ENGLAND’S selectors may be doing their best to spoil it, but the County Championship is set for one of its most exciting finishes in the coming weeks.
Lancashire overtook Durham at the top of Division One on Saturday, but with three games left their 13-point lead is far from unassailable.
The Riversiders hope to start their fightback at Nottinghamshire this morning, but it will be two under-strength sides at Trent Bridge thanks to a meaningless England game.
The Three Lions play Ireland in a one-off 50-over game on Thursday. Even coach Andy Flower has been “rested”, allowing Durham’s Ben Stokes, Scott Borthwick and Graham Onions to take their places in a 13-man squad in Dublin, along with Samit Patel of Notts.
Home-grown all-rounders Stokes and Borthwick are uncapped, while Onions returns after 19 months out with a stress fracture of the back. Their absence has put a slight dampener on proceedings today, but once play starts it will be forgotten.
“It’s still there in front of us, there’s all to play for,” said coach Geoff Cook. “If that isn’t enough incentive, I don’t know what is.
“The previous fortnight’s been disappointing in terms of the weather and one or two situations we’ve been in. The Championship looks as if it’s going to be really exciting, both at the top and the bottom end of it.
“That’s the kind of thing they were hoping for when the Championship was split into two divisions (in 2000).”
Durham have not won in the Championship since completing a double over Lancashire in June.
“The team was playing strong cricket then, and getting runs on the board,” recalled Cook. “The balance of the team was good as well. That’s been upset by injuries and England Lions call-ups.”
Paul Collingwood is not expected to bowl today. He is still suffering the effects of back spasms while batting against Nottinghamshire a fortnight ago.
Michael Di Venuto returns after being rested for yesterday’s CB40 game with Northamptonshire because of a badly damaged finger.
Fast bowler Steve Harmison is no closer to coming back from an ankle injury against Sri Lanka A in July which was only expected to keep him out for a week.
“Stephen’s had a gentle bowl but he’s still uncomfortable, so he’s out of action for next week,” added Cook. “I wouldn’t like to speculate on when he might be back.”
Liam Plunkett is playing in this week’s second-team friendly against Hampshire at South Northumberland.
DURHAM (from): Di Venuto, Smith, Stoneman, G Muchall, Collingwood, Benkenstein, Blackwell, Mustard (c/wk), Wood, Thorp, Claydon, Rushworth, Brathwaite.
