Coughlin latest to leave The Riverside

posted by John Winn

Even before I passed through the turnstiles at The Riverside yesterday the talk was of Tuesday's announcement that Paul Coughlin was the latest to take the gravy train,  this time bound for Trent Bridge. Coming a year after the departure of Stoneman and Borthwick to Surrey, exits that filled me with dismay but which I came to terms with on the grounds that they were long servants of Durham CCC and most supporters wished them good luck, if with a side portion of grudge. For Stoneman it has been a successful move, plenty of runs for his new county and a long delayed test cap. For Borthwick less so. After a good beginning with the bat his stock has deteriorated to the extent that he was not named in the squad for last week's game, he has scored just over 400 runs and taken just three wickets at a cost of close to 100,

Amongst the people I spoke to you yesterday feelings run much stronger than in the Borthwick and Stoneman case and much of people's ire is directed towards the player. Chairman Sir Ian Botham in a statement released on Tuesday described Coughlin as someone the county has 'nurtured through the academy system' and who had been offered 'a very competitive contract extension, our devoted support through periods of injury*, continuous development and leadership opportunities'. Yet such a player can walk away from his native county to Notts, the Surrey of the East Midlands without Durham receiving a penny in recompense. And the vultures are not done yet for Jennings, who averages a little over ten since he was dropped by England, will almost certainly join Coughlin at Trent Bridge as soon as Notts promotion is confirmed.

Further remarks from Sir Ian have brought Andrew Strauss into the ring in defence of those England selectors who are also directors of cricket for their counties and the affair has also opened up discussion on the feasibility of a transfer system for county cricket. Amongst those expressing early support were Middlesex, Surrey(sic) and Gloucestershire. I would not favour an open market transfer system of the type found in football but a scheme of compensation administered by an independent panel might be feasible.

As for yesterday's cricket Latham, what a splendid overseas player he has been, and Steel, the find of the season, put together a partnership of 165, then both got out in similar fashion, pulling to long leg and Collingwood and Richardson followed in short order but Clark and Carse steadied the ship to leave Durham just 25 behind at the close. With Northants in a reasonable position against Notts, Kent totally frustrated by a wet outfield at Chesterfield, Sussex will be hoping they can do the double over Durham. As I type, 2:30 Thursday, the threatened rain has not reached The Riverside and Sussex will want to press on as fast as possible as long as it holds off. A decent forecast for tomorrow suggests the last day of the season at Chester le Street might be well worth attending.

* Coughlin had a long term back injury in 2015 and has missed five championship matches this season, next week when he is not available for selection will make six.