Squad selection v Notts

[Harry Lime]

I think Lewis and Colly have some difficult decisions to make re bowling choices for the Notts game. If Stokes gets the ok from the ECB then that's a no brainier for me, he has to play. If Bunny is 100% fit then he's a certainty, same for Rushy. It's the others, Woody, Harrison, Arshad and Scotty Borthwick that are worrying, all of them have struggled with injuries in the last 3 games that's meant we've never finished a game with a full bowling attack. All four lads when fit are an asset to the team both batting and bowling, but we need to start winning games soon and the only way we'll do that is with a full set of bowlers. Rushy is the only one of the frontline bowlers to stay injury free so far, but he's having to bowl more overs than he should, which increases the risk of him getting injured too.

So, for Sundays game v Notts I'd go for Bunny, Rushy, Stokes (fitness and ECB permitting) and one other seamer, Woody if fully fit, Arshad if he's not, and if there's any doubt over them two then Gavin Main.

I don't think Scotty will be fit, he's got two chipped finger bones now and I can't see him playing, so I'd bring Breesy back in. I think he's a better bat then Pringle and more experienced bowler.

I think we've got selection problems at the minute for all the wrong reasons, injuries, lack of form, and too small a squad.

 

[Aidan11]

What I still don't understand is that we took some big names off the payroll over the last 2/3 seasons yet there was still no money to strengthen the squad pre-season.

Ok we got McLeod and Hastings but they alone would not make up for the loss of players like Benks & Smudge.

I may be wrong but my opinion is the buck stops with Harker and I hope he does the decent thing and steps down if we have a bad season (I wont mention the R word).

 

[Harry Lime]

What I still don't understand is that we took some big names off the payroll over the last 2/3 seasons yet there was still no money to strengthen the squad pre-season.).

DEBT. The club has no cash, only DEBT, this has been posted many times before yet still comes up. The club has debt through ground improvements and lucrative contracts handed out in previous years. The money coming into the club now goes on servicing the debt (paying the loan repayments), so any monies saved on letting players go means the club has less to find to pay the debts. It doesn't mean Smudge and Thorps wages is cash that can go towards someone else, it just means the clubs burden to raise cash is eased.

 

[Parkside]

Fans must be aware of this fact,Harry, it's been said that many times. I think it's a case of people not accepting what they don't want to hear.

 

[Harry Lime]

Fans must be aware of this fact,Harry, it's been said that many times. I think it's a case of people not accepting what they don't want to hear.

Yes, that seems to be the case. The simple fact is we just don't get enough paying supporters through the gates, especially for the limited over stuff. The southern counties are getting 15-18 thousand fans at some T20 games and we struggle to get 3 thousand, we can't compete with that. We've gone from being one of the top paying counties, to one of the bottom payers in only 3 seasons.

 

[Carteron]

Yes, that seems to be the case. The simple fact is we just don't get enough paying supporters through the gates, especially for the limited over stuff. The southern counties are getting 15-18 thousand fans at some T20 games and we struggle to get 3 thousand, we can't compete with that. We've gone from being one of the top paying counties, to one of the bottom payers in only 3 seasons.

I have been trying to think of the reason for this. In the early days of T20 the Riverside was absolutely chocca, however these days numbers are massively down.

One reason could be economic. I believe we are one of the cheapest in the country for T20, however in the current climate people are struggling, and £15 a pop is still a lot of money. Still basic economics from Durham would tell them that 6000 people at £8 is better than 3000 people at £15, with the added bonus that they may splash out a bit more on food and drink once they are in there.

Another reason I thought of is this new Friday/Saturday thing for T20. The North East is probably right up there nationally in terms of local cricket structure. When we attracted the big crowds you would see loads of faces from the various clubs around the region. Now I know for certain most of these people will not attend a Saturday game, and at this time of year midweek/junior cricket is in full flow too meaning Friday could also be a bad night. I genuinely think early in the week would be better for fans in our region for T20.

