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Durham v Sussex (h) C.C.

DURHAM CC 2025 STATS AFTER SUSSEX DRAW (H):


Most Runs - Graham Clark - 552 (+51)
Most Balls Faced - Graham Clark - 975 (+103)
Most Minutes At Crease - Graham Clark - 1,188 (+127)
Highest Batting Strike Rate - Jake Ball - 108 (+0) & Ollie Robinson - 73 (+4)
Highest Average - Graham Clark - 61.3 (-5.6)
Most 50s - Alex Lees, Graham Clark, Colin Ackermann & Ollie Robinson - 2
Most 100s - Colin Ackermann, Graham Clark & Emilio Gay - 2 (+0)
Most 4’s - Graham Clark - 66 (+9)
Most 6’s - Matty Potts - 5 (+0)
Durham Overs Bowled - 1,312.4 (+218.1)
Most Overs Bowled - Ben Raine - 287 (+45)
Durham Maidens - 224 (+43)
Most Maidens - Ben Raine - 73 (+10)
Most Runs Conceded - Ben Raine - 800 (+110)
Durham Wickets - 126 (+16)
Most Wickets - Ben Raine - 29 (+4)
Best Economy Rate - Callum Parkinson - 2.36 , Ben Raine - 2.79
Durham Dot Balls Bowled - 5,760 (+)
Most Dot Balls Bowled - Ben Raine - 1,357 (+214)
Durham No Balls - 39 (+4)
Most No Balls Bowled - Brendan Doggett & Brydon Carse - 9 (+0)
Durham 4s Conceded - 558 (+84)
Most 4s Conceded - Ben Raine - 116 (+14)
Durham 6s Conceded - 16 (+3)
Most 6s Conceded - George Drissell - 6 (+1)
126 Wickets - 65 Catches (52%) - 34 Bowled (27%) - 27 LBW (21%) - 0 Stumpings (0%) - 0 Run Outs (0%)
Highest Partnership - 2nd Wicket v Yorkshire (H) - Gay* & Lees = 279
Most Runs In a Game - Colin Ackermann - 240 v Notts (A)
Points Gained - 97 (+13)
Point Deductions - 0 (+0)
Runs Scored - 4,000 (+327)
Runs Conceded - 4,359 (+683)
Avg 1st inns Score - 388.4 (-7.1)
Results - Won 2 - Drew 3 - Lost 3
Declarations - 1 (+0)
Most Catches - Ollie Robinson - 27 (+4)
Extras For - 248 (+24)
Extras Against - 272 (+28)
Fastest 50 - Colin Ackermann - 46 Balls (Strike Rate = 109)
Fastest 100 - Alex Lees - 126 Balls (Strike Rate = 79)
Tosses - Won 6 - Lost 2 - No Toss - 0
 

They were sitting just along from me. They seemed genuinely pleased to be coming away from Durham with a draw. Had their team been more positive it could very well have been a win.
Yeah puzzling indeed how you can travel that for and accept the way their team approached the game.

Only excuse and it’s a weak excuse Sussex have come a long way in the last few years and maybe did not have the confidence in their ability to get a result.

But as somebody alluded to earlier they have a good bowling attack so to not even try just don’t get it.
Thanks. Must admit the Sussex fans I spoke to weren't amused & social media doesn't exactly suggest some were happy either. That was dreadful today.
Yeah as above just puzzlingly
 
Yeah puzzling indeed how you can travel that for and accept the way their team approached the game.

Only excuse and it’s a weak excuse Sussex have come a long way in the last few years and maybe did not have the confidence in their ability to get a result.

But as somebody alluded to earlier they have a good bowling attack so to not even try just don’t get it.
It made no sense at all. Whether you like the 16/8/0 points system or not, the one thing it certainly does is make calculating the gamble very easy. If you ever get to the point where your chance of winning exceeds your chance of losing then you throw the dice at the point that differential is in your view maximised. Even if it is only 10% versus 5% and it’s still a probable draw. I cannot see how Sussex could not feel that they had got to that point in the run-up to tea. It made absolutely no sense to carry on and not play the odds. Except on the basis of the old and flawed test cricket mentality that you won’t even take a one percent chance of defeat for a much higher chance of victory.

