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County Cricket 2022

I’m not sure we do differ, I’m not putting forward the defence for Franklin - I’m merely pointing out (along with @wayne entwhistle no9) that perhaps you’re not being totally fair with your condemnation of his ‘performance’ up to this point.

I’m not panning John Windows either, clearly he’s still got plenty of credit in the bank for what he and we have achieved in the last twenty years - but we’re in unprecedented times given what FTECB did to us in 2016 and so I’m minded to give everyone at the club - coaches, management, etc - a bit of leeway with regard to what they’ve had to deal with. It was inevitable there’d be a slowing down of the youth production given the drastic cuts that we made (and some would argue had to make) following the restrictions that were placed upon us.

We’ve effectively had to hit the hard reset and up to now, in what has only really been two ‘proper’ seasons under Franklin I think we’re heading in the right direction. How much of that is down to Franklin directly is anyone’s guess, I’m not really interested in drilling down and arguing that exact detail myself because it’s impossible to truly say, but I stick by my comment that if we get promotion this year, he’ll have done a good job.
Wouldn't disagree with any of that. Maybe I am being harsh,I'll judge him on next season- if he's here.
 

The bulk of the current team were proven players before they came to Durham.
I've given credit to those responsible for the positives and criticised Franklin for a lack of academy progression. Promotion this season would be rightly attributed to him.
There was always going to be a lack of Academy progression for a period of time. The Academy dropped out of the NEPL because they didn’t have players good enough to compete.
You have seen Luke Doneathy and Michael Jones in 2021 and should see players such as Harry Crawshaw, Tom Mackintosh and hopefully Johnny Bushnell shortly.
Cannot understand how you can be so negative to Franklin.
 
There was always going to be a lack of Academy progression for a period of time. The Academy dropped out of the NEPL because they didn’t have players good enough to compete.
You have seen Luke Doneathy and Michael Jones in 2021 and should see players such as Harry Crawshaw, Tom Mackintosh and hopefully Johnny Bushnell shortly.
Cannot understand how you can be so negative to Franklin.
Time will tell.
 
They undoubtedly are but that's the remit of the new fitness coach not Franklin.

Yes but that's down to recruitment of senior players e.g. Lees, Raine, Eckersley which was necessary after the sanctions and predated Franklin. More recently Bedingham looks a superb capture but Dickson, Coughlin, and to a degree Borthwick, less so. Franklin has been here 3 years and no academy players have come through -Carse and Potts predate Franklin.

I agree on the specific academy point, it doesnt seem to be a priority

Its the absolute priority for me, and its the whole point of Durham Cricket Clubs actually existing
The latest sky sports cricket podcast is a excellent listen Discussing Ashes and the fall out, season structure etc etc. Mind you its amusing listening to them dance round the 100 and you cant help but think they opinions would differ if it wasnt broadcast by there paymasters

Aye they are good pods, but Key just said the "100 was needed" when discussing schedules, and then went on the criticise county chairman for not backing change. Just utter bollocks he was speaking there. It wasnt needed at all.
There was always going to be a lack of Academy progression for a period of time. The Academy dropped out of the NEPL because they didn’t have players good enough to compete.
You have seen Luke Doneathy and Michael Jones in 2021 and should see players such as Harry Crawshaw, Tom Mackintosh and hopefully Johnny Bushnell shortly.
Cannot understand how you can be so negative to Franklin.

I think Franklin has done OK but I'd like to see a couple more academy lads becoming fixures in the side.

I am nto expecting him to be the next Geoff Cook, but we seem to be moving away too much for that model for me
I’m not sure we do differ, I’m not putting forward the defence for Franklin - I’m merely pointing out (along with @wayne entwhistle no9) that perhaps you’re not being totally fair with your condemnation of his ‘performance’ up to this point.

