Collingwood to cushion Plunkett blow

9:54am Friday 2nd May 2008

HOLDERS Durham today head into the first of three Friends Provident Trophy matches in four days knowing they could be without Liam Plunkett for a further five weeks.

The all-rounder aggravated a side injury during the opening FPT win against Yorkshire 12 days ago after missing the previous weekfs match against Durham University because of the problem.

While the blow will be cushioned for the next ten days by the availability of Paul Collingwood, the injury is a setback both for Durham and for a player who was showing signs of regaining his best form.

Durhamfs match at Derby today will start at 1.30, an hour earlier than originally scheduled because of the threat of a setting sun stopping play.

It has happened several times at Derby, where they plan to realign the square to avert the problem.

Durham won the northern group last season, despite losing at home to a Derbyshire side who had been their one-day nemesis in recent seasons until they met in the Pro40 League at Chesterfield last September.

On that occasion Durham needed only 27.3 overs to reach their target of 196 for the loss of three wickets, Michael Di Venuto leading the way with 64 against his former county.

That was the Tasmanianfs top one-day score last season, and after a lean start this year he will be anxious to get among the runs over the next four days.

Durham face Lancashire at Old Trafford on Sunday, before moving on to their clash against Yorkshire at Headingley on Monday, both those games starting at noon.

The Derbyshire team will be virtually unrecognisable from the last meeting, with f o r m e r Durham batsman J o h n M o r r i s using his extensive contacts to rebuild the side as their Director of Cricket.

Durham-born opener Phil Weston has retired, and the hosts are now captained by ex-Surrey and England one-day all-rounder Rikki Clarke, while left-arm spinner Nayan Doshi has also joined from Surrey.

Former Durham seamer Ian Hunter is expected to play, and newcomers among the batsmen are Australian Chris Rogers and John Sadler, from Leicestershire.

Durham have included both their spinners, Gareth Breese and Paul Wiseman, in a squad of 13 who will stay together over the four days.

Durham (from): D M Benkenstein (capt), P Mustard, M J Di Venuto, K J Coetzer, P D Collingwood, N D McKenzie, B W Harmison, P J Wiseman, G R Breese, M Davies, N Killeen, S J Harmison, G Onions.

The Durham Second XI will face Somerset at Riverside in a three-day match which starts on Monday. Admission is free and a limited menu will be available in the Membersf Lounge.

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