Durham Season Review 2024
10/05/2024 08:22 AM
Durham have had what could be described as a middling season and that is the position they finished in the tables for each of the three competitions. However, they will be more than happy with their performance in the County Championship having been promoted in 2023. They occupied a mid table position throughout the season, staying clear of relegation with a creditable four wins.
David Bedingham was the stand out player, making almost 200 more runs than anyone else in Division One, despite missing three games because of international duties. Alex Lees finished with 924 Championship runs at 46.20, while Ollie Robinson collected 871 at 48.38.
Matty Potts led the Championship wicket taking for Durham, despite missing most the games at the end of the season, while playing for England. He took 33 wickets at 25.39 while Ben Raine found it a little harder in Division One than in the second tier, each of his 32 wickets coming on average every 61 balls compared to a wicket every 49 balls last year. Durham did not have a lot of luck with their overseas pace bowlers. Scott Boland injured his foot in his first game and they then called in Peter Siddle for six games. He only played four, albeit contributing with 13 wickets at 17.92 and was replaced by Neil Wagner who played three One Day Cup games and one Championship match in which he too was injured, this time his shoulder. Durham then called upon West Indian Chemar Holder for their final three Championship games and he managed just three wickets at 64 runs apiece.
Callum Parkinson provided the spin option, following his move up from Leicestershire and despite taking 30 wickets, they came at a pricey 53.26 runs each.
It was the batting that kept letting Durham down in the Blast, managing just a total of 176 runs in their first two games, batting first. It was a similar problem in the quarter final against Surrey, never really able to post a competitive score having been 69/6 after 12.2 overs.
It was the same story in the One Day Cup, where a couple of poor performances with the bat saw them fall just short of a top three spot in their group.
Results
Vitality CC: Fifth in Division One
Vitality Blast: Losing quarter finalist
Metro Bank ODC: Fifth in Group A
Leading run-scorers
Vitality CC: David Bedingham 1331 at 78.29
Vitality Blast: Graham Clark 322 at 24.76; Strike rate 121.50
Metro Bank ODC: Colin Ackerman 316 at 45.14; Strike rate 103.60
Leading wicket-takers
Vitality CC: Matthew Potts 33 at 25.39
Vitality Blast: Ben Raine 21 at 16.85; Economy rate 7.80
Metro Bank ODC: Paul Coughlin 12 at 19.33; Economy rate 4.90
Player of the season
David Bedingham ended the season as the highest run scorer in Division One, accruing 1331 runs at an average of 78.29 with six centuries. In the process he set two club records. His 279 against Lancashire made him the largest individual top scorer, whilst setting the highest partnership at 425 alongside Colin Ackermann. He also helped energise Durham's Vitality Blast campaign with two half-centuries in six innings at a strike rate of 163.04.
In 2021 Bedingham signed a contract which ends at the end of next season and it would be a big surprise if he isn’t at Durham for a good deal longer.
Breakthrough Player
Durham have an excellent record of bringing through quality players and two youngsters have caught the eye this season: Ben McKinney and Daniel Hogg.
McKinney made his first class debut in 2023 as an 18-year-old and played six One Day Cup games this year, scoring 291 runs at 48.50, including 115 off 116 balls against Kent. He was then selected to open the batting for England Lions against Sri Lanka in August, making 46 and 20, before scoring 121 from 129 balls against Nottinghamshire in the County Championship. He only scored 69 runs in his last six innings, but has shown his potential and with the departure of Michael Jones to Lancashire, will be in competition with Emilio Gay for the opener slot alongside Lees. He will be spenidng part of the winter with the England Lions squad in South Africa.
Although originally from Manchester, Hogg studied at Durham School. A few months younger than McKinney, he made his first class debut in the game against Nottinghamshire, taking seven for 66 in the second innings. He went on to play in three of the remaining four Championship games, taking a further four wickets and will be looking for more opportunities in 2025. At 6′ 7″ tall he will undoubtedly be on England’s radar.
Could have done better
Durham are one of the counties not to have won the Blast, having reached finals day just twice. This year was the first time they had progressed from the group stages since 2018 and will be hoping for better.
Need to work on
Batting inconsistencies were a problem in the white ball competitions, something that you might not expect from such an experienced line up. Will Rhodes will certainly strengthen the middle order.
Durham will also be expecting a little more from Callum Parkinson next season.
What's next?
It remains to be seen whether Durham can compete with the big four, Surrey, Hampshire, Somerset and Essex, for the top spot in the Championship. They have strengthened the batting with Will Rhodes and Emilio Gay and also recruited Sam Conners to give more seam options. Conners has never quite pushed on at Derbyshire, having taken 124 first class wickets at 38.12. It will be interesting to see how the 25-year-old fits into the strong Durham attack.
Season Rating
The year after promotion can be a tough one, but Durham have taken it in their stride and while not a stand out year, they should be quietly pleased with their efforts.
Mark: 7/10
