Durham head coach Jon Lewis has named a strong 13-man squad as Specsavers County Championship action returns with a trip to the Cheltenham Festival to take on Gloucestershire.
Fresh from a three game winning streak in the Vitality Blast which leaves the Jets joint second in the North Group, the red ball returns as Durham aim to improve upon their current seventh placed standing in Division Two.
Tom Latham has been appointed as captain for the match after Paul Collingwood was ruled out due to a sore achilles. Latham is handed the captaincy due to the good form shown in T20 thus far & to provide continuity in the dressing room, with the side reverting straight back to the short format after the conclusion of this match.
England internationals Ben Stokes & Mark Wood are also available in order to show their form ahead of the first Test against India at Edgbaston.
Stokes produced a stunning all-round performance in the win over Worcestershire Rapids last night, with Wood not available for the match.
There are returns to the squad for Matt Salisbury & Cameron Steel, both of whom have not featured in any of the six Vitality Blast matches so far.
Steel has been in fine form for the Seconds in their last two Championship outings scoring 90, 112, 122 & 59, while June’s Player of the Month Salisbury took four wickets in the latter match against MCCYCs at South North.
Michael Richardson, who hasn’t featured since the end of the Royal London One-Day Cup campaign, is available for selection after overcoming a thigh injury, while Gareth Harte is also in contention following a thumb injury.
Seam bowler Chris Rushworth is set to feature after being rested against the Rapids, while left-arm spinner George Harding could be a handed a maiden first-class appearance of the season. Fellow spin bowler Imran Tahir is only eligible to play in the Vitality Blast.
Squad vs Gloucestershire (22-25 July)
Tom Latham (c), Cameron Steel, Will Smith, Graham Clark, Michael Richardson, Gareth Harte, Ben Stokes, Stuart Poynter (wk), Josh Coughlin, Matt Salisbury, Mark Wood, George Harding, Chris Rushworth,
Match Highlights
Live match highlights are available through the ‘Match Highlights’ section of the website, subject to technical requirements being met at Cheltenham.
Live commentary is broadcasted via BBC Sport online with BBC Newcastle’s Martin Emmerson.
Updates will also be available via the Club’s Twitter account.