Posted by We thought we should probably mention Durham’s victory in the County Championship. How did they win? The same way all teams win in the longer formats – through their bowlers.
Durham can boast of the 3rd, 4th, 5th and 9th highest wicket takers in the County Championship first division. Look at the bowling averages and the picture’s even clearer. If you only include bowlers who’ve taken 10 wickets or more, Jimmy Anderson’s top, but let’s exclude him, because he only played one match.
This is what we’re left with:
- Graham Onions (Durham) 45 wickets at 15.28
- Ian Blackwell (Durham) 36 wickets at 20.88
- Steve Harmison (Durham) 49 wickets at 21
- Mark Davies (Durham) 17 wickets at 23
- Liam Plunkett (Durham) 40 wickets at 23.3
Then it’s Naqaash Tahir of Warwickshire.
Durham also have seven batsmen averaging over 40 – including Shiv, who’s topping the averages at 135.5 – so it’s not just the pitch.
Well played Durham and well played Durham’s bowlers.
Very well done indeed, especially when you consider Onions has been absent for some of the campaign. Blackwell signing was inspired. Take note Langer – he may complain about fat, lazy cricketers, but clearly Blackwell thrived outside of the weasel’s regime.
Could we possibly do worse than stick all of those players in the team for the last one dayer? Then have all the batsmen from a different county?
Yep a team that can regularly take 20 wickets – even in rain affected matches!
The County Championship retained – 8 wins and unbeaten so far……..done in style.
And the 1 to 5 is an all England bowling attack – all the seamers are from the NE. [ and you have not mentioned the Auz element Mitch Claydon and Callum Thorp] The bowling is just too fab too contemplate.
I wonder how many international attacks are better than Durhams? Not many. How would that lot compare against, for e.g. Huritz, Siddle, Hifelhaus, Johnson? Quite well I fear.