How the north became the new epicentre of English cricket

Few kids who have been almost strangled by their parents are generous enough to leave their most precious assets to those parents in their will. Yet this is virtually the case with Durham CCC.

The England and Wales Cricket Board, in the most vicious act of administration in the history of English cricket, almost throttled Durham for financial irregularities in 2016, heaping penalty points and demotion on players who had no part in them. Yet, in return, the youngest first-class county has produced the most England pace bowlers since they stepped up in 1992.

In consequence the centre of gravity in English cricket has shifted further north than ever before. When Len Hutton and Ray Illingworth were captaining England to Ashes triumphs in Australia, they liked to have plenty of Yorkshiremen and Lancastrians in their ranks, but Durham's contribution makes this something else.

By the end of the opening Test against New Zealand at Lord’s, seven of England’s eleven were players from Durham, Lancashire and Yorkshire, including of course the captain Ben Stokes. And maybe the resilience which England showed in winning by five wickets included several shovelfuls of northern grit.

The seven wickets taken by the debutant from Durham, Matthew Potts, for only 68 runs were particularly influential, including New Zealand’s captain Kane Williamson twice. Potts, with his precise fourth-stump line, hint of outswing and the odd nip-backer from wide of the crease, was more able than Kane.

The DREAM debut continues...

Matthew Potts gets Kane Williamson in BOTH innings!