One additional thing I think contributing is just how people see cricket in their life. Within a number of clubs I have seen people take a step back to spend time with their families. This isn't a criticism but there may be a knock on effect to county attendance. Lads in my club won't play midweek due to family commitments, or won't play Sundays in some circumstances. If these lads cannot get out for a cup tie themselves these days, then there isn't much chance of them making a county T20.

Solution-wise it is very difficult. One thing I think is worth trying though is standardising junior cricket in the region. If our County desperately needs a big attendance on a given night of the week, lets try and align our leagues to give people a chance to come along and support. Surely the leagues could get together and say for example, all U18s and U13s play Monday, U15s Tuesday, Midweek 3rd XI leagues Wednesday, so there is no scheduled league cricket on Thursdays and Friday. Yes cup ties will need to be played but throw some special offers in for kids and you know they will be able to attend.

Just a few thoughts, may not work but I get the feeling nobody in the club really thinks along these lines.

 

[brandon]

Fans must be aware of this fact,Harry, it's been said that many times. I think it's a case of people not accepting what they don't want to hear.

Fans are, to a degree aware. But for me there needs to be more transparency from the club. If the club were to come out and tell the whole truth - that building the squad just isn't financially possible then I think most people would accept it and get on with backing the lads. Especially the young lads.

After all, the original vision for DCCC was engineered to play first class cricket in the hope that it gave youngsters from the region a chance to impress on a national stage, in the hope that a NE lad would earn England Test caps. The goal no doubt has been achieved and then some. We've won more Championships than counties who've been around for over a century.

Problem is. We've been so awfully mis-managed and badly handled that the current plight could send us back to the early 90's days of winning only one or two games a season. Square one. Rock Bottom. Which is something I think the club realise, so to avoid having to face the music they try to mask the full truth and pray the players pull of miracles. They've been lucky up to now thanks only to a group of players and coaches who the last few years have been worth their weight in gold. Our recent success was achieved DESPITE the board rather than in spite of them.

If however we begin to struggle on the field, owing to a distinct lack of playing resources then I think maybe those at fault will begin to be questioned.

David Harker should've gone long ago, but no doubt he's still got plenty of money to play with. Even if the club haven't.

I can't even begin to decide who should play on Sunday, such is the injury uncertainty. All I will say though is that Ibelieve our current strongest XI is something like:

Stoneman
Jennings
Borthwick
Richardson
Stokes
Collingwood
Mustard
Arshad
Wood
Onions
Rushworth

 

[Aidan11]

Fans are, to a degree aware. But for me there needs to be more transparency from the club. If the club were to come out and tell the whole truth - that building the squad just isn't financially possible then I think most people would accept it and get on with backing the lads. Especially the young lads.

After all, the original vision for DCCC was engineered to play first class cricket in the hope that it gave youngsters from the region a chance to impress on a national stage, in the hope that a NE lad would earn England Test caps. The goal no doubt has been achieved and then some. We've won more Championships than counties who've been around for over a century.

Problem is. We've been so awfully mis-managed and badly handled that the current plight could send us back to the early 90's days of winning only one or two games a season. Square one. Rock Bottom. Which is something I think the club realise, so to avoid having to face the music they try to mask the full truth and pray the players pull of miracles. They've been lucky up to now thanks only to a group of players and coaches who the last few years have been worth their weight in gold. Our recent success was achieved DESPITE the board rather than in spite of them.

If however we begin to struggle on the field, owing to a distinct lack of playing resources then I think maybe those at fault will begin to be questioned.

David Harker should've gone long ago, but no doubt he's still got plenty of money to play with. Even if the club haven't.

I can't even begin to decide who should play on Sunday, such is the injury uncertainty. All I will say though is that Ibelieve our current strongest XI is something like:

Stoneman
Jennings
Borthwick
Richardson
Stokes
Collingwood
Mustard
Arshad
Wood
Onions
Rushworth

Agree with just about all of this.

It just seems to have all gone belly up in the last 2 or 3 years. It leaked out about those Indian lads putting in some major investment for what appears to be no apparent reason than they are just cricket fans then suddenly all sorts of things were coming out. Harker resigining then coming back on the board doing the same job still appears to have everyone puzzled. We had to get a loan from CLS District Council just weeks before the Ashes test otherwise it was under threat. It all smacks of bad management.

