I
Icarebecauseyoudo
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Never won at the Oval....
Will do with 4 more
2 x 4 from Stokes settles it
Will do with 4 more
2 x 4 from Stokes settles it
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Genuinely outstanding win. Really wouldn't expect to see us win on a pitch that spun from ball 1.
Genuinely outstanding win. Really wouldn't expect to see us win on a pitch that spun from ball 1.
Great news that 3 young local lads - Rocky, Borthwick and Bucko - were our 3 main contributors.
Very good win.
Borthwick at 3 a one off or to stay? Surely a bowler too many once Stokes is back bowling but might not want to upset the side too much.
Still a batter short of championship winners potential, but superb start. Wonder if anyone will step into the England fold...
Surrey have been tipped 2 seasons on the trot to win the CC. A clear London bias exists in cricket as well as football. On saying that durham have surprised everyone -including me!f***ing GET IN THERE!!!!!!!!!
Not bad at all for relegation certs
For all we aren't yet safe, its hilarious to think there were a LOT of journalists (lazy, southern biased fuckwits) who said we would do well to avoid relegation and that Surrey could win the Championship. I think its closer to vice versa now, especially when in Surrey's case - you look at their next few games and who is above them.
I will echo the sentiments of those who suggest our bowling attack is excellent. Our seamers are as good as anything on the County circuit. We have Onions to come back into an attack where Rushworth and Stokes have started very strongly and where Thorp has stood up and been counted with important wickets in this game. Then Wood, who was magnificent at Notts with bat and ball and is showing great signs of developing into a very good bowling all-rounder.
Our spinners aren't too bad either. Borthwick is improving every game with his leggies, he's an excellent batsman and fielder too - although I don't think he's the answer to our number 3 problems, albeit he'll I'm sure give it a f***ing good go. Buckley was immense on debut, for a young lad to come in and take wickets straight away is a huge plus. Breese was injured for this one but would have deserved his selection if he was fit following his showing at Trent Bridge.
Middlesex next week, another very winnable game at home - however Geoff Cook really will have a headache over his side, Onions has to be back in. However I really can't see where Buckley will fit in, despite his performance in this game. It could be that Breese is fit again and he could be preferred for his batting BUT then Buckley should've been higher than 11 at The Oval.
Rocky was superb here, but I still think our batting is a concern. Perhaps could be the one thing that hinders a title charge. All of our top order are capable of tons, to be fair our top 9 or in some cases top 11 are capable of fifties regularly, but I'm not sure how many of our batsmen are truly capable of 1000 runs this season.
Anyway, that's all a discussion for another day I guess. I'll be re-visiting these issues next week no doubt with the Match Thread but until then, I'll pose my selection for the Middlesex game - for the crack- Stoneman, Smith, Borthwick, Benkenstein, Stokes, Collingwood, Mustard, Wood, Thorp, Onions, Rushworth. (Buckley omitted on the basis CLS tends to be more seamer friendly).
WE ARE TOP OF THE LEAGUE![]()
I think most of the people who thought Durham would struggle never watch Durham play. They all cited the leaving of Di Venuto, Blackwell and Plunket, and no overseas signing coupled with Harmisons dwindling fitness as reasons for relegation. What they don't seem to realise is that Durham never won a game last season with any of those players in the side, Diva and Blackie were fantastic players and were always going to leave a big hole to fill when they left, but Durham are coping well so far, with everyone chipping in and playing a part in a great start to the season.
It's still early days yet, there's a lot of cricket left to be played and a couple of games either way means league positions change quickly, but so far so good, lets hope it continues.
I think most of the people who thought Durham would struggle never watch Durham play. They all cited the leaving of Di Venuto, Blackwell and Plunket, and no overseas signing coupled with Harmisons dwindling fitness as reasons for relegation. What they don't seem to realise is that Durham never won a game last season with any of those players in the side, Diva and Blackie were fantastic players and were always going to leave a big hole to fill when they left, but Durham are coping well so far, with everyone chipping in and playing a part in a great start to the season.
It's still early days yet, there's a lot of cricket left to be played and a couple of games either way means league positions change quickly, but so far so good, lets hope it continues.