I’m not panning John Windows either, clearly he’s still got plenty of credit in the bank for what he and we have achieved in the last twenty years - but we’re in unprecedented times given what FTECB did to us in 2016 and so I’m minded to give everyone at the club - coaches, management, etc - a bit of leeway with regard to what they’ve had to deal with. It was inevitable there’d be a slowing down of the youth production given the drastic cuts that we made (and some would argue had to make) following the restrictions that were placed upon us.

We’ve effectively had to hit the hard reset and up to now, in what has only really been two ‘proper’ seasons under Franklin I think we’re heading in the right direction. How much of that is down to Franklin directly is anyone’s guess, I’m not really interested in drilling down and arguing that exact detail myself because it’s impossible to truly say, but I stick by my comment that if we get promotion this year, he’ll have done a good job.

Yeah fair post for sure.
 
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I agree on the specific academy point, it doesnt seem to be a priority

Its the absolute priority for me, and its the whole point of Durham Cricket Clubs actually existing


Aye they are good pods, but Key just said the "100 was needed" when discussing schedules, and then went on the criticise county chairman for not backing change. Just utter bollocks he was speaking there. It wasnt needed at all.


I think Franklin has done OK but I'd like to see a couple more academy lads becoming fixures in the side.

I am nto expecting him to be the next Geoff Cook, but we seem to be moving away too much for that model for me

Hard to judge as we don't know the remit, it's entirely possible those at the top have said 'promotion at all costs' to the expense of developing youngsters which would be harsh to then blame franklin for.

all criticism of key is fair but those comments sound especially crass. can't stand the bloke meself
 
How realistic do people feel promotion is for Durham this year?

Good question. A lot will depend on how much we will see of Lees. It's a bonus we'll see Stokes early doors. Keeping Bendingham involved will also be key.

I don't think we're a bad side & have a good chance of promotion.

Be interesting to see if we bring anyone in.

Jones
Lees
Borthwick
Stokes
Bedingham
Raine
Eckersley
Potts
Rushworth
Coughlin
Carse

The above is just off the top of my head but the likes of Clark/Campbell/Doneathy/Drissell/Trevaskis/Salisbury/Gibson will be knocking on the door.

I'm looking forward to the season and seeing how some players develop.
 
6 right arm seamers seems a bit of an imbalance even if,with the exception of Rushy all can bat a bit. I'd certainly have Trevaskis in and Dickson,even though he's now been with us 2 years,is still a bit unknown. Just wondering how many more chances the"promising" Coughlin is to be given - 10th season coming up,46 1at class matches.
Very little experienced batting cover.
 
How realistic do people feel promotion is for Durham this year?

Very realistic given last seasons performance and the calibre of the players in the squad - but probably best to wait until late March to properly say whether we’ve got an expectation that it’ll happen. Still no word on an overseas, or any homegrown additions.
6 right arm seamers seems a bit of an imbalance even if,with the exception of Rushy all can bat a bit. I'd certainly have Trevaskis in and Dickson,even though he's now been with us 2 years,is still a bit unknown. Just wondering how many more chances the"promising" Coughlin is to be given - 10th season coming up,46 1at class matches.
Very little experienced batting cover.

I’d love to see us go with a spinner but it goes without saying that Trev will probably have to get in the side on his batting alone before anything else given the likely conditions our bowlers will face in April and May. We’ll still have to pick four seamers, Stokes being available will help that massively, but when he isn’t, it essentially means Trevaskis has to be good enough with the bat to go in (and produce) as high as number 7.
 
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I think Dickson will get a chance to start the season probably in the middle order. He has got off to s slow start but started to look better in the last 2 months.
Obviously lots depends on Lee's and his availability on the batting line up.
 
Good question. A lot will depend on how much we will see of Lees. It's a bonus we'll see Stokes early doors. Keeping Bendingham involved will also be key.

I don't think we're a bad side & have a good chance of promotion.

Be interesting to see if we bring anyone in.

