The final round of voting is now open for our #EngAusXI – & we think this may be the most difficult of the lot!
Eight bowlers need to be whittled down to three as we close out the final spots in our XI.
So far we’ve got Michael Di Venuto & Mike Hussey followed by David Boon, Dean Jones & Paul Collingwood, Phil Mustard keeping wicket with Ben Stokes & Ian Botham the all-rounders.
Read below about the bowlers up for nomination & cast your votes before the final XI is revealed on Friday.
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Simon Brown
Returning to the region upon Durham claiming first-class status, Simon Brown became the first homegrown Durham CCC player to play a Test against Pakistan in 1996.
A talented left-armer who could move the ball prodigiously, Brown carried Durham’s attack in the early years & was voted Supporters’ Player of the Year in 1992 & Player of the Year in 1994.
His haul of 518 first-class wickets was a long-standing county record until the final month of the 2017 season.
Steve Harmison
After struggling with injuries throughout the early stages of his career, Steve Harmison battled back to realise his potential & become a force to be reckoned with on the domestic & international stage.
Regularly surpassing 90 mph, his fierce spells at county level earned him an England call-up in 2000 & delivered one of the finest spells of fast bowling in taking 7/12 against West Indies in 2004.
He finished with 458 first-class wickets for Durham in 129 matches.
Neil Killeen
Still serving the Club as Second XI coach, Neil Killeen spent his entire professional career at Durham.
Initially impressing in Sunday League fixtures, Killeen had his first real run in the Championship side during 1999 & managed 58 wickets.
Overall, he finished with 262 first-class wickets before hanging up his boots in 2008.
Graham Onions
A career which deserved greater recognition at international level at his peak, Graham Onions finished as the Club’s leading wicket-taker when removing Adam Milne against Kent at Emirates Riverside.
A part of all of Durham’s successes, Onions’ most prolific seasons came back-to-back in 2012/13 as he followed up 72 first-class wickets with 73 the year after, helping Durham to a third Championship title.
An Ashes winner who battled back from serious back injuries, nine Tests did not do Onions’ ability justice.
Liam Plunkett
Another of Durham’s Academy graduates to play for England, Liam Plunkett bagged no fewer than 263 first-wickets in just 84 matches for Durham.
After debuting in 2003 & taking 50 wickets in 2005, occasional England duties kept Plunkett away from county cricket regularly before playing a major role in the 2009 Championship-winning team.
Plunkett has continued to be a success on the international stage, playing a major role in England’s limited-overs sides.
Chris Rushworth
Chris Rushworth hit the headlines in 2014 after taking 15 wickets in a day, including 9/52 in one innings, against Northamptonshire at Emirates Riverside.
He followed up with a spectacular 2015, claiming 83 Championship wickets to win PCA Player of the Year & scoop a number of awards at the Club’s Player of the Year dinner.
Rushworth showed character in battling back to earn a contract after being released earlier in his career & is now the fourth-highest wicket-taker in the Club’s first-class history.
Callum Thorp
The sole Australian on the shortlist, hard-working pace bowler Callum Thorp became a fans’ favourite at Emirates Riverside.
Thorp cut his teeth at the WACA in Western Australia before making his Durham debut in 2005, ending with 257 wickets 88 games later.
He produced a career-best 7/88 to seal the Championship title at Kent with an innings victory in 2008.
Mark Wood
His first-class career at Durham remains a brief one to date, but it is testament to Mark Wood’s rapid rise to international level.
Wood made his first-class debut in 2011, featured during the 2013 Championship win & bowled the ball that clinched the Ashes in 2015.
Injuries have been unkind in recent years but the 27-year-old remains one of England’s most prizes bowling assets.