Park's expected to be only departure

Oct 9 2008 by Stuart Rayner, The Journal

GARRY Park’s departure is expected to be the only change to the Durham squad which defends the County Championship next season – and the issue of who will lead it could become clearer by the end of this week.

All-rounder Park has joined Derbyshire after rejecting a two-year contract to stay at the Riverside. But while the South African-born player is not the only member of Durham’s triumphant second team good enough to play first-team cricket elsewhere, coach Geoff Cook does not expect further departures.

The only new faces will be any drafted in to replace Shivnarine Chanderpaul if the West Indian batsman is unavailable on international duty.

But the big issue at the end of last season was the future of the captaincy, something Cook expects to be resolved sooner rather than later. Dale Benkenstein has skippered the side since 2006 but indicated he would like to relinquish the job as soon as a suitable replacement is found. Former Durham University captain Will Smith is seen by some as such a person but there is no question of Benkenstein standing down as a player.

The South African is currently in India preparing to play for Dehli Giants in the Indian Cricket League but his absence will not be a barrier to a quick resolution.

“I actually spoke to Dale the other day,” Cook revealed. “He had trouble getting out of South Africa, which he was pleased about because it gave him some extra time to rest. But he’s just arrived in India ready for the start of the ICL and I’ll be speaking to him before the tournament gets underway about his future.”

Dehli’s first game is against Ahmedabad Rockets on Sunday.

With his exceptional fielding and a First-Class batting average of 35, Park was a useful reserve but has opted to join the annual Derbyshire overhaul.

Park played just nine competitive first-team games last season – only one in the Championship – and failed to reach 50 in any. But he was an important part of the Second XI Championship-winning side.

He came to Durham as a reserve wicketkeeper but his most important contribution was as a specialist batsman, making 77 and 100 not out in the final game of 2006 to keep the Riversiders in Division One of the County Championship. Gordon Muchall was preferred at the start of the 2007 campaign, during which Park added seam bowling to his repertoire.

“It’s a strange system now where the guys who are out of contract at the end of the season have to be informed whether they are going to get a contract by April or May,” Cook said.

“We reassured him he would be offered a new one so he had plenty of time to think about it but we only found out he was going this week. But there won’t be anyone else leaving, or coming for that matter. We’re happy with what we’ve got. How Durham moves on is dependent on the progress of individuals. (Graham) Onions, (Mitch) Claydon, (Liam) Plunkett and (Kyle) Coetzer are all very, very good cricketers. It’s up to them to make the most of the opportunities we will give them next season.

“We showed last season when Gareth Breese came in for the last few Championship matches we’re prepared to change the balance of the team.”

Chanderpaul’s availability remains unclear. The left-hander is expected to be a far more regular sight than during the previous two seasons, though the ever-changing nature of international schedules makes firm plans impossible. There could also be the addition of a Twenty20 specialist as Kolpak Shaun Pollock was last summer.

Cook explained: “We’re not quite sure of the internationals’ movement and how much they will be available so you have to have contingency plans.”