Ben Stokes is named in the Durham squad for the first time in three years and could make his Durham return today [Sunday; 2:30pm] when Durham host Birmingham Bears at Emirates Riverside in the Vitality Blast.
Stokes, last played in a Durham shirt back in August 2018 when Durham went up against Sussex in the Vitality Blast Quarter Final, but England duty has since restricted the 30-year-old from playing in a Durham shirt.
Since fracturing his finger during the Indian Premier League for Rajasthan Royals, Stokes has spent time at the club working on his rehabilitation with the Durham Cricket medical staff, and has made great progress over the past couple of months, preparing Stokes to be match fit again.
Due to a number of the Durham playing squad self isolating due to a coronavirus case the club have signed Scotland International cricketers, Kyle Coetzer and Ally Evans on a temporary loan for the next two games.
The Scotland international captain Kyle Coetzer is a familiar face in the North East having played for Durham for seven years from 2004 until 2011 and has scored 1,386 International IT20 runs.
Right-arm medium fast bowler Ally Evans has also joined on a loan deal, the 32 year-old is a regular member of the Scotland IT20 squad, picking up 36 wickets in 27 matches with a career best of 5/24.
Paul Coughlin misses out on selection for this fixture, having picked up an injury when fielding against Lancashire Lightning on Thursday night, and is being monitored by the clubs medical team.
Squad vs Birmingham Bears (20 June)
Cameron Bancroft*, David Bedingham, Scott Borthwick, Brydon Carse, Kyle Coetzer, Graham Clark, Sean Dickson, Ned Eckersley, Ally Evans, Matthew Potts, Ben Raine, Ben Stokes, Liam Trevaskis
Words from James Franklin
The Opposition
Coach: Mark Robinson
Captain: Will Rhodes
Last Year’s Performance: Third (Central Group)
2020 Leading Runscorer: Sam Hain (284 runs, average 56.80)
2020 Leading Wicket Taker: Olly Stone (14 wickets, average 17.50)
Overseas players: Carlos Brathwaite (West Indies – whole tournament), Pieter Malan (South Africa – whole tournament)
Key man: Carlos Brathwaite – The West Indies all-rounder is a marquee signing and the Bears will look to him in terms of both performance and personality to drive their young and evolving side.
Flies under the radar: Jake Lintott – The wrist-spinner burst into the Blast side as an unknown quantity last year and bowled superbly. Not quite so unknown this time round but still an engaging mystery.
Best Player Under 24: Rob Yates – The 21-year-old batsman has proved he can play long innings in red-ball cricket. Last year he showed he has the range and confidence to shine in T20 too.
Blast expectations: Inconsistent and disappointing in recent seasons, much better is expected of the Bears this season under two men who know how to win in the format, director of cricket Paul Farbrace and first team coach Mark Robinson.
Last year’s campaign concluded with an absolute nightmare when, in a winner-takes-all final group game against Northants Steelbacks at Edgbaston, they went to pieces with the ball and threw away an apparently impregnable position. Much greater resilience under pressure will be demanded this time – and much will depend on how they fare during a tough start of five straight away games due to the opening week of the tournament coinciding with Edgbaston hosting a LV= Insurance Test match against New Zealand.
Match Centre
The Club’s match centre will be in operation for the fixture with live scorecards, statistics & video highlights as they happen. You can watch the game live via the club’s match centre and YouTube channel.
Tickets
Tickets can be bought from Gate 2 on match day priced at £20 for adults and £5 for a child. Tickets can be bought from the box office until 3pm on match day, by calling 0191 387 1717 or by visiting Emirates Riverside.