T20 BLAST PREVIEW: Short had a tremendous summer in 2019 but then opted to join Surrey for this year's competition until Covid-19 saw to that plan. How Durham deal with his multi-dimensional absence will be fascinating
Coach: James Franklin
Captain: TBA
Last season: 6th, North Division
Fixtures: August 27 – Lancashire (h, 6.30pm); August 29 – Nottinghamshire (h, 2pm); August 31 – Leicestershire (a, 6pm); September 2 – Derbyshire (a, 6.30pm); September 4 – Yorkshire (h, 2.30pm); September 11 – Derbyshire (h, 6.30pm); September 13 – Leicestershire (h, 2pm); September 16 – Yorkshire (a, 6.30pm); September 18 – Lancashire (a, 6.30pm); September 20 – Nottinghamshire (a, 1pm)
How did they do last year?
In a tight North Division, Durham finished sandwiched in the middle of the sides beneath the top four. Ultimately, they were two wins short of a place in the knockout stages, with Australian overseas player D’Arcy Short an essential part of their side.
Short made 483 runs – the fourth-highest tally in the competition – at an average of 43.90, while also taking 13 wickets with his left-arm leg-spin.
Peter Handscomb also added a sense of industry to the team’s middle order in the nine games he played, while 21-year-old local boy Scott Steel has proven a terrific discovery. He scored 369 runs at a strike rate of 136.66, also taking five wickets with his off-spin.
Who are their key players?
Scott Steel: For all the reasons stated above, Steel has a huge opportunity in the next month. Without Short, Steel’s exploits last year make him the main man this time around, albeit recognising the volatility of form as a young player.
The next step for him comes in turning enterprising starts into something more significant; he made two half centuries last year. His county will want even more from him this year.
Matty Potts: We have plumped for Potts here – a 21-year-old Sunderland-born seamer, but in truth we could have named any of a few seamers who performed well last year.
Veteran Queenslander Nathan Rimmington was excellent, taking 16 wickets at an economy rate of just 6.95, while Brydon Carse’s reward for his fine displays in Durham colours was a place on an England Lions tour and then in England’s summer training programme.
He will hope to use this Blast campaign to prove those decisions right. In Potts, no one at Durham took more wicket in last year’s competition, while his strike rate of just 14 made him a regular threat.
Alex Lees: No D’Arcy Short, so the baton must be passed on elsewhere. And who better than Alex Lees, a fellow left-hander who has begun the Bob Willis Trophy with three half centuries and a hundred in his four games so far, even as those around him of a Durham persuasion have struggled for runs.
He has a middling T20 record, having only passed 50 four times in 43 innings, but one senses he could have a significant role to play.
What are their strengths?
The seam bowling of Rimmington, Potts and Carse proved potent last year, while it will be supplemented this time around by the return to Durham of Paul Coughlin.
At one stage, Coughlin’s white-ball form for the county had seen him earn an England Lions call-up. Ben Raine, a big-hitting allrounder, only bowled seven overs in nine games last year, but could prove a useful operator over the next month.
Meanwhile, Farhaan Behardien will add experience and a great deal of white-ball knowhow, should the former South Africa batsman be available.
His compatriot, David Bedingham, has already made an impact since joining this season; he will strengthen a batting line-up missing both Short and Handscomb.
Where might they have a weakness?
Durham’s biggest weakness this year will be the absence of Short. The Australian was named the T20 Blast’s most valuable player for his efforts last season – some effort for a man whose club didn’t make it beyond the group stage.
Even without the Covid-19 pandemic, the left-hander would not have returned to Emirates Riverside. Instead, he had signed to play for Surrey ahead of a stint in The Hundred with Trent Rockets.
Chances of reaching Finals Day?
Much will depend on who steps up to fill the void left by Short, but Durham weren’t far off qualifying from their group last year. James Franklin and Marcus North will have them as a competitive outfit.
Strongest team: Alex Lees, Scott Steel, David Bedingham, Graham Clark, Jack Burnham, Ned Eckersley, Paul Coughlin, Liam Trevaskis, Brydon Carse, Nathan Rimmington, Matty Potts
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