This week signifies the potential international debut of Keaton Jennings, the left-handed batsman who wrote his name in Durham folklore during 2016.
Jennings replaces Haseeb Hameed in the squad after the youngster’s impressive tour was ended by a finger injury.
The 24-year-old notched a record seven first-class centuries and we recap them all here.
116 & 105* vs Somerset @ Emirates Riverside
After a lean 2015 season, Jennings wanted to hit the ground running in 2016 and started by entering the record books – something he would do on numerous occassions as the summer progressed.
Chris Rogers’ refused the offer of a coin toss under the new rules and Somerset enjoyed success at an Emirates Riverside ground yet to fully emerge from the coldness of winter.
But Jennings played a fine hand to glue the innings together with 116 before hammering home Durham’s advantage with a second ton in as many days, becoming only the third man to score centuries in either innings of a first-class match for the county.
It came underneath the floodlights in near darkness but he did not get chance to expand on his score with the final two days completely rained off.
113 vs Warwickshire @ Edgbaston
A cool, composed knock – something of a trademark for Jennings – anchored a fantastic run chase at Edgbaston, a traditionally tough ground for Durham to perform at.
Chasing 238 for victory and reduced to 87/4 after Chris Wright’s spell of 4/10, the opener held his nerve to see Durham to the close on Day Three and departed with his side within 40 runs of victory.
It was a fine knock on a wearing pitch against the Specsavers County Championship’s leading spinner, Jeetan Patel.
221* vs Yorkshire @ Emirates Riverside
With the backs firmly against the wall against the previous Champions, this was perhaps one of the finest knocks ever seen at Emirates Riverside.
Heading into the second innings with a 151-run deficit, Jennings batted over nine hours to rack up the highest score for a Durham player against Yorkshire, guiding them to a total of 507 – the first time we have surpassed 500 in a second innings.
It was a virtually chanceless knock in a test of temperament, technique & talent – a test passed with flying colours.
129 vs Hampshire @ Emirates Riverside
Jennings made it two centuries in as many innings, following the mammoth Yorkshire knock with 129 in reply to Hampshire’s 421.
He & Jack Burnham showed restraint against the fiery, short-pitched bowling of Tino Best to bat Durham back into contention after early wickets on Day Two.
His new ball dismissal ended a stay of 922 minutes at the crease spanning two matches, an incredible test of endurance & concentration.
171* vs Nottinghamshire @ Emirates Riverside
With Nottinghamshire needing a win to avoid relegation, the Trent Bridge men batted themselves into a first innings lead before Jennings held up their advances on Day Three.
Alongside with Graham Onions’ maiden first-class fifty, he ended putting the home side into an advantageous position before a washed out fourth and final day.
This was his sixth Championship century of the season, equalling the joint record for Durham set by Michael Di Venuto & Paul Collingwood.
201* vs Surrey @ Emirates Riverside
Yet another century under pressure and a fourth unbeaten century of the season – this performance capped an exceptional home campaign to set up a win that confirmed Durham’s First Division status (at the time…).
Jennings hit the final ball of Day One for four to reach the double century mark for the second time in the season, anchoring the innings to surpass 400 mark early on Day Two.
When Graham Onions was dismissed, Jennings had become the sixth man to carry his bat in an all-out innings for Durham but had long since confirmed his status as the only man to score seven Championship centuries in a season.