JAMAICAN Gareth Breese is no stranger to English summers and as he watched the rain gently falling at Derby yesterday he said: "If this were a league game we'd be out there playing."

Durham's new signing includes a season at Etherley in the Durham County League among his club assignments and has also played one season in Kent, two at Lancaster and one with Newton-le-Willows.

His mother is Jamaican but has lived in England for several years, while his father is a Welshman who went out to the Caribbean island to teach 35 years ago.

Gareth was born in Montego Bay, but having a British parent allows him to play for Durham without being considered an overseas player, which is the first time they have gone down that route as they have built a largely home-grown squad.

At 28, it also involved a change of tack for Breese as he was not confident of adding to the one Test cap he won for the West Indies at Chennai in the second of three Tests in India in 2002.

"Signing for Durham meant I had to play for Jamaica as an overseas player and I don't think the West Indies selectors would look favourably on that," he said.

"It was always my dream to play Test cricket and that one match was the highlight of my career. I took two for 108 in 28 overs and scored nought and five, but they decided not to play a spinner in the third Test and nothing has been said to me since.

"Life goes on and there comes a time when you have to make a career choice. I hope it's another great chapter. I'm only on a one-year contract at the moment, but I'd love to think I can do well enough to stay a lot longer."

Breese's off-spin is now considered his stronger suit, but he became an all-rounder almost by accident after two frustrating years following a half-century on his debut for Jamaica against Barbados in 1996.

"I only bowled part-time and from 22-24 I could not hold down a regular place as a batsman," he said. "I always enjoyed bowling because it gave me an extra option to be in the game, and in 2001 I suddenly took six wickets in an innings.

"That was my first season as an all-rounder and I took 36 wickets in eight games, then 34 in nine games the next year.

"After the tour to India I spent a week with Bishen Bedi, which helped me a lot. I wouldn't say I'm a big spinner, but I'm working on it."

Breese captained Jamaica for the first time last winter, but suffered a broken arm when facing Adam Sandford in a match against the Leeward Islands at the end of February.

"I'm probably the first person classed as an overseas player to captain Jamaica," he said. "It was a great honour and it's something I want to work on and give 100 per cent to until I find out whether I'm good at it or not.

"I had a really good young team who supported me really well, so it was frustrating to miss the last few weeks of the season.

"I wasn't quite ready to play when I arrived here and we had a hiccup with the registration, but it was good to play a part in Durham's first win of the season on Sunday."

Breese scored 25, including a magnificent straight six, in the middle of the innings and took three wickets in the win against Nottinghamshire.

"It hasn't been a great start, but it's a long season," he said. "We have a good, young team, a really good captain and an excellent coach, who I get on really well with.

"Shoaib Akhtar and Herschelle Gibbs would be good for any team, and I hope to learn from playing with and watching them when they arrive."

l Durham heard yesterday that Shoaib Akhtar is now unlikely to arrive this weekend. He wants to clear his name with the Pakistan board before leaving after accusations that he faked his back injury in the third Test against India.

Martyn Moxon said: "It will take a few days but we are still hopeful that he will be here for the C & G Trophy match at home to Sussex next Wednesday."

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