‘Diva’ plays on in Durham deal

Jan 12 2008 by Luke Edwards, The Journal

DURHAM have received a major boost ahead of the start of the new season with the news Australian opener Michael Di Venuto will play for the club for the next three years.

The Journal can also reveal Durham are close to agreeing a deal to sign South African batsman Neil McKenzie as their overseas player for the first two months of the campaign.

Di Venuto’s return to the Riverside has hung in the balance for months as the 34-year-old was adamant he only wanted to play for half of the year so that he could spend more time with his young family.

But The Journal has been told Durham’s leading run scorer last season has informed his Australian state side Tasmania that he will unavailable for selection next season as he has accepted an offer from Durham.

A source close to the player said: “Michael has been on the phone to Durham and he has told them that he will be coming back, hopefully for the next three years because that is the length of the contract they have offered him.

“It was a tough decision for Diva because he has had some fantastic times with Tasmania and he needed to see whether his family were happy to go back to the North-East.

“But he has told Tasmania he will not be available to play for them next season and they have reluctantly accepted his decision.

“Durham have been very patient and they are delighted with Diva’s decision. He played a big part in their success last season and he will be a key figure again this year at the top of the order.

“It also means they can finalise their plans for who is going to be their overseas player.”

Di Venuto, whose arrival at the start of the last season coincided with the county’s most successful season as they won the Friends Provident Trophy Final and finished as runners-up in the County Championship, has agreed a lucrative deal. Crucially for Durham coach Geoff Cook’s plans, he will not be classed as an overseas player as he qualifies for an Italian passport because of his father.

That has enabled Durham to look elsewhere for another overseas player and they are confident they are close to finalising a deal which will see McKenzie play for the county until the start of the Twenty20 Cup in June, despite competition from Lancashire.

The 32-year-old’s domestic form recently earned him a recall to the South African Test side after a three-and-a-half year absence and, although he has been dropped from the side for the ongoing Third Test in Durban this week, he is enjoying a resurgence in his career.

McKenzie was a team-mate of Durham’s England star Steve Harmison during the fast bowler’s brief stint in South Africa with the Highveld Lions before Christmas.

He is believed to have left a lasting impression on both the Ashington Express and Durham’s former bowler Ottis Gibson, who was with Harmison as part of his new job as England bowling coach. Both men then recommended him to Durham. McKenzie, who has captained the South Africa A team, can play as an opening batsman alongside Di Venuto, or in the middle order, which will ease the burden on captain Dale Benkenstein. There will be a little bit of concern about the form of Benkenstein this year as he prepares to head back to the North-East for his fourth season at the Riverside.

The inspirational leader has played virtually no cricket in South Africa this winter because of his involvement in the rebel Indian Cricket League but Durham are confident the 33-year-old will be as effective as ever on the pitch.

Durham are delighted with Diva’s decision to stay. He played a big part in their success last season