Durham county cricket preview: New signings, released players, fixtures, predictions
EXPRESS SPORT is previewing the county cricket season which starts this week and now is the turn of Durham.
Paul Collingwood and Durham are set for a difficult season in County Championship Division Two
Durham
Last season
CC D1- 4th but relegated due to financial situation
RLODC- Group stage, 5th.
T20- runners up, lost to Northants in final
New signings
Cameron Steel (Middlesex)- one-year summer deal.
Players out
Gordon Muchall (released)
Mark Stoneman (Surrey)
Mark Wood will be vital for Durham this season if he can stay fit
Yes I'm angry, yes I'm devastated along with all the other players at Durham
Phil Mustard (Gloucestershire)
Scott Borthwick (Surrey)
Asher Hart (Hampshire)
Gurman Randhawa (Released)
Calum MacLeod (released)
Jamie Harrison (released)
Overseas stars
Stephen Cook (SA)- first half of season
Tom Latham (NZ)- second half of season
Club captain
Paul Collingwood
Key man
Mark Wood – if he can stay fit then the pace bowler will be too good for many Division Two batsman but England will be keeping a very close eye on his progress.
England radar
Keaton Jennings – a debut Test century against India in the winter may not be enough to keep his place against South Africa in July so a good start will be vital for the opener’s chances.
Young gun
Brydon Carse – fast bowler who came back into the side at the end of last season after being side-lined through injury.
This season's predictions
CCD2- 5th, 48 point deduction
RLODC- group stage, two point deduction
T20 Blast- group stage, four point deduction
Keaton Jennings will look to impress the England selectors again for Durham this season
If it wasn’t for a 48 point deduction, Durham would be overwhelming favourites to make an immediate return to Division One.
Financial turmoil meant the side who finished fourth last season were sent crashing down to the second tier and will also start this campaign on minus points in both limited overs tournaments.
Don’t completely rule out a miraculous push towards the top two but the loss of Mark Stoneman and Scott Borthwick to Surrey will make that task tougher than it already is.
First fixture
CC- Nottinghamshire home, Friday 14th April
RLODC- Derbyshire home, Thursday 27th April
T20 Blast- Lancashire home, Friday 7th July