DURHAM have given former England all-rounder Gavin Hamilton the chance to resurrect his first-class career following a two-year bowling nightmare.

After ten years with Yorkshire, the 29-year-old Scot was released at the end of last season, having failed to rediscover the ability to bowl straight.

A left-handed batsman and right-arm seam bowler, he hit a remarkable peak with Yorkshire in 1999, when he topped their batting averages with 567 runs at 47.25 and was second in the bowling with 43 wickets at 19.18.

It earned him a place in the England squad for the following winter's tour of South Africa, where he made his one Test appearance at Johannesburg.

Although he made his maiden first-class century the following season, his bowling began to decline and at the start of the 2002 season he was unable to complete an over after sending down a stream of wides.

He has made only one championship appearance in the last two seasons, when he didn't bowl, and has even seen a psychiatrist in an effort to sort out his problem.

Durham coach Martyn Moxon said: "We have signed him as an all-rounder, and he knows that.

"After a couple of years wondering whether he could survive purely as a batsman he realises he has to bowl if he is to have a first-class future. The big change is that he now wants to bowl and he is confident he can do it.

"We have seen him in the nets recently and he looks fine. He feels it has been a psychological problem which has built up over a period of time.

"He is going to the ICC qualifying competition with Scotland in Dubai next month, so we are hoping he can perform well there to gain the confidence he needs to take into our season.

"In my last season with Yorkshire he performed so well with bat and ball he was the first name on the team sheet. He has since played in the World Cup for Scotland and scored runs against Pakistan at Riverside.

"If it works out we will have a quality player. We think it's a risk worth taking."

Hamilton, who has signed a one-year contract, said: "I'm really looking forward to a new challenge and a fresh start at Durham. I have known Martyn Moxon for several years and it is great to have the chance to work with him again."

Durham have also handed full-time contracts to academy products Graham Onions, Ian Pattison and Liam Plunkett.

Gateshead-born Onions, 21, is a quickish bowler who also bats a bit and had a good season in the second X1 last year.

All-rounder Pattison has been on a development contract for the last two years, but he has been injured for much of that time and is currently playing in Australia, where he recently started bowling again.

Several others are abroad and Gary Pratt leaves for Perth on Sunday, returning on March 16, while those at home are having nets at the South Northumberland cricket centre every Tuesday and also training twice a week.

Durham have a slight worry that Shoaib Akhtar could miss the first few weeks of the season as Pakistan and India have agreed to end their hostilities and meet in their first Test series for 14 years, starting in March.

"We have done a really good deal with Shoaib," said Moxon. "What we pay him is split between his basic salary and appearances, but we want him available as much as possible.

"If he is unavailable at the start of the season we will look for a temporary replacement."