 

[Harry Lime]

How many posters on here actually put their money where their mouth is? I know a few do as we talk often at matches, but I also know some who don't and that's part of the problem.

We, the supporters, to an extent get the club we pay for, excuses don't pay the players wages, it's the paying fans, and that's worth remembering.

 

[brandon]

How many posters on here actually put their money where their mouth is? I know a few do as we talk often at matches, but I also know some who don't and that's part of the problem.

We, the supporters, to an extent get the club we pay for, excuses don't pay the players wages, it's the paying fans, and that's worth remembering.

I don't know about anyone else but I get down as much as I can. Not a member, wouldn't be feasible for me to be one.

But then just because someone isn't a member, doesn't mean they can't have an opinion on it. Plus let's be honest, it's clearly 'extra-curricular activities' that have got the club into this mess. If it were in existence just for county cricket it probably wouldn't have the problems.

I was as delighted as anyone else in the area when we got our first taste of International cricket, even more so at the Ashes Test announcement, but if the current financial plight is a result of hosting England and the ECB I'd sooner go back to just being a county cricket ground.

Call me old fashioned, but the club has to remember what it's original intentions were. To produce local first class cricketers who would be good enough to represent England. I think there's a lot out there who feel like me and when the club is putting things like Fly Emirates ahead of history and heritage like Arthur Austin, perhaps it's time to remember the original plan.

As a side note, would someone else like to start the official match thread?? Cause I'm clearly out of form and I feel I should step down for the good of the team.

 

[Aidan11]

I go to just about every county game too.

 

[Super Ted]

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Haven't been able to get any bowling in before Sundays start vs Notts.Obviously gutted.Will rest up for next weeks battle with Middlesex

 

[Harry Lime]

Bad news re Bunny, it's looking doubly important that Ben Stokes gets cleared to play now or finding 4 fit seamers could be a problem. There could be a big opportunity for one of the younger lads to come in

 

[brandon]

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Haven't been able to get any bowling in before Sundays start vs Notts.Obviously gutted.Will rest up for next weeks battle with Middlesex

Bastard.

Against a Notts attack boasting Siddle and Broad too.....

 

[Aidan11]

I'm just grateful if we can field ANY bowlers.

 

[Parkside]

Bad news re Bunny, it's looking doubly important that Ben Stokes gets cleared to play now or finding 4 fit seamers could be a problem. There could be a big opportunity for one of the younger lads to come in

But in some ways also good news-it would be irresponsible to rush him back given his history without identifying exactly what the latest problem has been- the club have been very vague about the prognosis. Woody fielded yesterday and was stiff after a long bowl in the 1st inns. Hopefully then we can go with Stokes, Rushy, Wood and Arshad.

 

[Harry Lime]

But in some ways also good news-it would be irresponsible to rush him back given his history without identifying exactly what the latest problem has been- the club have been very vague about the prognosis. Woody fielded yesterday and was stiff after a long bowl in the 1st inns. Hopefully then we can go with Stokes, Rushy, Wood and Arshad.

Could the same not be said for Woody too? He has a history of side strains and it may be a gamble starting the game with him so soon after another niggle. Tough decisions for the management.

 

[Mackem DJ]

Its scary that Smith, Blackwell, Plunkett, SHarmison, Thorp, Claydon, BHarmison, Benkenstien + more are off the books yet we still havent got a pot to piss in. Our finances must have been ridiculous at one point.

 

[Cain000]

Its scary that Smith, Blackwell, Plunkett, SHarmison, Thorp, Claydon, BHarmison, Benkenstien + more are off the books yet we still havent got a pot to piss in. Our finances must have been ridiculous at one point.

Ill tell you were the money went.

1. Hussey
2. Lewis
3. Muchall
4. Collingwood
5. Benkenstein
6. Mustard
7. Breese
8. Plunkett
9. Davies
10. Harmison
11. Onions

Look at that team. LOOK AT IT.

 

[Harry Lime]

It looks like Scot Borthwick has failed a fitness test this afternoon and won't play tomorrow.