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Durham v Lancashire [H] C.C. 24/4/26

They were justifiably expressing concern that the frailties exposed last year,we were relegated,were again exposing themselves.Lees is a far from inspiring captain,no batsmen nor bowlers have come through the Academy under the present tenure. Yesterday was a splendid victory,thoroughly enjoyable,but on the backs of four class players i.e. Gay,Bedingham,Potts and Raine. Any of those 4 could suffer injury,3 could well be called up to play for their country.
I'm disappointed that you chose to use such guttural popularity terminology "wetting their pants". No place in this forum for those expressions.
There is neither depth to the bowling or batting. Hopefully Benkenstein will develop some batsmen.
No offense intended but I feel it necessary to respond to your cynical criticism.

No offence taken whatsoever marra, I’m not after an argument, my comments were partially tongue in cheek because I made some of my own in the game thread, particularly on Days 1 and 2 that would likely fall under the umbrella of ‘pant wetting’.

I do love a good debate and there’s room here for one of those.

I know all to well how last season went, it still hurts, but I’d just like to see us exercise a little bit more patience. As bad as it may have been going in this game we still came into it having been comfortably better than the two sides we’d faced prior to it. The club (rightly or wrongly) have put faith in Campbell to put it right and I’d argue it’s fair to allow him and his team more than a few games to see how things play out.

On the batting, I’m concerned about the depth too, especially with the falling off a cliff form-wise of Ackermann and Robinson - because those two aside I think we have the best batting line up in the Division and I genuinely believe it’s better than most Division One clubs too. If Gay gets the England call though it suddenly (potentially) opens up a couple of big holes.

I’m a bit happier regarding the depth of the bowling, I like the look of Aldridge and it seems that Potts is back to somewhere near his pre-England call form. Raine is who he has always been and I think Roach will continue to be a useful player in this Division. Minto is coming on lovely and I thought Conners bowled really well on the first day.

I’m a bit confused as to your comments on the academy when McKinney and Minto played prominent roles in this game.
The fixtures are as ludicrous as ever. Remember in 2022 when our away game at Lords finished on May 22 and our next CC away game was at Derby on Sept 5.

2 home and 4 away in the first 6 isn’t horrifically bad, but it makes no sense to have three in a row away.
 
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No offence taken whatsoever marra, I’m not after an argument, my comments were partially tongue in cheek because I made some of my own in the game thread, particularly on Days 1 and 2 that would likely fall under the umbrella of ‘pant wetting’.

I do love a good debate and there’s room here for one of those.

I know all to well how last season went, it still hurts, but I’d just like to see us exercise a little bit more patience. As bad as it may have been going in this game we still came into it having been comfortably better than the two sides we’d faced prior to it.

On the batting, I’m concerned about the depth too, especially with the falling off a cliff form-wise of Ackermann and Robinson - because those two aside I think we have the best batting line up in the Division and I genuinely believe it’s better than most Division One clubs too. If Gay gets the England call though it suddenly (potentiall) opens up a couple of big holes.

I’m a bit happier regarding the depth of the bowling, I like the look of Aldridge and it seems that Potts is back to somewhere near his pre-England call form. Raine is who he has always been and I think Roach will continue to be a useful player in this Division. Minto is coming on lovely and I thought Conners bowled really well on the first day.

I’m a bit confused as to your comments on the academy when McKinney and Minto played prominent roles in this game.


2 home and 4 away in the first 6 isn’t horrifically bad, but it makes no sense to have three in a row away.
Undoubtedly McKinney and Potts are exciting prospects but they haven't established themselves as yet as proven 1st XI quality although both still have youth on their side. The fact still remains that since North took over not one player has come through the Academy to develop into a proven senior player. Hitherto we won a championship with a team of Academy products. Hopefully Gidman and Benkenstein can improve Academy development but I don't think the hierarchy persist sufficiently when giving youngsters opportunity -Killeen and Bushnell typical examples.
As for the bowling,Connors is out long term but,in addition to Stokes,hopefully Carse will be available for a few games. He has been replaced in IPL because of a hand injury and will obviously need a few games before test selection.
 
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I’m a bit happier regarding the depth of the bowling, I like the look of Aldridge and it seems that Potts is back to somewhere near his pre-England call form. Raine is who he has always been and I think Roach will continue to be a useful player in this Division. Minto is coming on lovely and I thought Conners bowled really well on the first day.
I agree with all of this. The bowling is looking a lot better. And I'm still of the opinion that one of the reasons the batting fell off a cliff last season was poor morale because the bowlers weren't doing their stuff.

