The team, along with Head Coach Geoff Cook, will spend ten days at The High Performance Centre at the University of Pretoria where they will train and play four one day games. Two matches will be played against Johannesburg University and the other two games will see Durham face Highveld Lions, where Liam Plunkett and Stephen Harmison both spent some time in the winter months.
Durham Captain Dale Benkenstein will join up with the team on their arrival in South Africa. Paul Collingwood, Stephen Harmison and Phil Mustard will miss the tour due to England commitments. Michael Di Venuto is scheduled to arrive at Riverside on 7 April, and will therefore not be included in the tour. Overseas player Neil McKenzie will arrive in time for Durham’s first match of the season when they face Yorkshire Carnegie at Riverside on Sunday 20 April.
Upon their return to the UK the team will face Yorkshire CCC in two one day matches at Headingley Carnegie on Thursday 10 April and Friday 11 April.
Durham County Cricket Club Head Coach, Geoff Cook, said “Our pre season preparation is massively important and will definitely stand us in good stead for the start of the season. Expectations will undoubtedly be high so it’s a great opportunity for the squad to get together to discuss our aims and objectives for 2008.”
Friday 28 March Depart
Tuesday 1 April Durham CCC v Johannesburg University
Thursday 3 April Durham CCC v Johannesburg University
Saturday 5 April Durham CCC v Highveld Lions
Monday 7 April Durham CCC v Highveld Lions
Wednesday 9 April Return
Thursday 10 April Yorkshire CCC v Durham CCC at Headingley Carnegie
Friday 11 April Yorkshire CCC v Durham CCC at Headingley Carnegie
Dale Benkenstein
Gareth Breese
Mitchell Claydon
Kyle Coetzer
Mark Davies
Luke Evans
Will Gidman
Lee Goddard
Ben Harmison
Neil Killeen
Gordon Muchall
Graham Onions
Liam Plunkett
Garry Park
Gary Scott
Will Smith
Mark Stoneman
Callum Thorp
Paul Wiseman
Geoff Cook
Alan Walker
Jon Lewis
Mike King (Fitness)
Nigel Kent