DURHAM have been drawn into discussions with the Professional Cricketers' Association following the release of Ben Harmison.

His details have been circulated to other counties and questions have been raised about whether the matter has been handled correctly.

Steve Harmison apparently does not think so, although the treatment of his younger brother has long been a bone of contention with the ex-England paceman.

When Harmison senior took the final wicket at Canterbury to clinch Durham's first title in 2008 Ben was the first to reach him and the pair fell to the ground with the rest piling in to create a memorable photograph.

Ben had opened the batting in the final two matches of that season, but although he played in 11 games his top score was only 34.

His bowling had developed well enough for him to be considered the fourth seamer, but he was, to an extent, a victim of the signing of Ian Blackwell, who took over the all-rounder's spot.

Ben was unhappy when he was not in the team at the start of the following season and he did not feature at all in the side which won the championship by 47 points.

Durham tried to keep him involved by batting him at No 3 in the 40-over league side in 2009 and 2010, and injuries did allow him back into the championship team at the end of last season, when he made 96 against Essex at Chelmsford.

But neither he nor Kyle Coetzer have been able to break into the side this year and after details of both were circulated the Scot was taken on loan by Northants until the end of the season.

It is likely that Durham need to trim their staff in order to balance the books after awarding Paul Collingwood a three-year contract. Coming off a central contract, he would have to be amply rewarded.

Ben Harmison, 25, earned a small note in the history books in 2006 when he became only the second player to score centuries in his first two first-class matches in England.

He made 110 at Oxford University and 105 at home to a West Indies A team which included Darren Powell and Tino Best.

When he broke into the championship side towards the end of that season he totalled 15 runs in his first five innings before showing a marked improvement.

His one championship hundred came at home to Warwickshire the following year and in 37 first-class matches he averaged 26.10 with the bat and 34.66 with the ball.