brandon
Striker
With the proper cricket season over for the year and only a few T20 games left of which we’ve got nothing to play for except pride and averages, attention (for me atleast) turns to next year.
As I mentioned on the Borthwick thread I had planned to do this thread to discuss where we go (or where we NEED to go from here) and one of the names on my shopping list would’ve absolutely been Borthwick.
This is a massive signing for us for many reasons, I’ve never been more gutted to lose any player than when SB left, I could’ve handled the Stoneman loss if Scott had stayed but them both leaving was a real sea change. It was the realisation that FTECB’s punishment was far more damaging to us long term than merely taking 48 points away from us.
Not only did Graves want to demote us to improve Yorkshire’s chances in the short term of both success and of securing the best local talent, he also wanted to ensure long term that we wouldn’t be bothering his team - Headingley having no competition for Tests for one, which negatively would impact on our chances of making money for squad strengthening - to literally grind us into the dirt, he wanted it to be as long a way back for us as possible.
He certainly guaranteed that given recent evidence but now, perhaps a glimmer?
It cannot be denied that we’ve turned the corner off the field, are we also now turning it on?
Like them or loathe them - Bostock, Botham and North have made some very good moves off the field and it appears to me, atleast in the short term, on it too.
Durham is once again becoming a club to be at.
The return of Raine was good for both parties - initially it could’ve been argued more for he than for we, but his performances for us have proven completely that he’s a very good cricketer - so too, probably were the Coughlin and now Borthwick returns and it’s fair to say that had any of the last two been a roaring success at the clubs they left us for they likely wouldn’t be returning - but all three still have plenty left to give and I think all three will go on to improve us long term.
It’s always more pleasing to see local lads doing well for us than lads from elsewhere and to get such a solid performer like Borthwick back in an area of great need is a huge step in the right direction. It’s long since been acknowledged that we are absolutely excellent at producing seam bowlers, but Borthwick is one of very few top class batsmen that've come through our ranks.
I’ve said elsewhere I take this season with a pinch of salt, had we been in normal times I fancied us to challenge for promotion and with the potential of another couple of shrewd additions for 2021 I think we’d be underachieving if we don’t go on and compete strongly for promotion.
Hopefully Bancroft will return, if that’s the case, along with Borthwick, I think suddenly our fragile batting lineup is improved tenfold.
It’s clear we need a finger spinner, whether that can be Trevaskis in the long term is unknown but probably unlikely, but since Blackwell left it’s an area we’ve always struggled. Historically too, I remember our first stint in the top division after Boon left - we could bowl spin and we couldn’t play spin and that was one of the main reasons for our undoing, very much similar to England for long periods and like them now, we’re probabaly only a quality finger spinner away from reaching the next level.
That aside, conditions in England (and certainly conditions in Chester-le-street) will still probably mean that’s not too much of an issue for the most part and seamer wise, I’m optimistic that the legendary conveyor belt of North East seam bowling production will continue to do its thing. The attack against Notts was what I see as being our best going into 2021. Rushy is a legend; I’d argue the best bowler we’ve ever had, Carse needs to be allowed to bowl fast and aggressive regardless of how expensive he is, Raine has proven himself to be both very economical but also handy for picking up wickets and Coughlin I see getting better in time, hopefully he’s put the injury trouble behind him and can improve. With Potts and Salisbury waiting in the wings, we’ve got enough rotation to go through before we need to worry too much about the lads in the Academy.
Fantasy Cricket time:
Lees
Bancroft
Borthwick
Bedingham
Harte
Burnham
Eckersley
Carse
Raine
Coughlin
Rushworth
Strong side that
I’ve said time and again that this season shouldn’t be a negative reflection on anyone, the likes of Dickson, Steel and Burnham will benefit from a proper pre-season and a decent lead up into the season. Up until the second innings at Trent Bridge I didn’t think Jones had anything to suggest he can cut it at county level, but I was pleasantly surprised to see him (and Dickson) putting an innings together.
Poynter and Clark could be decent options for the number 6 slot too down the line, both could profit coming in against an old ball and being allowed to play their shots, especially so in Clark’s case.
