The leg-spinner with a fast-growing reputation after a winter on England and Lions duty, highlighted by a solitary one-day international against India in October, has clocked up the airmiles during the off-season.
He has worked hard on his one-day and Twenty20 skills with some of the game’s biggest names, with, he says, a lot of work done on improving his economy rate.
But the 21 year-old, born in Sunderland, admits he would love nothing more than to win back the four-day title that Durham held in 2009 and 2010.
“Four-day cricket is still the number one for me,” he said. “I prefer playing with the red ball and bowling 20 overs per day rather than trying to stop someone hitting you for six sixes in an over.
“Twenty20 is enjoyable, don’t get me wrong. But four-day cricket is where your skills are really tested.
“We were a little bit unlucky last year in the Championship, maybe we should have won it. We lost a few games towards the end of the season. It would be nice to win that, but obviously the Twenty20 is a big one now with all the fundings that come with it.
“Any silverware would be good this season. Looking at it, though, the Championship is the main aim for us.”
Borthwick’s winter has had a definite sub-continental flavour to it, topped off by Durham’s pre-season tour of Dubai, which concluded earlier this week.
And he added: “I’ve been to India twice, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Dubai twice. It’s been a long winter, but I’ve enjoyed it.
“It’s pretty much all been one-day cricket based, so I definitely feel I’ve improved in that area. There were things I wanted to improve, my economy rate was something I’d targeted.
“Just by playing one-day cricket, you get different experiences and are able to learn from them.
“Being around the England side has been brilliant. I’ve worked a lot with Mushtaq Ahmed, who is brilliant. I first met him two or three years ago, but every time I get the chance to work with him, I jump at it. He’s a fantastic coach and talks a lot of sense.
“He’s so positive. If you bowl a bad ball, he’ll still find something positive out of it, which is great for your confidence.
“I try to keep in touch with him as much as I can when I’m not with England on tour, and it’s the same with Peter Such, the other England spin bowling coach.”
Borthwick is in contention to play in Durham’s two-day friendly against Yorkshire at Emirates Durham, starting on Sunday.