Buzzing about Durham

[The Rat]

We look well organized, well disciplined, well led and we have talent

we are nowhere near where we were but we are in a much better place

results are secondary to performances for me, unlucky not to win a few more

I really hope we have a similar plan for the white ball stuff

Haway

 

[brandon]

Durham are back, Durham are back, hello, HELLO!!

 

[GordonMuchallNo1Fan]

said all season we're playing some good stuff, not a shock to see us hammer a team yesterday. Small steps, but we're looking canny

 

[smoker]

We've been absolutely terrific, especially when you consider how bad we were in the Bob Willis trophy. Our seam bowling was always good but what stands out this year is the strength in depth in batting. With Bancroft our top four should be as good as anything in the CC and we then have useful batsmen and all rounders 5-9. Barring an injury, no more passengers in the batting department.

The one area we are lacking is in the spin department which will cost us results on unsympathetic wickets. It just needs someone to show a bit of faith in Trevaskis or Thomson

 

[Twisted]

We've been absolutely terrific, especially when you consider how bad we were in the Bob Willis trophy. Our seam bowling was always good but what stands out this year is the strength in depth in batting. With Bancroft our top four should be as good as anything in the CC and we then have useful batsmen and all rounders 5-9. Barring an injury, no more passengers in the batting department.

The one area we are lacking is in the spin department which will cost us results on unsympathetic wickets. It just needs someone to show a bit of faith in Trevaskis or Thomson

just feel like we need to find a way to get an extra option into the attack, borthwick isn't enough but the only way i can see it happening is if poynter is dropped

 

[Super K]

I’m really excited at the moment. When the ECB screwed us 4ish years ago I feared the worst, but we do look more than competitive

 

[smoker]

I’m really excited at the moment. When the ECB screwed us 4ish years ago I feared the worst, but we do look more than competitive

Towards the back end of 2019 season you could really see the team North and Franklin were building take shape. 2020 was an odd season but it feels like we are now seeing that team mature.

I am disappointed they gave the captaincy to Borthwick instead of Bancroft as he had grown so well into that role, but you can understand why they wanted a local lad, and one who had won the CC, in there.

I just wish I understood their obsession with Stewy Pointer. He's a decent keeper, and I like how he has the balls to stand up to Rushworth, but not notably better than Eckersley to justify his weaker batting, and his continued selection is limiting our bowling options which has already cost us points. He was a bizarre choice for Blast captain as well and some of his batting performances barely warranted selection. You can't help thinking he must have been made some sort of gentleman's agreement, or even contractual guarantee, of first team cricket when he committed to the club over Ireland

just feel like we need to find a way to get an extra option into the attack, borthwick isn't enough but the only way i can see it happening is if poynter is dropped

As I see it, Poynter, Burnham and Eckersley should be competing for two positions in that team. The third place goes to a spin bowler. There's obviously some doubt over Trevaskis' selection in red ball, in which case we need to be looking for somebody better. Axar Patel was great for us. If we can convert Bedingham into a local player, he'd be top of my list
In the meantime, Trevaskis has to play, as the best spinner at the club

 

[Twisted]

As I see it, Poynter, Burnham and Eckersley should be competing for two positions in that team. The third place goes to a spin bowler. There's obviously some doubt over Trevaskis' selection in red ball, in which case we need to be looking for somebody better. Axar Patel was great for us. If we can convert Bedingham into a local player, he'd be top of my list
In the meantime, Trevaskis has to play, as the best spinner at the club

i think you're right, but i can't see burnham getting dropped anytime soon and eckersley certainly not. which makes poynter the most 'expendable' but he's the man in possession atm so we'll just have to see

 

[The Rat]

just feel like we need to find a way to get an extra option into the attack, borthwick isn't enough but the only way i can see it happening is if poynter is dropped

there is your explanation mate, I dont think Poynter is worth his place

Borthwickk has hardly bowled last few years, I am not saying he is the answer, but I expect him to get better

@smoker is right above though, that cost us 2 wins, there are a hell of a lot of decent spinners in CC IMO, maybe not international level, but ones to take wickets, and they have done so far in the season, and won teams games

We havent had 1 playing, so we have had 1 arm tied behind our back.

 

[smoker]

there is your explanation mate, I dont think Poynter is worth his place

Borthwickk has hardly bowled last few years, I am not saying he is the answer, but I expect him to get better

@smoker is right above though, that cost us 2 wins, there are a hell of a lot of decent spinners in CC IMO, maybe not international level, but ones to take wickets, and they have done so far in the season, and won teams games

We havent had 1 playing, so we have had 1 arm tied behind our back.

Spot on.

I wouldn't class Critchley and Briggs as international class but they took several wickets against us.

We've lost 19 wickets to spin this season and taken only 4 (out of 70).

Even when they're not taking wickets, a proper spinner could be burning through the overs, keeping things economical, till the new ball. We have no option but to bowl Borthwick at 4 or 5 an over.

 

[Twisted]

Spot on.

I wouldn't class Critchley and Briggs as international class but they took several wickets against us.