It’s positive food for thought going into next year and hopefully the club are able to retain everyone for atleast another season and the benefit of having a proper look at a seasons worth of work on and off the field.
As I mentioned on the Borthwick thread I had planned to do this thread to discuss where we go (or where we NEED to go from here) and one of the names on my shopping list would’ve absolutely been Borthwick.
This is a massive signing for us for many reasons, I’ve never been more gutted to lose any player than when SB left, I could’ve handled the Stoneman loss if Scott had stayed but them both leaving was a real sea change. It was the realisation that FTECB’s punishment was far more damaging to us long term than merely taking 48 points away from us.
Not only did Graves want to demote us to improve Yorkshire’s chances in the short term of both success and of securing the best local talent, he also wanted to ensure long term that we wouldn’t be bothering his team - Headingley having no competition for Tests for one, which negatively would impact on our chances of making money for squad strengthening - to literally grind us into the dirt, he wanted it to be as long a way back for us as possible.
He certainly guaranteed that given recent evidence but now, perhaps a glimmer?
It cannot be denied that we’ve turned the corner off the field, are we also now turning it on?
Like them or loathe them - Bostock, Botham and North have made some very good moves off the field and it appears to me, atleast in the short term, on it too.
Durham is once again becoming a club to be at.
The return of Raine was good for both parties - initially it could’ve been argued more for he than for we, but his performances for us have proven completely that he’s a very good cricketer - so too, probably were the Coughlin and now Borthwick returns and it’s fair to say that had any of the last two been a roaring success at the clubs they left us for they likely wouldn’t be returning - but all three still have plenty left to give and I think all three will go on to improve us long term.
It’s always more pleasing to see local lads doing well for us than lads from elsewhere and to get such a solid performer like Borthwick back in an area of great need is a huge step in the right direction. It’s long since been acknowledged that we are absolutely excellent at producing seam bowlers, but Borthwick is one of very few top class batsmen that've come through our ranks.
I’ve said elsewhere I take this season with a pinch of salt, had we been in normal times I fancied us to challenge for promotion and with the potential of another couple of shrewd additions for 2021 I think we’d be underachieving if we don’t go on and compete strongly for promotion.
Hopefully Bancroft will return, if that’s the case, along with Borthwick, I think suddenly our fragile batting lineup is improved tenfold.
It’s clear we need a finger spinner, whether that can be Trevaskis in the long term is unknown but probably unlikely, but since Blackwell left it’s an area we’ve always struggled. Historically too, I remember our first stint in the top division after Boon left - we could bowl spin and we couldn’t play spin and that was one of the main reasons for our undoing, very much similar to England for long periods and like them now, we’re probabaly only a quality finger spinner away from reaching the next level.
That aside, conditions in England (and certainly conditions in Chester-le-street) will still probably mean that’s not too much of an issue for the most part and seamer wise, I’m optimistic that the legendary conveyor belt of North East seam bowling production will continue to do its thing. The attack against Notts was what I see as being our best going into 2021. Rushy is a legend; I’d argue the best bowler we’ve ever had, Carse needs to be allowed to bowl fast and aggressive regardless of how expensive he is, Raine has proven himself to be both very economical but also handy for picking up wickets and Coughlin I see getting better in time, hopefully he’s put the injury trouble behind him and can improve. With Potts and Salisbury waiting in the wings, we’ve got enough rotation to go through before we need to worry too much about the lads in the Academy.
Fantasy Cricket time:
Lees
Bancroft
Borthwick
Bedingham
Harte
Burnham
Eckersley
Carse
Raine
Coughlin
Rushworth
Strong side that
I’ve said time and again that this season shouldn’t be a negative reflection on anyone, the likes of Dickson, Steel and Burnham will benefit from a proper pre-season and a decent lead up into the season. Up until the second innings at Trent Bridge I didn’t think Jones had anything to suggest he can cut it at county level, but I was pleasantly surprised to see him (and Dickson) putting an innings together.
Poynter and Clark could be decent options for the number 6 slot too down the line, both could profit coming in against an old ball and being allowed to play their shots, especially so in Clark’s case.
It’s positive food for thought going into next year and hopefully the club are able to retain everyone for atleast another season and the benefit of having a proper look at a seasons worth of work on and off the field.