I know it sounds daft but I think there something in it. The batting failed because the bowling failed.:eek:
 
The fact still remains that since North took over not one player has come through the Academy to develop into a proven senior player.

I suppose it depends what your criteria is for ‘proven senior player’.

I’m not worried about it, the pathway is still clearly producing talent even if it’s not coming in as large numbers as you’d like - it’s perhaps unwise to compare it to the ceiling we saw that resulted in a largely homegrown team winning the Championship in 2013. By that measurement Man Utd’s Academy has been a failure since the Class of 92 flew the nest.

Hopefully Gidman and Benkenstein can improve Academy development but I don't think the hierarchy persist sufficiently when giving youngsters opportunity -Killeen and Bushnell typical examples.

I’m not sure that’s fair to be honest, I was under the impression Killeen was very much in their plans but got frustrated (was it playing time, or contractual?) and sought opportunities elsewhere. How many games has he played for Essex since he left?

Bushnell is no longer playing professional cricket is he?

I get people’s frustration when young homegrown lads aren’t in the side every week, but it’s a results business. I feel like the club do give youth good opportunities but then it’s no good throwing someone in and sticking with them regardless of performance/form because if they’re not producing that can do them more harm than good.

There’s nobody that I can see absolutely braying the door down with their second string performances.

The team that beat Lancashire had 5 homegrown lads in there and I don’t think there’ll be many counties on the circuit who can improve on that. Let’s not forget too that there’s 3 other lads who would walk into that XI if the ECB and their own fitness allowed. It’s worth remembering that when looking at the players that are or aren’t being produced.
 
Undoubtedly McKinney and Potts are exciting prospects but they haven't established themselves as yet as proven 1st XI quality although both still have youth on their side. The fact still remains that since North took over not one player has come through the Academy to develop into a proven senior player. Hitherto we won a championship with a team of Academy products. Hopefully Gidman and Benkenstein can improve Academy development but I don't think the hierarchy persist sufficiently when giving youngsters opportunity -Killeen and Bushnell typical examples.
As for the bowling,Connors is out long term but,in addition to Stokes,hopefully Carse will be available for a few games. He has been replaced in IPL because of a hand injury and will obviously need a few games before test selection.
Potts is 27 hardly youth
 
I suppose it depends what your criteria is for ‘proven senior player’.

I’m not worried about it, the pathway is still clearly producing talent even if it’s not coming in as large numbers as you’d like - it’s perhaps unwise to compare it to the ceiling we saw that resulted in a largely homegrown team winning the Championship in 2013. By that measurement Man Utd’s Academy has been a failure since the Class of 92 flew the nest.



I’m not sure that’s fair to be honest, I was under the impression Killeen was very much in their plans but got frustrated (was it playing time, or contractual?) and sought opportunities elsewhere. How many games has he played for Essex since he left?

Bushnell is no longer playing professional cricket is he?

I get people’s frustration when young homegrown lads aren’t in the side every week, but it’s a results business. I feel like the club do give youth good opportunities but then it’s no good throwing someone in and sticking with them regardless of performance/form because if they’re not producing that can do them more harm than good.

There’s nobody that I can see absolutely braying the door down with their second string performances.

The team that beat Lancashire had 5 homegrown lads in there and I don’t think there’ll be many counties on the circuit who can improve on that. Let’s not forget too that there’s 3 other lads who would walk into that XI if the ECB and their own fitness allowed. It’s worth remembering that when looking at the players that are or aren’t being produced.
We'll agree to differ. 3 of the home grown 5 were here before North's tenure as were the 3 internationals you refer to which rather strengthen my argument rather than contradicts. But a forum is all about differing viewpoints and keeping it civil which we are doing.
Potts is 27 hardly youth
Meant Minto not Potts. 🤔
 
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We'll agree to differ. 3 of the home grown 5 were here before North's tenure as were the 3 internationals you refer to which rather strengthen my argument rather than contradicts. But a forum is all about differing viewpoints and keeping it civil which we are doing.

Meant Minto not Potts. 🤔
If they had people good enough they would get a chance
 
Yeh,obviously you have fallow periods but this has lasted a decade. We view things differently,once again :)
You just asked why we had players good enough before and not now potentially was an obvious answer You also suggested even if they were good enough they wouldn't play why wouldn't they.
 
You just asked why we had players good enough before and not now potentially was an obvious answer You also suggested even if they were good enough they wouldn't play why wouldn't they.
No,whatever logic you're using,the fact is we haven't produced a proven established CC player since Potts who was preNorth era. As I said,we'll beg to differ civilly
 
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