The next round of matches in the Specsavers County Championship begin on Saturday as two sides chasing the title in Division One meet at Southport when Lancashire take on Durham. Lancashire have spent a period of time at the top and can go back there with a win here while Durham haven’t given up the title themselves.
This match was high in profile anyway but the fact Jimmy Anderson and Ben Stokes return from injury and test their bowling out in this match has added to the attention the match will receive. It has the feel of a really big match about it.
Lancashire
Lancashire go into the match 24pts behind the leaders Middlesex with a game in hand of them but they will need to arrest a bit of a slump they have been in since the break for the one day stuff. Since then they haven’t won a match and the matches they have managed to draw they have been behind in for the majority of the time.
Bowling sides out has been a real issue for Lancashire since the break and that is something that is going to have to improve over the second half of the season if they are to turn their solid start to the campaign into silverware in their first season back in the top flight.
Durham
With two games in hand of the leaders Middlesex, Durham are very nicely placed in the table especially if the talk that the weather is going to pick up over the next few weeks is true. They are getting key players back as well which is only going to benefit them in the weeks ahead.
Unlike Lancashire, Durham have been on top in most of their matches in recent times but the weather hasn’t always allowed them to get over the line hence why they are only in the middle of the pile when it comes to the league table. They don’t have a weakness with the bat or the ball which is important.
Team News
Lancashire have Jimmy Anderson available for the first two days of this match or the first two innings depending on which is longer and that will be a boost to their bowling resources. They will be without Jos Buttler who is out with a broken thumb and will be for some time.
Durham have Ben Stokes fit and available for all four days and he has been given permission to begin bowling again too. Paul Collingwood is also back in the squad after injury but there isn’t space for Mark Wood who isn’t ready to play four day cricket yet after an injury of his own.
Betting
With one side on the downgrade and the other seemingly getting better and better you would think the team on the up would be the favourites in this match but that isn’t the case which is interesting.
It might be that the Jimmy Anderson availability has made Lancashire favourites but he is only around for two days and then it is back to the status quo who have been struggling to bowl sides out so while Lancashire will make full use of him while he is around I’m not sure he will be the difference they would like him to be.
Durham are getting stronger and stronger both in the quality of their cricket and the personnel they have available to play it and unlike Lancashire their star England man is around for all four days. Durham are a really strong batting side and in Stokes, Graham Onions and Chris Rushworth they are not short of wickets. At odds against the visitors have to be the call with the way the two sides are playing right now.
Tips
WON – Back Durham to beat Lancashire for a 4/10 stake at 2.10 with Skybet
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