Botham’s backing
DURHAM CCC WILL CONTINUE TO PRODUCE STARS OF THE FUTURE, INSISTS SIR IAN BOTHAM
Durham County Cricket Club will continue to produce ‘box office’ talent from within, according to new chairman Sir Ian Botham.
Despite financial difficulties, the county will stay true to their passion with Botham insistsing: “Durham academy will always be here. It would be ridiculous not to be.”
Durham County Cricket Club will continue to produce ‘box office’ talent from within, according to new chairman Sir Ian Botham.
Keaton Jennings is the latest in a growing line of players have made their name on the County Championship circuit with Durham before stepping up to the international arena.
And with financial difficulty having been a concerning undercurrent at the Emirates Riverside for some time it has led many to wonder what the future may hold for the club, who will start next season in Division Two with a 48-point deduction in the longer form of the game.
But Botham says because of past success, the county have absolutely no need to reinvent the wheel.
He has reiterated the fact that Durham remain committed to bringing through the next Ben Stokes, Steve Harmison, Mark Wood or Paul Collingwood.
“You don’t reinvent the wheel and we have got it all here,” he said.
“We are proven, tested and are producing players.
“Durham academy will always be here. It would be ridiculous not to be.”
Stokes has recently become the highest paid England cricketer of all time, when Indian Premier League Rising Pune Supergiants agreed a deal of £1.7million to secure his services for the upcoming campaign.
Only Indian internationals Yuvraj Singh (twice) and Gautam Gambhir have ever gone for a higher fee in the competition history.
It was a watershed moment for English cricket, who had few representatives make waves in the ground-breaking tournament, due in no small part to previous restrictions in relation to central contracts.
Botham, very much cut from the same cloth as Stokes, is delighted for the all-rounder, who despite relegation has remained committed to his county.
“I am very pleased for Ben,” he said.
“It is great for the north east.
“We are producing some fantastic players and we will continue to do so. There is a lot of talent.
“Ben is box office. His intention is to play to win – he is uncomplicated – what you see is what you get. He is also very loyal to Durham CCC.
“He keeps pinching all of my records but I love watching him do it.”
Botham, on T20, said: “Cricket has to move with the times.
“Ben is earning in a year in the IPL what a footballer moving to China will in two weeks.
“Players deserve the rewards, it is a precarious living – you can have an injury and never play again.
“Kerry Packer revolutionised and then everyone had to wake up. We had to move with the times.”