DURHAM'S deposed captain Jon Lewis is staking a strong claim to continue at the top of the order by making runs on the pre-season tour.

Lewis, who is handing over the reins to Australian Mike Hussey, has made a century and 83 not out in matches against the United Arab Emirates and Emirates Airlines.

Durham are playing a series of two-day and one-day games at Sharjah, Dubai and Abu Dhabi and coach Martyn Moxon said: "The conditions are wonderful.

"The weather is perfect. It's hot, but there's a nice breeze so it's not too stifling and all the bowlers are performing well."

But that does not include the Australians Ashley Noffke and Callum Thorp.

Noffke has been unable to make the trip while Thorp has had a cancerous mole removed from his back and has not yet had the stitches taken out.

Stephen Harmison stayed in England at the request of the England management, while Hussey returned to Australia yesterday after spending a week with the squad.

"He didn't play, he was here just to get to know the lads and they have taken to him immediately," said Moxon. "It's been really useful, but he has had to go back to attend Western Australia's end-of-season dinner. He will arrive at Riverside the day we get back next Thursday."

Moxon added that Hussey has been given no indication by the Australian selectors about whether he might be in this summer's Ashes squad, which is due to be announced at the end of this month.

But Durham are expecting him to be involved with the one-day squad so they are making enquiries about a potential replacement for June.

* Wavell Hinds completed the first double century of his career as the West Indies continued their steady progress against South Africa on the second day of the opening Test in Guyana.

Rain delayed the start by more than an hour but Hinds and fellow left-hander Shivnarine Chanderpaul wasted little time in moving the hosts to a solid 386 for three at lunch.

Hinds, 188 at the end of the first day, moved to his double ton with a drive to the backward point boundary off Andre Nel.

The 28-year-old Jamaican was unbeaten on 210 at the end of the morning session, the highest-ever score by a West Indian against South Africa.

Read more about Durham here.