Durham men get their 2025 season underway tomorrow [Wednesday 12 March, 8am GMT] taking on Zimbabwe A in the first of two first-class pre-season matches.
Ryan Campbell’s side will be in action twice over the next two weeks, going up against Zimbabwe A on both occasions with Wednesday’s opening match at Harare Sports Club followed by the second at Takashinga starting on Tuesday 18 March.
13 players are in contention to play in tomorrow’s pre-season opener as Alex Lees kicks off his official captaincy duties having taken on the role as Club Captain.
New signings Sam Conners, Emilio Gay and Will Rhodes have all travelled and will feature while in Harare. Academy youngster James Minto is also with the group having made his first-class debut against Surrey back in September.
Brydon Carse (toe injury), David Bedingham (Western Province) and Colin Ackermann, Bas de Leede (Netherlands) haven’t travelled with Durham and won’t feature in Harare.
Mitchell Killeen is also in line to make his first-class debut in professional cricket.
Squad
Graham Clark, Sam Conners, Paul Coughlin, George Drissell, Emilio Gay, Mitchell Killeen, Alex Lees*, Stanley McAlindon, James Minto, Callum Parkinson, Matthew Potts, Will Rhodes, Ollie Robinson.
Words from Ryan Campbell
It is fantastic to be back in Harare, we have had such a good time in Zimbabwe during my first two years, I think the improvements we have made on the field back in England all started from here. The first year we put into place my style and for guys to know how I wanted us to play in the four-day game and that has shone through over the last two campaigns. I can’t wait for us to get going again and see how the guys get on.
Now is about really turning out attention to the season, we have done some great stuff back in England and hopefully we can come away from here with two good wins.
Ben Raine and Daniel Hogg have had a little hiccup during pre-season so will miss tomorrow’s game, but we expect them to bowl a lot in the second half of this tour. We will see our new batters, Emilio, Will and then new bowler Sam Conners will get a go.
You know me , I get excited about seeing this team go about their business, new challenges, new exciting times, do we have everyone here at the moment, no we don’t, do I know what my first team is for round one, no, but that is the exciting part.
Match Centre
The match will be streamed live on Zimbabwe Cricket YouTube channel (click here) with full match day coverage and reaction available on the Durham Cricket social media channels.