DURHAM are to continue their pre-season preparations next week with a game at Derby on Monday followed by a visit from Yorkshire to the Riverside on Wednesday and Thursday.

Following a successful tour to Cape Town, coach Martyn Moxon said: "Hopefully the weather will continue to be kind to us. We will wait to see what it's like before we decide whether to play a two-day game against Yorkshire or two one-day matches. The plan is to play 45 overs a side at Derby."

Competition is already hotting up for places at the top of the batting order, with Gary Pratt scoring his second century of the tour in the final match on Monday, when Durham comfortably beat Hermanus.

He and Michael Gough also made hundreds in the three-day game against Western Province Academy.

"Jimmy Daley also looked in good form and with Nicky Peng rejoining us after his rest competition is quite hot," said Moxon. "Gordon Muchall did very well and looks a very good prospect.

"The weather was good. We had only two mornings when there was a bit of rain, but it didn't affect the cricket.

"We got the rustiness out of our system. There's a bit of fine tuning to do, but I was delighted with the way things went."

There were no injuries on the tour and Stephen Harmison, who missed the trip because of a shoulder injury, has started to bowl in indoor nets.

Durham are hopeful of starting the season with a fully-fit squad, with Martin Love arriving during the opening game against Durham University after helping Queensland to win the Australian Inter State Championship.

* Durham's England stars Paul Collingwood and Simon Brown will be signing autographs and chatting to fans today between 11am and noon outside Boots in Eldon Square, Newcastle.

They will be promoting the NatWest Series floodlit match between England and India at the Riverside on July 4. Adult tickets, £35, juniors (U16), £15, are available 24 hours a day by calling the ticket hotline on 0870 9090190, or online at www.CricketTickets.net.

Read more about Durham here.