Davies fit and ready for the season (From The Northern Echo)

Davies fit and ready for the season

9:00am Wednesday 4th January 2012 in Durham CCC By Tim Wellock

WITH Mark Davies ready to start bowling again, Durham are working towards having their full battery of seam bowlers fit for the 2012 season.

Following six weeks of gym work Davies plans to bowl in the indoor school this week as he attempts to resurrect a career which has been badly interrupted by a series of injuries.

Steve Harmison, who has also missed much of the last two seasons, has been working on his fitness and coach Geoff Cook said: "We're putting together a plan for him to get in some bowling before the season.

"He could possibly go abroad for a few weeks because he's got a bit of catching up to do. In the last two years he has shown glimpses of form but hasn't had a sustained run. He's keen to go along with whatever we decide."

Cook added that both Liam Plunkett and Ben Stokes have been "very conscientious" about their rehabilitation work.

"Liam knew the groundwork needed to be done in getting back to the very basics in his action. He's been working in the indoor school and we want to keep that going for the next six weeks before deciding where we go from there. It's important that he stays under our umbrella rather than going abroad.

"Ben Stokes keeps seeing various specialists after the second operation on his hand and all the right boxes keep getting ticked. Everyone seems confident he will be ready for April."

Graham Onions left this week with the England squad for the series against Pakistan, although if everyone is fit for the first Test he is likely to be sent home.

After a brief visit to India without getting a game at the end of this winter's one-day series, Onions is in danger of being cast in the role of travelling reserve.

"It's gratifying for him that he's still involved, but he's also a bit frustrated," said Cook. "The alternative would have been to send him with the development squad to Bangladesh, but that is seen as being for the younger lads."

Some Durham players, including skipper Phil Mustard, have been approached about taking part in a new Twenty20 tournament being planned in Bangladesh next month.

"As long as they are fit and performing well I have no problem with them going," said Cook. "It will be good for them to get away from the indoor school.

"We are going to Dubai for a week at the end of March, as we have done for the last two years. Then it's pretty much straight into the season when we get back."

Paul Collingwood will again not be seen until late May. Currently playing for Perth Scorchers in Australia's Big Bash, he will take up the second year of his Indian Premier League contract in April after a knee operation ruled him out last year.