Durham ready to run the Ruel over Brathwaite

Sep 8 2010 by Luke Edwards, The Journal

HIS first day as a Durham player has not been an exciting one, but Ruel Brathwaite’s very arrival in Chelmsford was probably the most thrilling thing to happen to his new county yesterday.

Having secured their top-flight status with an excellent win over league leaders Nottinghamshire last week, Durham have moved into a decent position against bottom-of-the-table Essex on an opening day disrupted by the weather.

At times it felt as though the elements were having a giggle at the ground staff’s expense, so often did it start to rain again just as play was about to resume.

At least the enforced breaks will have given Durham’s players a chance to get to know their new teammate.

Brathwaite has been studying for the last five years and has spent the last three making the odd appearance for Surrey and Leicestershire second teams as well as the Combined Universities eleven and Cambridge University.

He turned up at Durham two weeks ago, played for the second team and has done enough to suggest to the coaching staff he is good enough to play first-class cricket.

Head coach Geoff Cook likes what he has seen so far and a contract until the end of the season, hastily agreed over the weekend as Durham fretted over the fitness of Liam Plunkett for this match, will probably be extended for a year.

With so many bowlers suffering from injuries this season, Durham need to make contingency plans as there is no guarantee Steve Harmison, Graham Onions, Mark Davies and even Callum Thorp are not going to endure similar frustrations in the future.

Brathwaite, who hails from Barbados but qualifies for a British passport if he does sign a long-term deal at Chester-le-Street at the end of the season, is said to be quick and, with a highest first- class score of 76, is a pretty handy batsman as well.