DURHAM resume their four-day campaign at home to Nottinghamshire today, looking to add daylight between themselves and Lancashire at the top of the LV County Championship.

Head coach Geoff Cook’s side are just two points clear of the red rose challengers going into the final five matches of the campaign, but know they need to improve on their last outing in the competition.

Cook, in reference to his team’s West Country loss just over a week ago, said: “It was a good pitch down in Taunton, but Somerset just made better use of it than we did.

“They batted really well – Marcus Trescothick was outstanding – but hopefully we can put into practice the things we talked about in the team meeting afterwards.”

Cook will be without leg spinner Scott Borthwick for today’s visit of Nottinghamshire as he makes his England Lions debut against Sri Lanka A.

The 21-year-old starred for his county against the touring side last week, claiming four scalps as well as hitting a century in Durham’s two-wicket triumph over the tourists at the Emirates ICG.

His 19 Championship wickets and a batting average in excess of 38 will make the Sunderland-born right-hander a big miss, but the return of Ben Stokes after two months out with a broken hand does at least offer consolation.

Nottinghamshire, too, have been hit by Lions call-ups, as Samit Patel and Alex Hales take part in the Scarborough clash for England’s second string, but nonetheless Cook is not taking his the East Midlanders lightly.

He added: “Notts have just had an outstanding win over Lancashire in Southport and their seamers really did them proud.

“Andre Adams is an excellent county player in all forms of the game.

“He was hugely influential for them, and then Adam Voges is also a top-class performer having represented Australia at test level.”