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Borthwick on Callum Parkinson


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Scott Borthwick predicts big role for Callum Parkinson in Durham's red-ball plans​




ELIZABETH BOTCHERBY: Borthwick believes having an "out and out spinner" was central to Durham's red-ball success last season, something which bodes well for new signing Parkinson, who is tasked with replacing his twin brother, Matt

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| at 10:00

Scott Borthwick has tipped Callum Parkinson to play a big role in Durham's red-ball plans for 2024 due to the "balance" an "out and out spinner" brings to the XI.
Durham enjoyed a successful County Championship campaign in 2023, bouncing back from finishing fifth and winning just three matches the previous season to top Division Two by 66 points and secure promotion in Ryan Campbell's first year as head coach.
The positive style of play championed by the Australian, which resulted in Durham regularly blowing sides away with the bat, four players scoring at least 800 runs, and five of the top six striking above 60, has understandably stolen the limelight.
Likewise, the performances of the pace attack, with Ben Raine (60 wickets at 24.95) and Matthew Potts (54 wickets at 22.22) plugging the hole left by Chris Rushworth with ease.
However, according to Borthwick, despite not having the same headline-grabbing numbers, spinners Matt Parkinson – Durham's third-highest wicket-taker with 23 wickets at 27.21, Matthew Kuhnemann (a late replacement for Todd Murphy, whose contract fell through shortly before the season began) and Ajaz Patel were just as integral to the club's success, something which bodes well for Callum Parkinson, who signed a three-year deal with the club last June.

Parkinson found red-ball opportunities limited in his final season at Leicestershire [Alex Pantling/Getty Images]

Durham earned promotion to Division One in 2023 [Stu Forster/Getty Images]
Parkinson has made 60 first-class appearances since his debut for Derbyshire in 2016, taking 150 wickets at 40.82, but only featured four times in his final season at Leicestershire.
"The year before we just couldn't find a way to get 20 wickets," Borthwick told The Cricketer. "Last year, because we were scoring quicker, it gave us time to get 20 wickets and having an out and out spinner helped. It's easier to balance the team.
"Matt Parkinson, Matt Kuhnemann, Ajaz Patel could do two roles: bowling 20 overs in the first innings but win the game in the last. When you've got a spinner who can do both, it allows you to give your seamers a bit of a rest and they can come back stronger in their later spells.
"We can use [Callum Parkinson] in those two ways. You can use him in the first innings and say, 'Come on, give me 10, 15 overs and do a job', going at two or three an over, but come day four, can he win us the game?
"We had Matt last year who was a great lad and if Cal's anything like Matt, he's going to fit in great.
Parkinson is one of three new arrivals at Chester-le-Street ahead of the 2024 season, alongside his former Leicestershire teammate Colin Ackermann, who scored 987 first-class runs at 49.35 last season, and Australia international Scott Boland, who is due to be available in both the County Championship and T20 Blast until the end of July.
"Scott Boland is an experienced bowler. On flat pitches, when it's tough, he'll get something out of it and he's the type of bowler that's on you, he's in your face, he's fast, he's aggressive. He will get wickets if he continues to bowl the way he is. He's a great operator," Borthwick added.
"Colin's an experienced player, a proven run-scorer for Leicestershire, and brings international experience. Ryan's worked with him before [with the Netherlands]. He's another experienced middle-order batter and he'll surely score runs for us.
"We're building a great team here"


 
The Red Telephone said:
On last season's form I would say Jones but if that was the case I don't know who would open with Lees.
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Clark? He seemed to cope with the second new ball well last season although it's obviously a different scenario to opening. It would be a very aggressive move though.

Otherwise Borthwick?
 
Well it will be interesting to see what they do with the batting line up it actually looks the only real conundrum for the opening match if everyone is fit and available. Mind thats a big if even for the first game.
 
Ackerman was a replacement for Borthwick when he was signed as Badger's form at that time was poor. His end of season runs have created a problem.
 
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Campbell said at the recent talk in at CLS CC that he doesn’t subscribe to the view that the captain should always play. It depends on form. He also hinted that he knew who he would leave out, but wouldn’t tell us 😁
 
Unfortunately Jones misses out for me. Very good young player but you would find it hard to drop your captain after you got promoted. Especially with a good run of form towards the end of the year. That does leave a player batting out of preferred positions
 
knowsnothing said:
Unfortunately Jones misses out for me. Very good young player but you would find it hard to drop your captain after you got promoted. Especially with a good run of form towards the end of the year. That does leave a player batting out of preferred positions
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I'd think I'd agree with this. The batting, based on llast season, hardly has any weaknesses and if there is one it would be Jones. Borthwick stays imho.
 
Parkside said:
But if Jones and Borthwick score freely in Zimbabwe?
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Yea, then the dilemma returns and in truth Jones didn't score that much worse than Scotty. However, I like Scotty as a captain so it would take a lot for me to drop him.
 
mosi said:
Campbell said at the recent talk in at CLS CC that he doesn’t subscribe to the view that the captain should always play. It depends on form. He also hinted that he knew who he would leave out, but wouldn’t tell us 😁
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Even after a few pints when we were all mates?
 
Parkside said:
But if Jones and Borthwick score freely in Zimbabwe?
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That conundrum looks like resolving itself.
knowsnothing said:
Unfortunately Jones misses out for me. Very good young player but you would find it hard to drop your captain after you got promoted. Especially with a good run of form towards the end of the year. That does leave a player batting out of preferred positions
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Jones was in rotten form at the end of the season, lucky not to be dropped. Writing on the wall with SB opening in Harare. Could see him loaned out in div 2 to find form.
 
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