We've lost 19 wickets to spin this season and taken only 4 (out of 70).

Even when they're not taking wickets, a proper spinner could be burning through the overs, keeping things economical, till the new ball. We have no option but to bowl Borthwick at 4 or 5 an over.

the first game where we were on top but at -2 over rate and brought borthwick on in what seemed like purely a move to speed things up and it let them off the hook and the game got away from us

 

[smoker]

the first game where we were on top but at -2 over rate and brought borthwick on in what seemed like purely a move to speed things up and it let them off the hook and the game got away from us

In their second innings? Tbf he got the wicket of Slater, breaking a 70 run partnership, before he got smacked all over. Salisbury and Carse also got some serious punishment in that innings, it was a perfect example of needing bowling variation.

 

[Up the BR]

Could have issues when the ball stops swinging around and definitely need a quality spinner but all in all its very encouraging and anything that shoves it up the ECB is fine by me.

 

[wayne entwhistle no9]

Looking forward towards next season and if the 2 official overseas players is allowed and they have the finances do Durham be more adventurous and offensive and sign an overseas bowler instead of the more cautious safety route of 2 specialist batsmen which they have employed this season.

 

[smoker]

Looking forward towards next season and if the 2 official overseas players is allowed and they have the finances do Durham be more adventurous and offensive and sign an overseas bowler instead of the more cautious safety route of 2 specialist batsmen which they have employed this season.

Durham are helping Bedingham apply for a British passport so yes, once he gets that. Look no further than Axar Patel, 18 wickets in 4 matches at an average of 13.05 in 2018.

 

[wayne entwhistle no9]

Durham are helping Bedingham apply for a British passport so yes, once he gets that. Look no further than Axar Patel, 18 wickets in 4 matches at an average of 13.05 in 2018.

IPL and currently involved with India set up so unlikely to get him for anymore than a short stint when it suites him as the dough Durham can offer is irrelevant to a regular Indian international.
If you are going down that route you need to find the 2021 version of Axar Patel and that is the challenge.

 

[Parkside]

IPL and currently involved with India set up so unlikely to get him for anymore than a short stint when it suites him as the dough Durham can offer is irrelevant to a regular Indian international.
If you are going down that route you need to find the 2021 version of Axar Patel and that is the challenge.

Exactly, dunno about you but I'd never heard of Axar Patel before we signed him. Obviously we can't compete with IPL payments but Pakistanis don't play IPL and there are plenty obscure but talented spinners available there.
We need also to develop a home grown spinner. We select them and discard them far too early. Give Trevaskis a few years to develop in NEPL and 2nds gradually introducing him to senior red ball cricket with our overseas spinner mentoring him.

 

[wayne entwhistle no9]

Exactly, dunno about you but I'd never heard of Axar Patel before we signed him. Obviously we can't compete with IPL payments but Pakistanis don't play IPL and there are plenty obscure but talented spinners available there.
We need also to develop a home grown spinner. We select them and discard them far too early. Give Trevaskis a few years to develop in NEPL and 2nds gradually introducing him to senior red ball cricket with our overseas spinner mentoring him.

I find it difficult to understand the way Trevaskis appears to have been written off as a viable option in championship cricket.I don't think he is ever going to be an attacking spinner who bowls sides out but as he has shown in one day cricket he can be a very effective bowler in a defensive way and is not easy to milk and can also score useful runs. The signing of Thomson on loan makes Trevaskis standing at the club even more uncertain.
By no means do I think he is a nailed on starter but along with Potts ( who if you include Wood is currently the 7th choice seamer) Iam surprised at their lack of opportunities to play championship cricket especially after the way they have performed in the one day stuff.

 

[Bri]

I find it difficult to understand the way Trevaskis appears to have been written off as a viable option in championship cricket.I don't think he is ever going to be an attacking spinner who bowls sides out but as he has shown in one day cricket he can be a very effective bowler in a defensive way and is not easy to milk and can also score useful runs. The signing of Thomson on loan makes Trevaskis standing at the club even more uncertain.
By no means do I think he is a nailed on starter but along with Potts ( who if you include Wood is currently the 7th choice seamer) Iam surprised at their lack of opportunities to play championship cricket especially after the way they have performed in the one day stuff.

Maybe should think Thompson as less of a threat to Trevaskis but more of a replacement for Whitehead, who I thought, no that I know, was a lot better than Borthwick. The team can easily accommodate two spinners in T20.

 

[wayne entwhistle no9]

Maybe should think Thompson as less of a threat to Trevaskis but more of a replacement for Whitehead, who I thought, no that I know, was a lot better than Borthwick. The team can easily accommodate two spinners in T20.

The problem with that is that Farbrace has already said that he sees Thomson as playing a part in their one day set up at Warwickshire. So effectively he has come to Durham to be an option for the first block of championship matches and makes the squad ahead of Trevaskis.
I don't know Trevaskis may see his future as a one day cricketer and wants to concentrate on that but I would doubt he would make a decision like that at 20/21 years of age.