Durham new boy Michael Di Venuto believes his move to Riverside next summer could rejuvenate his career and boost the county's championship fortunes.

The 32-year-old Australian left-hander, who spent eight seasons at Derbyshire, admits he went "a bit stale" in recent years and the opportunity to move to the North-East on a one-year contract for 2007 is perfect timing.

The former Derbyshire captain left the club in acrimonious circumstances but has no regrets about moving on to what will be his third English county.

"It's always sad to leave when you have been in one place for a long time but looking back I definitely went a bit stale at Derbyshire," Di Venuto admitted.

"Playing for Durham is a challenge that really excites me because its a team who are not interested in just staying up in division one of the county championship, they genuinely want to be the best side in the country every year.

"It's a big club with a positive atmosphere around the place and everyone at Durham is working hard to make the team successful.

"There are several England Test players in the side, as well as some potential Test players coming through, and Durham's academy is second to none in terms of unearthing young talent in recent years.

"I am looking forward to playing my part by helping the team to win the county championship and winning promotion in the Pro40 competition."

Di Venuto has scored nearly 17,000 first-class runs at a healthy 43.05 average since making his debut in the 1991-92 season. He first shot to prominence in a decade ago when he made his one-day international debut for Australia.

His brutal stroke-play earned him a call-up as an opening batsman but, despite blasting two fifties, he was dropped after a run of low scores.

He returned to state colours for Tasmania and is currently the state's leading one-day run scorer. Last year he broke the Australian record for the most number of 50s in the four-day Pura Cup and filled in for most of the year as captain in the injury-enforced absence of Dan Marsh.

One lingering criticism of Di Venuto has been his inability to avoid injury. Towards the end of this summer a troublesome groin problem proved his undoing at Derbyshire but at the age of 32, the man nicknamed 'Diva' insists he still has a lot to offer.

"I am still determined to improve all areas of my game," Di Venuto said.

"As a cricketer you are never too old to do that and if you look at the leading run scorers in county cricket last year, both Mark Ramprakash and John Crawley are well into their 30s.

"I am only 32 so there is no reason why I can't play well for another few years. My body feels good at the moment and looking back I should not have played for Derbyshire after hurting my groin.

"I tried to play through it because it was a crucial stage of the season but I probably didn't do myself or anyone any favours.

"Fortunately everything is okay now and I just want to have a good season for Tasmania which would be the perfect launching pad for a successful summer for Durham."

Di Venuto admits his knowledge of his new team-mates is limited, but playing against Durham for both Derbyshire and Sussex he has developed a healthy respect for the county.

"In my time in county cricket Durham have usually had a very solid batting line up and good bowlers," Di Venuto said.

"I am a big fan of Dale Benkenstein. He is a very attacking captain and a top class batsman.

"In 2005 his partnership with Michael Hussey set the platform for many of Durham's big scores. They were both perfect signings for the club and together with Paul Collingwood they all scored a thousand runs for the season.

"I want to be equally successful for Durham next year. The package I am offering is someone who is experienced, has the ability to score consistent runs, is a good slip fielder and someone who wants to work with the club's younger players."

Di Venuto, who also has an Italian passport, can foresee a time when he will apply for European citizenship to improve his prospects of being Durham's one overseas player from the 2008 season.