DURHAM'S new chairman, Clive Leach, is confident his stint with Warwickshire was not too long ago to have some impact at Riverside.

It has always been said of Durham that they have lacked someone with first-class cricket experience on the board, but now they have a genuine all-rounder at the helm.

Leach, 69, batted in the middle order and bowled left-arm spin for Warwickshire in 39 matches from 1955-58 before developing a business career which it is hoped will be of significant financial benefit to Durham.

"My first-class experience will help me understand how the boys feel," he said. "I was president of the Warwickshire Old County Cricketers' Association last year and when we get together and talk about the matches we played it feels like only yesterday.

"The biggest change since my time has been in the fielding, which is now phenomenal. But there's a question over the technical ability of batsmen and we lack good spin bowlers in England. We have to persevere with them, they don't just happen overnight."

Born in Bombay of British parents, Leach spent the first five years of his life in India before being educated in Suffolk. After playing for Warwickshire under the captaincy of Tom Dollery, Eric Hollies and M J K Smith, he was the Bishop Auckland professional from 1959-65 and played 66 matches for Durham.

He had a top score of 98 against Cumberland in 1964 and best bowling of six for nine against Staffordshire in 1959.

He later played for Buckinghamshire, but now lives in Barkston Ash between Leeds and York.

He is keen to see Durham continuing to develop local talent, but is not against two overseas players, and of Twenty20 cricket he says: "There is definitely a place for it. This part of the world will come to love it and thrive on it.

"It's a pity that modern lifestyles stop people coming to watch four-day cricket, but the one-day game is doing extremely well.

"I'm in favour of two divisions because it adds an element of competition and a bit of spice. I'm a strong believer in competition in everything in life because it encourages people to sharpen up."

Leach says he will not be creating any waves initially, adding: "It would be presumptuous of me. I want to give myself a bit of time to find out how things work at Durham and in the ECB."

But given his track record and enthusiasm, it's a fair bet that Durham have found a man who will make a significant difference.

PAUL Collingwood will be available for Durham in the four-day match starting at Trent Bridge tomorrow to face opponents against whom he has an excellent record.

As far back as 1996 he scored 46 in the championship and 40 in the Sunday League at Trent Bridge, then added 49 in a Benson & Hedges Cup tie there the following season, 97 not out in the championship in 1998 and 95 in 2001.

At Riverside his scores against Notts have included 106 and 91 not out in the championship in 1999 and 2001, plus 118 not out in the National League in 2001.

IT'S obviously time counties started loaning players to each other, like football clubs do. Just when Durham desperately need some help in the pace bowling department neither Melvyn Betts nor John Wood can get a game.

Both left for better money with bigger counties, but it's doubtful whether either would have had the chance of a first-class career without the start they were given by Durham.

Sacriston-born Betts still has three of the best four first-class analyses for Durham, but his career has gone into sharp decline since his departure. After three years with Warwickshire, he bowled a stream of wides on his Middlesex debut this season and is now being kept out of the team by Yorkshire reject Paul Hutchison.

Wood has been overtaken by England Academy boy Sajid Mahmood in Lancashire's pecking order, and with Peter Martin, Glen Chapple, Dominic Cork and Kyle Hogg to choose from he looks like passing his 34th birthday in July with no more than a bit part to play.

NICK Trainor, the former Gateshead Fell and Durham second XI batsman once thought to have a bright first-class future, is now making a name for himself in village cricket.

After his three seasons with Gloucestershire from 1996-98, he stayed in the county and now plays for Frocester, near Stroud. They apparently have a wealthy sponsor, who paid for a helicopter to hover over the pitch and dry it out before a Cockspur National Village Cup tie against Harborne, and Trainor went out to hit 179 not out.

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