Jones
Lees
Borthwick
Stokes
Bedingham
Raine
Eckersley
Potts
Rushworth
Coughlin
Carse

The above is just off the top of my head but the likes of Clark/Campbell/Doneathy/Drissell/Trevaskis/Salisbury/Gibson will be knocking on the door.

I'm looking forward to the season and seeing how some players develop.
An interesting list and food for thought. I'll be looking for Borthwick improve next season, given that he batted way below the level we know that his capability. IS he trying to do too much I wonder, what with captaincy, bating, bowling and slip fielding?
If Stokes does play in a number of CC games I wonder if they'll consider giving him a run at being captain for at least a few of them?
 
An interesting list and food for thought. I'll be looking for Borthwick improve next season, given that he batted way below the level we know that his capability. IS he trying to do too much I wonder, what with captaincy, bating, bowling and slip fielding?
If Stokes does play in a number of CC games I wonder if they'll consider giving him a run at being captain for at least a few of them?

Yeah Borthwick can do a lot better, maybe captaincy did take its toll on him but I think they'll stick with him, though it will be good for him to have Stokes around. Ultimately though Borthwick as we know is a good cricketer.

I'm looking forward to the season, no doubt I'll be kicking off on here in April when i'm freezing cold and we're 50-6 :lol: :lol:

I expect Notts to be strong in our league.
I think Dickson will get a chance to start the season probably in the middle order. He has got off to s slow start but started to look better in the last 2 months.
Obviously lots depends on Lee's and his availability on the batting line up.

Forgot all about him.... my bad.
 
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Yeah Borthwick can do a lot better, maybe captaincy did take its toll on him but I think they'll stick with him, though it will be good for him to have Stokes around. Ultimately though Borthwick as we know is a good cricketer.

I'm looking forward to the season, no doubt I'll be kicking off on here in April when i'm freezing cold and we're 50-6 :lol: :lol:

I expect Notts to be strong in our league.


Forgot all about him.... my bad.
Need some overseas quality
 
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Very realistic given last seasons performance and the calibre of the players in the squad - but probably best to wait until late March to properly say whether we’ve got an expectation that it’ll happen. Still no word on an overseas, or any homegrown additions.


I’d love to see us go with a spinner but it goes without saying that Trev will probably have to get in the side on his batting alone before anything else given the likely conditions our bowlers will face in April and May. We’ll still have to pick four seamers, Stokes being available will help that massively, but when he isn’t, it essentially means Trevaskis has to be good enough with the bat to go in (and produce) as high as number 7.
Batting-wise Trev had 4 innings and 2 half centuries - he did as well as his opportunities allowed. One of the successes of last season imho, I hope he will be given more chances this time round.
I agree that promotion is a realistic target, our bowling division is stong but batting needs some attention and who knows when the academy will produce a top order batsman again.
 
Need some overseas quality
Well at the end of season forum Bostock did claim we were seeking an overseas replacement for Bancroft. There should be Kiwis available early season prior to commencement of their tour commencing 20th May.
With such an addition our top 6 would look strong

A.N.Other-Kiwi
Lees
Borthwick
Bedingham
Stokes
Eckersley
with Jones, Dickson and Trevaskis in reserve.
 
Well at the end of season forum Bostock did claim we were seeking an overseas replacement for Bancroft. There should be Kiwis available early season prior to commencement of their tour commencing 20th May.
With such an addition our top 6 would look strong

A.N.Other-Kiwi
Lees
Borthwick
Bedingham
Stokes
Eckersley
with Jones, Dickson and Trevaskis in reserve.
I was told we are after decent international players just not given names so I'm sure we will get a few in
 
With overseas players getting harder and harder to commit to play county cricket what would you prefer.
1. A low key less proven player who is available for most if not all the season.
Or
2. An experienced proven higher quality player who is available for a couple of months.

Obviously taking into account that Durham have the funds to invest in a 2nd overseas.
 
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