Reinforced Durham look well-placed to challenge in Bob Willis Trophy

BOB WILLIS TROPHY PREVIEW: Head coach James Franklin appears to have made several astute signings and, with four of their five games at home, Durham have every chance of reaching the Lord's final

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Ins: Paul Coughlin (Durham), Farhaan Behardien, David Bedingham, Sean Dickson (Kent)

Outs: George Harding (released), Ryan Pringle (released), Will Smith (retired), Michael Richardson (released)

Fixtures: August 1 - Yorkshire (h), August 8 - Lancashire (h), August 15 - Leicestershire (h), August 22 - Derbyshire (h), September 6 - Nottinghamshire (a)

Remind me what happened last year?

Under James Franklin and Marcus North, Durham are improving. They look as strong a force now as they have done since their ECB-enforced relegation and the pillaging of their homegrown resources that followed.

Despite ultimately missing out on promotion by a considerable margin last September, they were in the reckoning for some time, helped in no small part by the irrepressible talents of Chris Rushworth, a seamer whose ability and willing are not discussed as much as they should be.

Likewise, Ben Raine, who re-joined the club at the end of 2018 and took 54 wickets in his first year back at the club he had left in 2013. Brydon Carse is another who has impressed – so much so that he spent part of his winter on a landmark, unbeaten tour of Australia with England Lions and was then included in a subsequent 55-man training squad ahead of the beginning of the international summer.

With the bat, Alex Lees struck three centuries, representing a player rejuvenated by his move from Yorkshire, while Cameron Bancroft joined as the club’s overseas player and captain before that stint was cut short due to his involvement in the Ashes. He was subsequently replaced by both BJ Watling and Peter Handscomb.

Neither Ben Stokes nor Mark Wood were available to play County Championship cricket at any point during a busy year.

What’s happened over the winter?

Durham have strengthened once more. In Farhaan Behardien, they have signed a cricketer of immense experience and quality: the batsman played 97 times for South Africa in the limited-over formats and captained his national side.

He is joined by a compatriot far nearer the beginning of his career; David Bedingham, 26, averages 45.75 in first-class cricket. Ashwell Prince, his Cape Cobras coach, had earmarked him as a possible international opener in the years to come. Instead, he will be with Durham.

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Who’s arrived and who’s left?

Will Smith, a title-winning captain with the county, has retired, while wicketkeeper-batsman Michael Richardson was released at the end of last season. Other than Bedingham and Behardien, Durham have signed Sean Dickson from Kent. The batsman is also renowned as one of the top fielders in the country.

Paul Coughlin has also re-signed for his home county, having endured a torrid time with injuries during a spell at Nottinghamshire.

It has also been announced that James Weighell and Ben Whitehead will leave the club at the conclusion of their contracts at the end of the season.

Who will be the key men in 2020?

For all of Durham’s improvements with the bat, their key man over the next couple of months will be Rushworth. With batsmen feeling their way back to form and sharpness, his nagging consistency will be as threatening as ever. He took 69 wickets in last year’s County Championship at an average of just 18.42. Carse is another who will be worth watching on the back of a breakthrough winter.

As an outside bet, Scott Steel – no relation to teammate Cameron Steel – looks an enormous talent. Just 21 years of age, he made his first team debut in 2019. And while his successes thus far have come in white-ball competition, it will be interesting to see him add to two red-ball appearances that came late on last season.

What can we expect from this team this season?

Durham will fancy themselves for a good run in this shortened tournament. Under North and Franklin, they have made a range of savvy signings.

Given the unerring sense of hazard presented by Rushworth, as well as the contributions of Raine, Carse and a fully fit Coughlin, the Riverside outfit will prove a challenge for any batting line-up. With the addition of experience and solidity at the top of the order, they will look a useful force, especially with home advantage in four out of five group games.

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