Minor counties championship

Jul 4 2009 by Stuart Rayner, The Journal

ALREADY missing their captain and wicketkeeper through work, and with the wife of a key all-rounder due to give birth, the last thing Northumberland wanted was their re-signed professional going down injured.

Luck, though, is not on their side ahead of this weekend’s trip to Cleethorpes.

They take on Lincolnshire in a Minor Counties Championship game which starts tomorrow with manager Bill Graham wondering what his team have done to upset the sporting gods.

Ex-Yorkshire batsman Bradley Parker joined Phil Nicholson and Marc Symington on the list of absentees a fortnight after rejoining the county who released him in the winter.

It threatens the momentum North were hoping to build after beating Bedfordshire by eight wickets for a first Championship win this season.

“Having different players for each game and coping with call-offs has been a problem and it seems much worse than in recent years,” said Graham.

“If we could get our full side out I honestly feel we’ve got a very good side.

“We had a very good game the other week but we’re going to have to make lots of changes. (Teacher) Phil Nicholson is in Barbados with the school and Marc Symington can’t play because his wife is due to give birth this week. Bradley Parker injured his ribs last weekend and it’s affecting his breathing.

“These things happen. Hopefully they will settle down.”

Danny Shurben captains in Nicholson’s absence and Graham is focussed on making the most of what he has. That means more support for in-form Gary Scott.

“Gary Scott played terrific innings at Benwell Hill (against Buckinghamshire), when he got 151 in the second innings,” said Graham. “But we were bowled out for 129 in the first innings.

“You can’t win games when you get a low score in the first innings, and you miss out on bonus points too.”

Dave Rutherford returns for his first three-day game this season.

NORTHUMBERLAND (from): M Turns, D Shurben (c), A Maiden, G Scott, A Cragg, M Dale, R Coughtrie, D Rutherford, J Malkin, T Cant, C Smith.