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Goodbye summer. Hello summer

last year, mid-October

Damn all press releases. Damn them all. It’s October and already Durham have offered their tickets for next summer’s internationals. It’s all too fast - slow down. Admittedly I’ve had a forgettable day and am even more cranky than usual, but this is just daft. It’s CONKER SEASON YOU FOOLS.

Reminds me of my former life in the NHS when the “Christmas menu” would be sent round…in about bloody April. And they never offered bread sauce, either.

Ottis Gibson’s ten

last year, at the end of July

Well done that man. I remember Richard Johnson taking 10 for 45 in 1994 as though it were yesterday. Middlesex members and fans all thought we had yet another brilliant fast bowler in the making - and I seem to remember Ray Illingworth also agreeing when he said he had a “heavy ball”, an expression which I’d not heard before back then. Johnson was, from memory, picked for the South Africa tour before one of his many back problems surfaced.

Anyway. Gibson is not going to be going to South Africa, or anywhere else for that matter, for he’s the wrong side of 38. But that only make his achievement all the more special and memorable. Go on, West Indies…do the unthinkable and give him a call-up, just for fun.

Full list of the 79 bowlers to have taken all ten wickets in an innings available at Cricinfo.

A day for umbrellas

2 years ago, mid-September

Someone needs to find Chris Adams and ensure that he is in no way performing any kind of rain dance. After a morning deluge washed out Thursday’s play at Old Trafford as well as Edgbaston, Lancashire’s chances of staying level in the title race are becoming faint. With Sussex sitting out this week’s round, they have been unhampered by the bad weather. Mark Chilton’s men, on the other hand, have now suffered two games running, with good performances against Warwickshire going to waste for the same reason. Requiring maximum bonus points and victory to grab top spot, they have only taken four Durham wickets, and are running out of time.

At the other end of the table, Yorkshire will also be rueing the lack of play in today’s Division One matches. With their two remaining bats skittled in what little action they saw at Headingley, the win Craig White’s side desperately need will be a hard task. The last thing they will want to see is third from bottom Durham holding on for a draw, especially as they will be playing each other next week. Maybe they will take some heart from the fact the only Harmison they will face will be batsman Ben - his older brother has been ruled out as a precaution.

All very football

2 years ago, mid-September

Whilst England’s summer is now over, the domestic leagues still have a few more matches left to play. In fact, play will continue as far as September 24th, with the new Pro40 playoff to decide whether there will be a third team relegated.

Interestingly, it seems that two of England’s names on the injury list may yet still get a last first-class game this season. Lacking the necessary match fitness to feature in the battle for a place in the last round of the County Championship, with Durham and Lancashire facing competitive matches, Duncan Fletcher has suggested that Liam Plunkett and Jimmy Anderson might well make use of the county loan system.

Not one of the most well known of contract loopholes, the idea was introduced by the ECB in the pre-season of 2005 to allow more England-qualified talent to emerge. Similar to the loan rules that govern football, domestic players may sign for a short period with another county, though they may be recalled at any time if guaranteed first team cricket by their own county. Fletcher hopes that the pair may be able to take the field for counties playing dead-rubber matches, possibly in an attempt to ready them for potential spots on the Ashes tour.

How to say Chester-le-Street

2 years ago, at the end of July

Chester-le-Street is where Durham play their cricket, and the BBC have just writted a post on how to pronounce it. Not tricky, you’d have thought; it’s not a Gloucestershire or Leicestershire (Glue Kester Shire, Lie Kester Shire). However, the Beeb say Chester-le-Street is pronounced as follows:

“Our recommendation, based on the advice of people who live there as well as published sources, is CHEST-uhr-li-street - the first part rhymes with ‘westerly’. Most English placenames with ‘le’ in them are pronounced in this way, rhyming with ‘me’ rather than the French-sounding ‘luh’.”

Bunkum. I pronounce it with the French-sounding “luh” - doesn’t everyone else? Can any Durham folk confirm either way?

Muchly ta

Lara’s 501

2 years ago, at the start of June

Thanks to Ryan for pointing this out. 12 years ago today, Brian Lara struck that incredible 501 for Warwickshire against Durham. I was at school at the time, a mere 12-year-old, and I remember my Dad picking me up at about 6pm.

Back in those days, the mobile phone was a distant dream. Only rich yuppies (remember them? Ah, the 1980s…) could afford the breeze-block Nokias, and even then they had no one else to phone. So I clearly remember my old man shouting down the drive, as I was making my way up it, “Lara’s gone mad Will! 500!” Obviously I thought he’d finally lost the plot, and peered into the back windows of the car for the Men In White. But they weren’t there. After completely refusing to believe him for the entire 10-minute car journey, the radio came on to confirm my worst and best fears.

I didn’t know what to think. After his 375, which incidentally was made on the tour which first sparked my interest in the game, it was plain as day that he was an extraordinary cricketer. But the 501? It took the biscuit - and I couldn’t help thinking “Well it’s Durham for God’s sake. Durham.” And back then, Durham really were very Durham, not the chirpy, confident side of 12 years hence.

