THERE will be a strong contingent from Sunderland in the Durham team to play Sri Lanka A in a one-day match at Riverside today.

Academy bowler Chris Rushworth makes his first senior appearance and will be joined by fellow Wearsiders Graeme Bridge, Phil Mustard and Ian Pattison, plus Sunderland University student Pallav Kumar.

Rushworth, who will be 18 next Sunday, is seen as the next potential paceman off the production line, while Kumar's obvious potential is largely untapped as a result of his Cumbrian upbringing.

Marcus North misses the 50-over game, which starts at 10.45am, because of a groin strain which will also keep him out of Wednesday's Twenty20 match at Leicester. It is hoped he might be fit for Friday's home game in the same competition against Lancashire.

Although Kyle Coetzer is also in today's team, Pattison's bigger hitting might make him a better bet to replace North in the Twenty20 side.

The Sri Lankans, who include a number of players with Test experience, are playing a series of one-day games before finishing their five-week tour with first-class fixtures against the West Indies, Glamorgan and Somerset.

Durham (from): J J B Lewis (capt), A Pratt, G J Muchall, G J Pratt, K Coetzer, G R Breese, P Mustard, I Pattison, G D Bridge, M Davies, P Kumar, C Rushworth.

* DURHAM'S tenth totesport League match of the season against Leicestershire became the first to be washed out at Riverside yesterday.

After several heavy showers the umpires were due to inspect at 4.15 but a more prolonged downpour arrived just after 4pm.

Following last Wednesday's defeat at Hove it was another blow to Durham's promotion bid in the one-day league, but they hope to strengthen the side for next Sunday's match at home to Yorkshire.

That's when they expect Zimbabwean Andy Blignaut to make his debut.

A work permit for the temporary replacement for Shoaib Akhtar will be sent off to Harare today and clearance should arrive within a few days.

There is also an outside chance that Paul Collingwood will be available next Sunday, although it is the scheduled reserve day for the NatWest Series final.

Durham's first appearance at Riverside since June 10 yesterday should have been the first of three successive Sunday home games in the totesport League.

They play Middlesex in two weeks in skipper Jon Lewis's benefit game.