GARY Scott will become Durham's youngest first-class cricketer when he makes a shock debut against Derbyshire at the Riverside today.

An all-rounder from Sunderland, he was 17 on July 21, which makes him nine days younger than Steve Lugsden, who was 27 days past his 17th birthday when he made his debut in 1993.

Ironically, it was also in a home game against Derbyshire in early August that Lugsden first showed his paces.

Scott gets his chance because Michael Gough has a back injury, while Nicky Peng, Gary Pratt and Gordon Muchall are all playing for England Under 19s against the West Indies at Leicester.

Although Peng has been made captain, Durham are not alone in being annoyed by the change in Under 19 selection policy, which initially this season allowed those playing regular first-class cricket to stay with their counties. Sussex have criticised the call-up of their regular wicketkeeper Matthew Prior. Martin Speight will replace Peng in the Durham team while Scott, who bowls off spin, comes in as a straight swap for Gough.

His registration had to be rushed through yesterday and he will join two other products of Hetton Comprehensive School in the match, the others being Jimmy Daley and Derbyshire's Graeme Welch. Scott's selection could be seen as a big snub to last season's captain, Nick Speak, who has not appeared in the first team since pulling a hamstring in the Benson & Hedges Cup game against Nottinghamshire three months ago.

But skipper Jon Lewis insisted: "Everyone still has a role to play. We are giving Gary a chance because he has done well with bat and ball in the seconds and he shows a very mature attitude. He's also a very good fielder."

Had Durham been in the promotion frame, instead of lying sixth 36 points behind third-placed Hampshire, the selection might have been different.

This is the perfect chance to blood a youngster as Derbyshire lie bottom, without a championship win, and have as many injury problems as Durham.

Skipper Dominic Cork is out with a hamstring injury, while Tim Munton, Mathew Dowman and Nathan Dumelow are also missing.

They have drafted in seamer Trevor Smith and left-arm spinner Lian Wharton, who both played in their defeat at Darlington last season.

Of the Durham casualties, Neil Killeen is unlikely to play again this season, Simon Brown is taking ten days' rest and Nicky Phillips is to see a specialist as his hand is taking longer to heal than expected. Steve Harmison is fit and raring to go, but league rules prevented him from having a game at the weekend.