AS he surveyed the soggy scene at Taunton yesterday, Durham batsman Gordon Muchall regretted a missed opportunity to press his claims for a new contract on a pitch which is traditionally full of runs.

For the second successive day no play was possible on a ground which was already wet before the start on Tuesday and was drenched by 26 hours of rain, starting at 9am on Wednesday.

At 27, Muchall is keen to take the step up to senior batsman status after several years of being in and out of the team.

“I’m out of contract at the end of the season and with a nine-month-old son, Adam, it increases the pressure a little bit,” he said. “It gives you more focus and reminds you not to take anything for granted.

“I’ve played for Durham all my career and don’t want to play for anyone else. I’m trying to score every run I possibly can in every form of cricket.

“It’s difficult switching between four-day, one-day and Twenty20, but I’m keen to play in everything. Last season I had a good start, then Twenty20 came along and I lost my rhythm. I often found myself going in at the end of an innings with no time to settle in.

“It throws up different challenges, but you have to have the mindset and game plan to adapt. I feel I’m getting a bit closer every year and I’m at the stage where I need to be regarded as a senior batsman.

“No 3 is a hard spot to fill because you might be in in the first over or have a long wait.

Ideally I’d bat at four, but I’m happy go in anywhere for Durham.”

Muchall’s work ethic and ability have never been in question, but he has been held back by his anxiety when he first goes to the crease, sometimes resembling a cat on hot bricks.

“I still do get a bit anxious,”

he admitted. “My old coach at Durham School, Mike Hirsch, always used to say ‘just watch the ball and take all your cues from that.’ “If you pre-empt it by telling yourself you have to get off the mark or hit a boundary that’s when you get into trouble.

“I worked with Geoff Cook two winters ago on getting more rhythm into my batting and I think I’ve moved on from there.”

Muchall began the 2006 season with an innings of 219 at Canterbury, followed by a home century against Lancashire.

Two games later he was run out for 88 at Trent Bridge and his season went into freefall.

The following year he lost his place in mid-season and didn’t play any championship cricket for a year and a half.

But Durham never lost faith in him and the signs are that he will be retained after impressing in championship and 40-over cricket recently.

Before he got into the fourday side this season Will Smith then Scott Borthwick occupied the No 3 slot, but Muchall feels a couple of big innings for South Shields helped.

“My dad, Arthur, played there so we went along to watch every Saturday and I played with my elder brother, Matthew, in the under 18s.

“I still like going back there to play with him and it was good to score 180 against Gateshead Fell this summer.

Whenever you score runs in any form of cricket it helps with your rhythm and confidence.”

The younger brother, Paul, was also in the Durham Academy but is now with the MCC Young Cricketers and is having trials with Kent.

“He played for Durham seconds early this season against a combined Kent and Essex team and apparently bowled quite quickly,” said Gordon.

“He has always seen himself as a batsman who bowls, but Durham looked at him differently and so do Kent.”

Given that Durham’s stock of seam bowlers suddenly looks less healthy than it was, there may still be a chance for a second Muchall to be taken on to the staff, while for Gordon his future looks assured.