Thought I'd do this in the light of Marc's thought-provoking piece below the last article and before we hopefully head off today down south. We may yet have to wait till Tuesday as my son has an extra shift in his part time job that he is desperately trying to off-load as I write...
Anyway, I've seen comments in different places now regarding not picking players who won't be around, or may not be, next summer and giving a chance to players who will be here in the longer term.
I can't agree.
In both remaining competitions we have a chance, a good chance, of promotion. Whether we make a mess of that opportunity only time will tell, but for me it is petty (and silly) not to play your strongest side until that possibility has gone. As I said in my reply to Marc, Timmy G will always be in my first choice side and will be until he leaves the staff, whenever that is. I still feel there is more chance of him staying than Smith, but there's more chance of either doing so if we are in the first division, a strong possibility in our current form.
If you're not going to pick Smith or Groenewald, why pick Jones, who is also leaving? That he is doing so for different reasons is neither here nor there. Players have a right to talk over options with other teams and you can bet that Paul Collingwood will continue to feature for Durham, despite imminent talks with us. To do otherwise is hardly a bargaining tool if you want someone to stay. It comes over as small-minded and would only reinforce my thoughts of leaving if I hadn't yet decided.
Non-selection on form is a different matter, and Greg Smith could miss out at Northampton on those grounds. What might save him is his ability to bowl spin, though his recent injury may also limit his bowling, so...
While Wayne Madsen scored few against Glamorgan, I'm a firm believer in the old adage that form is temporary but class permanent. Madsen is a high quality player who will shortly be back in touch and scoring in his usual style. I still feel that he'd score even more in the middle order than he does up top and I've said that for some time, but he is a player of high calibre and should be in there.
We don't yet know if Dan Redfern or Martin Guptill are likely to be fit, but assuming full fitness my team for Wednesday would be:
Madsen
Guptill
Hughes
Durston
Redfern
Smith
Whiteley
Sutton
Clare
Groenewald
Palladino
The lack of a spinner worries me, but in the absence of Knight and Needham for differing reasons and no loan signing on the horizon, I would go with the best players and trust them to do well. Poynton's time as wicket-keeper/batsman will come, but Sutts averages 30 in the Championship and for now should be the man in possession.
There's enough batting depth and bowling talent in that team to beat Northamptonshire, runaway leaders or not. Mind you, they are acquiring a reputation as our bete noir, something it would be good to shake off.
Wednesday would be a good time to start.
You,re right peakfan,it,s high time we beat Northants and now is as good a time as any. Looking at the weather forecast it looks a poorish week so that may well play a part,unfortunatly.
ReplyDeleteRedfern injured and is out for up two weeks.Replacement either Borrington, Park or Linekar. Borrington gets my vote.
ReplyDeleteNatwest 81
Peakfan, I am affraid if Smith wants out then I wouln't pick him again. Replace him in the squad with Thornley for the rest of the season. I am sure that Thornley would jump at the chance to play for us.
ReplyDeleteBorrington has got a stack of runs in league cricket so if Redfearn is injured then Borrington ought to be given another chance and maybee drop Madsen down the order to number 4.
Got to play our best team if we are in with a chance of promotion, which we currently are and Smith and Groenewald are both in that team at present. It's a different matter if we have nothing to play for with a couple of games left. I agee with Peakfan's team with Borrington to come in for Redfern if injured.
ReplyDeletePeakfan, there is a difference between Smith and Greonewald leaving and Jones leaving. Jones is retiring whilst the other two are looking to play for other teams unless in Smith's case we pay him a reported lots of money!
ReplyDeleteMy concern with players who are apparently leaving is their level of motivation. In Smith,s case ive left him out purely on form,though i admit i would be slightly more sympathetic were he definately staying.
ReplyDeleteI said in an earlier comment that both Smith and Groenewald should be given until the end of July. If they haven,t signed by then it is clear they wish to leave and i wouldn,t play them. I take your point about possible promotion peakfan,but that assumes any replacements for the said pair would not be good enough and would weaken the team. A debatable point,im sure you would agree.
Jones is leaving,as we already know,but in his case i would not question his motivation or commitment. The fact he is well rested,whereas Clare isn,t was the reason i would select him for this game. Clare did well in the last match and his omission is purely to rest him. Palladino should be okay,given his lack of involvement in T20 and Turner gets another chance if he is to stand any hope of CB40 selection. Another boat load of runs against his name in this game would surely seal his fate. Im sure your team will be closer to the mark than mine,but ive done it for reasons which i think are valid. Anyway,lets hope we give a good showing,whoever plays and keep the pressure up on those around us.