspect it'll be Eckersley for Clark, Bangers finding dual role of captaincy and w/k too onerous?

[captaincolly]

Wood ( but not Stokes) is in the squad tomorrow alongside Pringle & Eckersley with Clark and Weighell omitted. Harte is still in so I guess it's a choice between him & Eckersley to replace Clark.
The forecast isn't great with around 50% chance of rain throughout the afternoon so there's a good chance DL will come into play once more.

Yes, Wood for Weighell is a straight choice and I suspect Pringle is named offering a 2nd spin option with it being an unknown venue. I suspect it'll be Eckersley for Clark, Bangers finding dual role of captaincy and w/k too onerous?

Yep. I think Bancroft was initially announced as keeper for the first two games, suggesting they may look again further down the line. Or I suppose Eckersley could play as a specialist batsman if they don't want to switch keepers.

[westoelad]

Hope has been expressed that Wood can serve up a couple of snorters for Hales

[captaincolly]

Hope has been expressed that Wood can serve up a couple of snorters for Hales