The redemptive powers of sport never cease to amaze. Take Chris Rushworth. After being released by Durham in 2006 he took on a part-time job selling satellite TV subscriptions door to door in Sunderland. Now, back at the county, he is more likely to be featuring on television himself after a remarkable career renaissance.
Rushworth was key to Durham’s stunning recovery at Lord’s on day three of this Division One match. Resuming on 157 for four, the 28-year-old blocked out an end for 25 overs as a nightwatchman to frustrate a Middlesex attack shorn of the injured Tim Murtagh.
While Rushworth’s stubborn 40, as well as 98 from the South Africa-born opener Keaton Jennings, was not enough to take their side above the 314 runs required to avoid the follow-on, the visitors enjoyed a slice of luck when the Middlesex captain, Adam Voges, declined to make Durham bat again.
Despite his team holding a first-innings lead of 163, it was a decision the Australian, who is in his country’s Ashes squad to face England later this summer, was left to rue as Rushworth set about Middlesex’s top order like a man possessed.
In just 17 balls of the afternoon session the 28-year-old took an astonishing four for 13 to reduce the hosts to 35 for four. Another Australian in the form of John Hastings then took up the baton as destroyer-in-chief with five for 24 in 8.2 overs as Middlesex lurched to 50 for nine – a lead of just 213.
Murtagh, who has been ruled out of Ireland’s one-day international against England at Malahide on Friday with the hamstring strain he sustained on day two here, then added 39 with Steven Finn for the final wicket before Rushworth claimed his fifth wicket of the innings, leaving Durham a tricky but achievable target of 259 to win.
By the time bad light brought a premature close, 18 wickets had fallen on a crazy day in St John’s Wood, James Harris dragging Middlesex right back into the contest with the dismissals of the Durham openers Jennings and Mark Stoneman.
It leaves the outcome of this match hanging in the balance going into the final day. But there is no denying Rushworth’s contribution in teeing up such a fascinating finale. His return of five for 38 here means he has now collected five-fers in his past four County Championship matches. That run started in September when Rushworth took an astonishing 15 wickets in a day against Northamptonshire at Chester-le-Street to break Alan Walker’s 19-year-old Durham record.
Rushworth, who is the cousin of his Durham team-mate and former England wicketkeeper Phil Mustard, also worked in a call centre after his release by Durham nine years ago. Playing club cricket with Sunderland to try and force his way back into the professional ranks, he finally got another shot with Durham after being rejected following trials by a host of other counties – including Northants.
That must now seem like a lifetime ago for a bowler who has not looked back since getting a second chance at his dream.
