I applauded Lancashire's declaration at Durham - Paul Edwards
29.04.26, 21:46 Updated 29.04.26, 21:48 4 Minute Read
Paul Edwards
The pile-on started early. “Declaration backfired big time” was one of the politer comments below the line of the main reports on Monday evening. The captain, his bowlers, his batsmen, the coaches, the Emirates Old Trafford stewards – even a felt giraffe, for all I know – came in for heaps. Eventually, it was better to switch off the laptop, read a book for a while and consider Lancashire’s defeat to Durham with fresh eyes.
First, though, an admission: I wasn’t there. The writers of this website will never put their names to reports produced by somebody else and we’ll always tell you if we’re relying on live streams and other outlets when reviewing a Lancashire game. You’ve subscribed; you’re owed honesty.
As it happened, I was at Headingley watching Yorkshire draw with Sussex during the round of matches just completed but I wouldn’t have been in the least surprised had The Times asked me to scoot up to Chester-le-Street. For all but one-eyed Red Rose zealots, it looked like a magnificent final day on which Durham’s openers weathered Lancashire’s new-ball attack and two very fine batsmen chased down the 336 their team needed in the final two sessions.
And disappointed Lancashire supporters might reflect that their side has had far worse days at the Riverside: remember the 2024 game when David Bedingham made 279 and Durham won by an innings and 63 runs. I was there for that one and the margin of victory did Keaton Jennings’s side a favour.
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