MARK Davies and Liam Plunkett both struck on their return from injury as Durham made lightwork of Worcestershire's openers and the absence of Steve Harmison and Graham Onions.

It is not often Will Smith will win the toss at the Riverside and decide to bowl, but in muggy conditions Durham's skipper clearly still backed his bowling attack.

Much of Durham's success this season has been down to the hostility of Harmison and Onions with the ball, but both have been asked to play for the England Lions side against Australia this week.

Durham, though, have always been confident about their strength in depth and the return from injury of Davies and Plunkett could not have been better timed for head coach Geoff Cook.

Davies has not played all season following an ankle problem, while Plunkett has been missing for more than a month with a niggling groin strain.

With Harmison and Onions both unlikely to play in the First Ashes Test against Australia in Cardiff next week, Davies and Plunkett know this is a chance to earn the right to play alongside them when they do return to county duty.

Interestingly, neither opened the bowling with Callum Thorp and Mitch Claydon stepping up from first and second change to lead the attack.