While my absence from Weetwood was being noted I was making the drive, bus, train, bus, walk, trip to The Riverside for a Monday start in the county championship with Durham entertaining Derbyshire in the competition for the first time since 2005. Catching an earlier bus than usual from Durham I arrived in plenty of time to take a seat with my friend Michael Taylerson on the old scorebox side of the ground. It could perhaps now be called the 'new seat side' for something like 6000 new seats are now ready for next month's teat match. Rumours abound about these seats, one being that this time last year they were being installed at Horseguards' Parade for beach volleyball.
In the continued absence of Paul Collingwood, Durham were led by Mark Stoneman, who has now captained the side in all three competitions and he began by losing the toss and Derbyshire skipper Madsen invited Mark and his opening partner KK Jennings to bat first. Although the morning was warm there was cloud cover but when 'The Peakites' took the field those who had sun glasses reached for protection from the dazzling glare of the whiteness of Derbyshire's kit. Alongside them the Durham openers looked as though they were cast as the 'grey' in the old Persil adverts.
Stoneman who a month ago was touted in a national publication as a possible international cricketer has not been in great form lately and he was soon gone for four and when Borthwick followed at 52 for 2 Madsen probably thought he had made the right decision. Jennings and Smith got through to lunch and when the latter was dismissed Richardson walked to the crease, seemingly promoted above Stokes. Whether his elevation had rather been sprung upon him is not known but he was uncharacteristically skittish and went cheaply and when it was Mustard in next the rumour mill switched its aim from the new seats to the continued absence of Stokes .Called to Trent Bridge was one preposterous notion. Upset stomach it turned out.
Mustard and Jennings added 90 but when Jennings fell seven short of a maiden championship century the new ball in the hands of Footitt, whose selection had been met by groans from a good size Derbyshire contingent, prompted the fall of the five for 29. Stokes lasted only five balls, perhaps that was all the time he could spare. 253 all out, whilst disappointing in the light of 222 for 4, is the mean score for the team batting first at The Riverside this season and that has been the home team in all five games. The dismissal of Hughes to the second ball of the Derbyshire innings and stumps at 15 for 1 probably left both teams reasonably happy.
I mentioned in a previous posting that this week in Yorkshire offers riches to the pcw and an email from David Thorpe yesterday promises another delight at Golcar on Friday when Newcastle (Australia) Junior Cavaliers take on a young Golcar XI with a 1:30 start.
Finally thanks to Tony Hutton for details of this year's Bunbury Festival which is to be held in Durham, week beginning Monday 22nd July with the finals on the Wednesday at The Riverside. I note that the players will meet Paul Collingwood at Collingwood College for the presentation of caps. Supply your own joke.
And really finally one for the stattos: Gareth Breeze and Shiv Chandepaul are on opposite sides in this match but both played for West Indies in Madras in October 2002 in what proved to be Breeze's only test (probably).
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