I have defended England’s new approach for the fact that it will take three victories and two defeats over five draws. Which seems an obvious thing when it’s written out like that, but was actually the opposite of what was received test wisdom for decades embodied in the “first make the game safe” mantra. So I have to condemn this as pathetic from Sussex.

One slightly contrarian point is that in some ways this is what the kookaburra experiment is trying to get rid of in County cricket. The complete lack of ambition that is invariably shown now because most games produce results anyway as 40 wickets always fall so all you try to do is score the most runs. In this match, Sussex were the most likely victors, but they had to do something more to win. They didn’t. That’s on them.
 
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It made no sense at all. Whether you like the 16/8/0 points system or not, the one thing it certainly does is make calculating the gamble very easy. If you ever get to the point where your chance of winning exceeds your chance of losing then you throw the dice at the point that differential is in your view maximised. Even if it is only 10% versus 5% and it’s still a probable draw. I cannot see how Sussex could not feel that they had got to that point in the run-up to tea. It made absolutely no sense to carry on and not play the odds. Except on the basis of the old and flawed test cricket mentality that you won’t even take a one percent chance of defeat for a much higher chance of victory.

I have defended England’s new approach for the fact that it will take three victories and two defeats over five draws. Which seems an obvious thing when it’s written out like that, but was actually the opposite of what was received test wisdom for decades embodied in the “first make the game safe” mantra. So I have to condemn this as pathetic from Sussex.

One slightly contrarian point is that in some ways this is what the kookaburra experiment is trying to get rid of in County cricket. The complete lack of ambition that is invariably shown now because most games produce results anyway as 40 wickets always fall so all you try to do is score the most runs. In this match, Sussex were the most likely victors, but they had to do something more to win. They didn’t. That’s on them.
Totally agree mate always hated cliche statements ‘ such as bat them out the game’.

Look to win the game first and foremost not by shit scared of what the opposition may do.

Personally and just my preference draws should be thought off when you have you backs against the wall and behind in the game.

On this occasion they had a first innings lead!
 
The fact that the majority of the counties agreed to quickly revert to eight points for a draw with the 5 points getting short shrift tells you all you need to know about the mind set of the majority of county captains.
Not a lot Durham can do about that so what can we do to lessen bore draws?
*Produce better pitches -after any dry spell our pitches are generally slow and lifeless

*Address out bowling shortcomings by finding young overseas signings who are keen to fully commit to improve their game rather than the countless hasbeens who never wholly fulfil their contractual commitments.
 
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With the obvious if limited exception of course. If we go to Sydney one up at the beginning of next year I’d happily bat all five days for 400-3.
Well of course goes without saying :D
The fact that the majority of the counties agreed to quickly revert to eight points for a draw with the 5 points getting short shrift tells you all you need to know about the mind set of the majority of county captains.
Not a lot Durham can do about that so what can we do to lessen bore draws?
*Produce better pitches -after any dry spell our pitches are generally slow and lifeless

*Address out bowling shortcomings by finding young overseas signings who are keen to fully commit to improve their game rather than the countless hasbeens who never wholly fulfil their contractual commitments.
It’s a sad situation teams voting for more points for a draw rather than less, totally wrong mentality when red ball cricket needs to be seen as exciting and watchable as we can
 
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It made no sense at all. Whether you like the 16/8/0 points system or not, the one thing it certainly does is make calculating the gamble very easy. If you ever get to the point where your chance of winning exceeds your chance of losing then you throw the dice at the point that differential is in your view maximised. Even if it is only 10% versus 5% and it’s still a probable draw. I cannot see how Sussex could not feel that they had got to that point in the run-up to tea. It made absolutely no sense to carry on and not play the odds. Except on the basis of the old and flawed test cricket mentality that you won’t even take a one percent chance of defeat for a much higher chance of victory.

I have defended England’s new approach for the fact that it will take three victories and two defeats over five draws. Which seems an obvious thing when it’s written out like that, but was actually the opposite of what was received test wisdom for decades embodied in the “first make the game safe” mantra. So I have to condemn this as pathetic from Sussex.

