WHILE Durham await the arrival of Shaun Pollock and Albie Morkel in time for their opening Twenty20 match on June 11, they will also be keeping a close eye on the form of Shivnarine Chanderpaul.

The first of three Tests between the West Indies and Australia starts at Kingston, Jamaica, today with a Twenty20 match and five one-day internationals to follow.

The last ODI is on July 6, when Durham have a free week, so they are hoping Chanderpaul will arrive in time for the championship match at home to Somerset, starting on July 11.

It wont give him much of a break following a hectic schedule which has also taken in the Indian Premier League, but Chanderpaul appears to relish regular activity.

Along with Ottis Gibson, he is one of Wisdens five Cricketers of the Year, and the tribute in the almanack observes: A teammate once said that the difference between Chanderpaul and some others is that if he gets home from tour and is asked to go to Timbuktu to play a game of cricket, he will go.

The article also quotes Gibson as saying: Durham rave at Shivs willingness to pass on his experience to their younger players.

In the year since Brian Lara retired, Chanderpaul has taken over the role as the rock of the West Indies batting.

In eight Tests, three in England, three in South Africa and two at home against Sri Lanka, the little left-hander averaged 91.44. In one-day internationals in that period he has averaged 96.66 in 11 matches.

ö Lancashire chief executive Jim Cumbes has called for a review in the bidding process for grounds hoping to stage international cricket in this country.

Old Trafford and Chester-le- Street were among the grounds to miss out for next years Ashes series with Cardiff, supported by funds from the Welsh Tourist Board, winning the race to host their first Test.

The disappointment at Lancashire has been compounded by them being overlooked for all the major Tests in 2010, leaving them without a Test for at least three years.

I dont think anybody is entirely happy with the bidding process, said Cumbes. Its very loaded towards financial returns.

I understand they want to get the best rate they can but you cant rape the clubs to do that.

When we made our bids for international matches, we made them purely on what we could afford. If someone is going to give us a couple of million pounds to back that up then wed chuck that in the pot, but our bids were done purely and sensibly on what we could afford C if wed have put any more in, wed have been at risk.