DURHAM'S match against Kent at the Riverside today is in serious doubt, dealing a further blow to their hopes of survival in division one of the Norwich Union National League.

Their excellent victory over Nottinghamshire last Sunday lifted them into third bottom place, one behind Kent, and with three to go down today's match could be crucial. But the ground was so wet yesterday it was decided to call in umpires Tony Clarkson and David Constant for a 9.30 inspection this morning.

Groundsman David Measor has been unable to work on the pitch since Monday, when most of the players were involved in their sponsors' golf day at Slaley Hall, so they have had no outdoor practice this week.

If the match does go ahead Durham will again be without an overseas player, and all hope of Martin Love resuming has been abandoned.

The Queenslander, still recovering from a badly-broken finger, is flying home on Tuesday with a batting average of 82.28 from his six championship matches this season. Love's replacement, Brad Hodge, will have his broken thumb in plaster for three weeks and is staying on in the hope of helping out during Durham's busy three weeks in September.

Another option was to sound out Jimmy Adams when he visits the Riverside with Lashings World X1 on Wednesday. But that has been discounted.

The 34-year-old former West Indies captain is a big fan of the North-East, and is currently helping out at Blaydon following an injury to Nehemiah Perry.

Durham have ruled out going for other club pros, such as Gateshead Fell's Marcus North, because of their contractual situations. But Adams might have been more flexible and has plenty of friends in the area after playing for Eppleton from 1989 to 1994.

"Jimmy was mentioned, but we decided his game is not suited to what we want at the top of the order in one-day games," said Durham coach Martyn Moxon.

"That's no disrespect to Jimmy, but we need a more forceful batsman."

Durham are likely to field an unchanged team as they seek to avenge their heavy defeat at Maidstone last month, when David Masters took five for 20 as Kent bowled them out for 72.

"We had to change tack a bit last week after Brad's injury," said Moxon. "We felt with Michael Gough being in good form he should open and I was very pleased with him.

"Since being left out he has gone back into the seconds and done exactly what we asked of him.

"His partnership with Nicky Peng worked well.

Nicky is a naturally talented stroke-player and we want him to go out and express himself."

Durham: J J B Lewis (capt), N Peng, M A Gough, P D Collingwood, G J Pratt, D R Law, A Pratt, N C Phillips, N Killeen, A M Davies, S J Harmison.

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