DURHAM batsman Ben Harmison is hoping the old saying about blondes having more fun will be true of his county prospects.

Ashington-born Ben, the younger brother of Durham and England star Stephen, has recently dyed his hair and plans to keep it that way during his winter of club cricket in Australia.

Harmison junior has joined Durham team-mates Mitch Claydon and Will Gidman in the Sydney grade competition.

After a season of frustration last year, when he failed to pass 40 with the bat all summer, the 22-year-old lefthander is hoping that playing in the same competition as some of Australia’s biggest names, including New South Wales internationals Michael Clarke, Stuart Clark and Simon Katich, will help to iron out any flaws in his concentration and technique.

The younger Harmison, who played in all but three of Durham’s county championship matches last summer, scored 281 runs at 16.52 and chipped in with 16 wickets at 27.31.

The former England Under 19 international is confident he can learn from his mistakes.

“I don’t know what it is, but it’s frustrating that I kept getting out in the 30s and 40s,”

Harmison admitted.

“Maybe it’s a concentration thing – it’s difficult to put my finger on it – but I know I have to improve.

“We are the county champions, and we’ve got a good team with a lot of good players, so everyone knows that if they don’t perform then they won’t stay in the side.

“I’m in Australia for the second time to work on my consistency and my technique.

“I just want to get more experience in a different climate and in different conditions from those back home, so hopefully the more games I play in the more I will improve.”

Recent speculation suggested that Harmison’s Durham team-mate Liam Plunkett could move away from Riverside after dropping down the pecking order.

But Harmison believes the impact of Plunkett’s loss is unthinkable and admitted: “I can’t see Liam leaving. He’s Durham through and through.”