Durham are keen to make a Marc in Cup
DURHAM director of cricket Marcus North has defended the integrity of the Royal London Cup and is bullish about his side’s hopes of another long run in the competition.
Critics have suggested the tournament has been weakened after being run alongside The Hundred, with many of the elite talents from the county game being plucked from their respective teams.
However, North has insisted the Royal London Cup is still given the utmost respect by all 18 counties and is optimistic Durham are prepared for another deep run after losing out to Glamorgan the final at Trent Bridge last summer.
North (inset) said: “There was no question of the integrity of the 50-over competition or how seriously counties were taking it last season.
“I saw it to be a very successful campaign with fantastic cricket played by experienced and young players both for and against.
“It was not necessarily championed as much as it should have been. Judging by last year, I am expecting another exciting tournament.”
North added: “Our expectations are the same as last season.
“If we don’t go on a deep run we will be disappointed.
“We know if we want to go deep in this competition we are going have to do the same.
“People use the phrase ‘development competition’ but I don’t think that is a fair evaluation.
“There is a great opportunity for players to develop but you have a high-quality core which runs through the county system.
“We felt we have a very strong batting line-up but our bowling is going to be tested because we have a number of key players are away at The Hundred or playing for England.
“That provides great opportunities for some players – last season we saw Luke Doneathy unearthed as a talented all-rounder.
“We expect to be highly competitive and to play good cricket, though it is not a given we will have the same balance as we did last season and reach the final again. You have to earn that.”
Durham’s bowling ranks will be
depleted more than most after the rise of Matthew Potts into the England Test side along with his commitments in The Hundred.
Brydon Carse and Ben Raine will also be unavailable, leaving the North East outfit light on experience i n their attack.
With no immediate plans to bolster the team with veteran signings, North is putting faith in Durham’s academy starlets Stanley Mcalindon and Oliver Gibson to rise to the challenge - and believes both players have the potential to make a decisive impact in the competition. He said: “You don’t want to put too much pressure on Mcalindon and Gibson but they are exciting talents.
“We have experience as a club and a coaching staff of seeing these players being unearthed, sometimes prematurely because of England call-ups or other events.
“We are used to being able to create an environment for those guys to be comfortable in and quickly.
“Ollie has had challenges with injuries, which is common for a lot of young bowlers - Brydon Carse and Matthew Potts went through it.
“You have to ride those moments with those bowlers because once they get past those injuries they can really fly.
“Those two in particularly have the talent and the opportunities will come their way.
“I am really excited to see them step up and take over from Potts and Carse.
“Maybe two years down the line they are in the same position.”
Durham start their Royal London Cup campaign against Surrey at South Northumberland
Cricket Club in Gosforth tomorrow, a venue where the club have won five of their Royal London matches. North is delighted to return to the club where he spent three years as chief executive before assuming his role at Durham.
He added: “The connections beyond Chester-le-street are very important.
“South North is over the river and enables us to take a game into that area.
“It is nice to play in different parts of the region and South North has been a happy hunting ground for Durham over the years.”
Our expectations are the same as last season. We know if we want to go deep in this competition that we are going to have to do the same Marcus North