By Jon Steer
May 31 2005

Durham travel to Worcestershire this week for the return match against the side that they beat by seven wickets earlier in the season. Durham will be without key contributors Mike Hussey and Steve Harmison for the first time in the champtionship this season. While many cricketing eyes will be on the Riverside this week for the second test against Bangladesh, Durham will be some way south playing against Worcestershire. Worcs were Durham's second opponents of the season in a match which saw Durham win by seven wickets, largely due to a century from Paul Collingwood and eight wickets from Steve Harmison.

This time there will be no Harmison and Dale Benkenstein will captain his first championship game after mixed results in the National League over the Bank Holiday weekend. Nathan Astle and Ashley Noffke are also likely to make their first championship appearances for Durham.

Martyn Moxon is unlikely to want to change a winning side any more than he already has to so the bowling attack is likely to be completed by Mark Davies and Liam Plunkett with Collingwood, Astle and Breese as support bowlers.

Astle will open with Jon Lewis, then Collingwood, Peng and Muchall are likely to complete the batting despite all three having problems with consistency this season. Mustard will keep his place behind the stumps where he seems to be able to do little wrong.

Graham Bridge and Mark Turner make up the thirteen man squad.

This match will be a test of a Durham side that will be missing Hussey and Harmison and one that needs to bouce back from defeat against Surrey yesterday.