Where were you when he did it?

Ben Harmison hits 100 on debut

2 years ago, at the start of June

Ben Harmison, brother of Steve - who has been mentioned here before - hit a hundred on debut for Durham today. Be interested to read the reports in tomorrow’s papers.

Onions

2 years ago, mid-April

Graham Onions plays for Durham. Graham Onions!

UPDATE, September 2006 - Onions called up to the England one-day squad. Click here.

Durham part with A Pratt

3 years ago, at the end of July

Chuckled at this headline on the BBC today, reporting that Andrew Pratt had left Durham (to become a plumber):

A Pratt leaves Durham

I guess it’s inevitable, with a name like that, but it’s not very BBC to join in the mickey-taking-ness!

World class facilities. Mine field pitches

3 years ago, mid-July

Watching Warwickshire v Durham, Ian Botham made a good point about the pitch - which is quite obviously a mine field, as Durham are 32 for 6. Durham have improved their Riverside ground beyond recognition - it’s one ground I would love go to. As have, of course, Hampshire at their Rosebowl ground. Both of these have world-class facilities, both receiving millions in funding - yet both pitches are mine fields. While these two counties have forced the improvement of other grounds, such as Leeds, to reach their lofty standards, their pitches need improving if they are to ever be granted the honour of regular Test matches. A great shame - you’d think that the pitch would be the most important aspect of a ground’s regeneration; it seems all the glitzy, shiny, corporate bullshit is more important these days…

Ben Harmison to make debut

3 years ago, at the start of July

Ben Harmison, brother of Steve, will make his debut for Durham this evening in a Twenty20 encounter against Lancashire.

Australia win a match

3 years ago, at the end of June

So the Australians are off the mark, and who better to do it against than England? I only caught snippets of the game in the pub - Symonds’ innings seemed to be invaluable, and Lee too bowled well. Was there any sign of Australia’s rustiness still, or has this game smoothed the rough edges for them?

Thoughts on England v Australia

3 years ago, at the end of June

Today sees the first day-nighter between Australia and England this summer - as ever, it’s going to be thrilling and fascinating. I’m not going to see any of it until I watch the highlights tomorrow, but’ll try and find a pub with a TV tonight. There are some fascinating little selectorial decisions to be made today by both teams.

Firstly Michael Vaughan. I question just how problematic it’d be for England if he were to miss the game. He’s carrying a groin injury at the moment, facing a late fitness test. And despite his 50 the other day, he continues to baffle the world at his inability to play ODI cricket. Immense class, but England need quick runs, not stodgy ones. It’s an almost identical situation to when Michael Atherton was in the side: he just wasn’t made for ODI cricket and, unless Vaughan starts scoring soon, Marcus Trescothick (or Andrew Flintoff?) might well take up the ODI captaincy.

Australia’s selection will be interesting too. Symonds - he of “off his rocker” fame - should return to provide them with much-needed rocket-fire in the middling overs, and his little dobblers. Big question though will be who Lee replaces, if anyone. He’s certainly said to have recovered from his shoulder injury - whether Australia will concede that Kasprowicz was poor in the last game by ousting him remains to be seen. Lee might be the quickest on either side, but he’s not the most economical - then again, nor was Kasper. I’d say he’ll play and bowl first change.

England’s bowling attack is starting to fire. Gough was rested for the Bangladesh game, and I think he’ll replace Jon Lewis, with Tremlett keeping his place. I hope so, anyway, especially after Tremlett’s bold statement yesterday.

Finally I really can’t decide what they’ll do at the toss. I don’t think either team, especially Australia at the moment, are that confident of defending a total. Personally, I want England to bowl first; with Pietersen in such good nick, and batting so deep, they can chase most totals. Problem is, will they want to be batting under lights - bearing in mind it’s up in Durham where, come 7/8 o’clock, it’ll cool down quite quickly and could swing around. The flip-side of that is the ball could get moisture on it, and become slippery for the fielders. See? The decisions a cricket captain has to make…no wonder we love this game so much.

Sticking my neck out: Australia will win if they bowl first.

Collingwood as a Test batsman?

3 years ago, mid-June

I recorded Extra Cover (Sky+ is essential for any cricket fan - it’s pretty much all I use it for, perhaps I’ll call it Cricket+) which I’m watching now, and Charles Colville is interviewing Paul Collingwood. I’m a fan of Colly’s, although not sure he quite has it at Test level. They’re mainly talking about his being pigeon-holed as an ODI specialist (like Fairbrother, Moody, Knight, Bevan etc). I’m too knackered to offer my opinion, so it’s up to you: is he in the running for a post-Thorpe batting slot?

Whatmore admits Durham will be tougher

3 years ago, at the end of May

Dav Whatmore, he of “an impossible job” fame, has admitted he fully expects this week’s Test at Durham to be even tougher than the drubbing at Lord’s.

You might think things couldn’t get any worse, but we fully expect the Durham Test to be harder.

It’s going to be relatively scorching up in Durham, a whopping 20 degrees, but rain is forecast for Saturday.

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