Durham CCC: Road to Recovery
As a Hampshire supporter, I was surprised yet delighted to hear the news that my beloved county had been reprieved of relegation at the expense of poor Durham. Controversially, they were relegated to Division 2 as well as having points deductions from all formats and not being allowed to host international games.I thought it was only right for me to take them over and try and get them back in Division 1, competing for the County Championship title in a few years time.
Big names departed the club over the off-season: Mark Stoneman and Scott Borthwick travelled south to Surrey, and wicketkeeper-batsman Phil Mustard left for Gloucestershire. The long serving Gordon Muchall finally retired after a fourteen-year career at the club. Promising youngster Asher Hart left for the south coast, and Gurman Randhawa, Calum MacLeod and Jamie Harrison all left the club with immediate effect as their contracts remained unrenewed. Youngsters Cameron Steel, George Harding and Matthew Potts were promoted from the academy, whilst South African born batsman Gareth Harte joined the club, making use of his UK Passport.
Overseas players Stephen Cook and Tom Latham will need to play a big part in our attempt to get promoted at the first time of asking.
Two signings were made in the transfer window:
- Alexei Kervezee (middle order batsman which we had a distinct lack of)
- Lasith Malinga (T20) (need big names and Malinga is a great t20 bowler)
- -48 points in the County Championship
- -2 points in the One Day Cup
- -4 points in the T20 Blast
Durham Squad for 2017 Season
Stephen Cook | Opening Batsman (Main Overseas) |
Gareth Harte | Opening/Top Order Batsman |
Keaton Jennings | Opening Batsman/Part Time Medium (One Day Captain) |
Cameron Steel | Opening Batsman |
Tom Latham | Opening Batsman (Reserve Overseas) |
Jack Burnham | Middle Order Batsman |
Graham Clark | Middle Order Batsman |
Alexei Kervezee | Middle Order Batsman |
Stuart Poynter | Wicketkeeper/Middle Order Batsman |
Michael Richardson | Wicketkeeper/Middle Order Batsman |
Usman Arshad | All Rounder/Lower Order Batsman/Fast Medium Bowler |
Paul Collingwood | All Rounder/Middle Order/Medium Bowler (FC Captain) |
Paul Coughlin | All Rounder/Lower Order/Medium Bowler (T20 Captain) |
Adam Hickey | All Rounder/Lower Order Batsman/Off Spinner |
Ryan Pringle | All Rounder/Lower Middle Order Batsman/Off Spinner |
Ben Stokes | All Rounder/Middle Order Batsman/Fast Bowler |
Liam Travaskis | All Rounder/Left Arm Spinner |
Brydon Carse | Fast Bowler |
Josh Coughlin | Medium Pace Bowler |
George Harding | Left Arm Spinner |
Gavin Main | Fast Bowler |
Barry McCarthy | Fast Bowler |
Graham Onions | Fast Medium Bowler |
Matthew Potts | Fast Medium Bowler |
Chris Rushworth | Fast Medium Bowler |
James Weighell | Fast Medium Bowler |
Mark Wood | Fast Bowler |
Lasith Malinga | Fast Bowler (T20 only) |
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