Scott Borthwick believes now is the perfect time to return back to his former club, after agreeing a long-term deal at Emirates Riverside ahead of the 2021 season.
“It’s a really exciting opportunity, as soon as it came about the chance to come and play for Durham it was an opportunity which I couldn’t really turn down”; Borthwick said.
“The chance really excited me, the opportunity to come and represent Durham again was something which I couldn’t say no to.”
The 30 year-old first joined the Durham set up at 9 years old progressing through the county age group pathway system before earning an Academy contract, he said: “The club is really close to my heart, it is a club which I have come through the ranks from Under 9s right through to the academy, so to get the opportunity and chance to represent Durham again was something which really excited me and I can’t wait.”
Borthwick left Durham at the end of the 2016 season and spent the past four years at the Oval, scoring 705 runs in the 2019 season with a highest score of 137.
“Now is the perfect time in my career to rejoin Durham, I left four years ago and since then lots have changed, I have matured as a cricketer and feel like a senior player now, so to return at this point in my career is the perfect chance for both myself and the club.
“The club is in a changing period, there is a number of changes from when I left, but I think that is good for me, to come in put my authority into the club and to win things for Durham.”
Scott was a member of the Durham squad that achieved unprecedented success, winning three County Championships and the one-day trophy in 2014. He has also represented England on four occasions across all three formats of the game.
“Some of my proudest moments as a cricketer are winning games for Durham and I am desperate to do that again. I know I am 30 now but I still feel young at heart, but I am fit and still feel like my cricket has lots to offer and have some of the best years ahead of me, with both bat and ball. So now is a really good time to come back.
“On a personal level, I am rejoining as a senior player, I have had a lot of cricket under my belt since previously playing for Durham and now I am ready for the challenge. The club are in that changing period, with a mix of senior and youth, which hopefully I can add to that.”
Having been born in the north east and progressed through the pathway system, Durham was always at heart for Scott; “I have had one eye on pretty much every Durham game since leaving the club over the past four years, I am still a massive Durham fan, and follow the results carefully.
“Durham have a good tradition with the boys that have come through the Academy. The likes of myself, Stokesy and Woody and there is still a lot coming through, who have had the guidance from John Windows, Alan Walker and Geoff Cook, going back a long time, so they are in good stead.
“With that mix of experience and youth, now is the time to get Durham back into Division 1 as that is where they belong and hopefully get back to winning silverware.”
Borthwick enjoyed a successful spell in the capital, cementing his place as an opening batsman and spin bowler, and winning the County Championship in 2017.
He added: “I have to say, I have loved my time at Surrey, and want to thank Surrey for what they have done for me, you know Alec Stewart has been amazing, they have been amazing through the process of letting me leave and rejoin Durham.
“I have learnt a lot with my cricket at Surrey, being a capped player, is something I am really proud of and playing there has helped me mature as a player, I am 30 now and have grown up a lot, a married man now and have learnt lots as a cricketer. Living in a different city, one of the biggest in the world, you do grow up fast, I feel like I am coming back at the perfect time.
“Honestly I can’t wait to get back and it is something I am really excited about and can’t wait to get started again.
“Who knows what the format will be next year, if it will be Division 2 or continuing with the Bob Willis Trophy, I think it is important that we keep building as a club and defiently try and get back into Division 1, that has to be the main aim and get Durham back to where they belong.”