One slightly contrarian point is that in some ways this is what the kookaburra experiment is trying to get rid of in County cricket. The complete lack of ambition that is invariably shown now because most games produce results anyway as 40 wickets always fall so all you try to do is score the most runs. In this match, Sussex were the most likely victors, but they had to do something more to win. They didn’t. That’s on them.
Good post. Thing was they were about 270 ahead with 50 overs to go, we were never in a million years ever going to chase that down and with their bowling attack only one team could possibly win and that was Sussex. Why they didn't give it a go is beyond me they absolutely stunk the place out today and I thought I'd seen it all with Essex up here last season. I know fine well Durham would have tried to push that game on today and if they hadn't, the crowd would have let them know. I've said enough about the stupid ball, but Campbell has similar feelings.
 
On a different note, during weekends and school holidays, there doesn't seem to be any kids playing cricket anymore on the outfield during breaks in play.

Has the club outlawed this now? Big mistake in my opinion if so.

It seems so doesn’t it? I agree though, big mistake. Surrey still allow it afaik.
Id be absolutely fuming if I was a Sussex fan who has paid good money to come up and watch this. Only one winner this week... Surrey. Honestly absolutely embarrassing and tedious this. Id be slating Durham if we did this

Embarrassing and tedious is right, coming into this game they were genuine title contenders given Surrey’s hit and miss start - you’ve got to be willing to take risks if you want to win it all and if we’re being honest, declaring when they were 300 ahead wasn’t even that much of a risk.
 
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I was booked into accommodation to come and see this game until I saw the Betis friendly appear with the One Day Cup between Durham v Sussex a couple of days later, and I thought I’ll go to that instead.

It’s been an excellent game and I was regretting not coming after all..until today. It really hurts. My grandfather was born in Sussex and not just any village but Sidlesham.

Sidlesham is the oldest mention of cricket in Sussex (1611) so to me following Sussex ccc is a very personal thing, it’s family like Sunderland afc is.

We were all expecting some sort of early afternoon declaration followed by a grand finale which could have gone either way. What happened instead was in no way acceptable.

I can’t believe any Sussex supporter would ever want to be photographed appearing to endorse that ‘game’. I’m still shaking with rage and had to go back and delete the expletives.

I can only apologise to the Durham fans from myself because I doubt our management would think there was anything wrong with what they did today.

I have nothing to add.
 
It’s a sad situation teams voting for more points for a draw rather than less, totally wrong mentality when red ball cricket needs to be seen as exciting and watchable as we can
I’m not sure I totally agree with that. The possibility of the draw is what sets red ball cricket apart. It has a value because it is what makes red ball cricket so subtle and different. It means it isn’t just make the most runs like all other cricket. The logic of the championship points system is that it is a zero sum system. You don’t encourage artificial win/loss situations. You just let the real ones play out.

The problem is the mentality. As I and others pointed out, Sussex had a significant win-loss advantage that they failed to pursue this afternoon. That was a bad gambler’s choice even with the underlying zero sum odds the points system currently gives. They just bottled it.

I like the draw. It matters. It retains the principle that you should have to beat a side properly to win. It’s not in the interest of the game as a spectacle for it to happen too often. But red ball cricket is dead if it doesn’t happen at all because it is what defines red ball that you have to bowl a side out.
 
Was told Durham tried for Foulkes but it was blocked by NZ. Had a sneaky feeling about Neesham as he's been down at the ground all this game with the team, warming up every day and net sessions numerous times as well. Borthwick deserves his call up he's done what has been asked of him in the 2nd team.
 
I’m not sure I totally agree with that. The possibility of the draw is what sets red ball cricket apart. It has a value because it is what makes red ball cricket so subtle and different. It means it isn’t just make the most runs like all other cricket. The logic of the championship points system is that it is a zero sum system. You don’t encourage artificial win/loss situations. You just let the real ones play out.

The problem is the mentality. As I and others pointed out, Sussex had a significant win-loss advantage that they failed to pursue this afternoon. That was a bad gambler’s choice even with the underlying zero sum odds the points system currently gives. They just bottled it.

I like the draw. It matters. It retains the principle that you should have to beat a side properly to win. It’s not in the interest of the game as a spectacle for it to happen too often. But red ball cricket is dead if it doesn’t happen at all because it is what defines red ball that you have to bowl a side out.
Draws are valuable to the red ball game, always have been, but to consider when your backs are against the wall.

Your first and foremost thought should be to win the game.

Especially when you have a first innings lead which was the case for Sussex in this game

Looking at the County Championship table there is far too many draws it’s not good for the red ball game.

And any points system should be heavily weighted to encourage teams to risk winning games.
 
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