We’re collating a combined England-Australia XI who’ve played first-class cricket for Durham – & we need your help in choosing the side!
With the next Ashes series less than two weeks away & Australia visiting Emirates Riverside for a Royal London ODI next year, we’re embarking on our search for the best English & Australians to have played for the Club.
The XI is 100% chosen by you – the members & supporters of Durham CCC.
Over the course of the next five weeks, we’ll be releasing various positions in the side up for grabs – two openers, three batsmen, a wicketkeeper, two all-rounders & three bowlers.
First up this week is the openers with the following four nominees. Voting via the form at the bottom of the page closes on Thursday, 16 November before the next round of voting opens for the batsmen!
A man who won spent five illustrious years at the Club, Michael Di Venuto became a popular figure in the changing rooms & with supporters alike.
The gritty Australian, who later played for Italy, thrived on challenging Emirates Riverside pitches & forged a reputation as one of the finest players on the county circuit.
The left-hander immediately endeared himself to the members by scoring 1,601 runs at 80.05, including a career-best 254 not out against Sussex, during his maiden Championship-winning season in 2009.
Currently leading England’s Ashes charge from the front Down Under, Mark Stoneman proved himself as one of county cricket’s most prolific run-scorers during his time at Durham.
The 30-year-old achieved the notable feat of surpassing 1,000 first-class runs in four consecutive seasons & was regularly at the top of the Specsavers County Championship run-scorers.
‘Rocky’ also led Durham to Royal London One-Day Cup glory in 2014 & played a vital role in the County Championship win in 2013.
His 2005 stay may have been his only spell but Mike Hussey made a huge impression during his time in the North East.
Recruited to captain the side, Hussey started with a mammoth 253 against Leicestershire & added two more first-class centuries to go with five half centuries.
Finishing with an average of over 75, the season kick-started Hussey’s international career & he went on to make 79 Test appearances for Australia.
Part of Durham’s first season as a first-class county, Wayne Larkins had built a fearsome reputation as an opener with Northamptonshire & England.
And despite the struggles of the early years Larkins set records which stood for long amounts of time, including most runs in a season (1,536 in 1992) & most centuries in a season (four, also in 1992).
An audacious batsman capable of destruction on any given day, ‘Ned’ played 13 Tests for England.