Long odds on promotion

Martin Love needs to turn more fifties into hundreds

Test Match Special commentator Simon Mann assesses Durham's prospects in the 2002 County Championship.

Durham have several talented cricketers, but they lack the experience and all-round strength required to sustain a promotion challenge.

Relegation in 2000 was followed by eighth place in Division Two last season. They should improve on that but not by much.

The county's long-term prospects, however, are excellent. The granting of Test status to the Riverside will generate income and interest, and should help to attract better players.

It is a big season for Steve Harmison. Last summer's return of 34 wickets at 36.11 was simply not good enough.

  Championship prediction

Closer to the bottom than the top

He spent the winter at England's academy in Australia and it will be fascinating to see if Rod Marsh's regime has made a difference.

There is no doubt he has the potential to play Test cricket; the concerns surround his temperament and fitness record.

Marsh clearly worked him hard. He played in every Academy match up until mid-February when he was allowed to return home early to prepare for the new season.

At the same time, Paul Collingwood was emerging as a capable one-day international all-rounder. He had an excellent winter and the confidence he gained will benefit his county.

His next challenge is to break into the Test side.

Steve Harmison needs to turn potential into wickets

Martin Love will be Durham's overseas player for the next two seasons. He made a big impression in his first summer with the county, scoring 1,364 runs at 50.51 but there is one criticism, which he is determined to address.

He reached 50 on 14 occasions, a feat only equalled by Mike Hussey, but only once did he go on to score a century.

Jonathan Lewis leads the side for a second year. For his own peace of mind, and the overall confidence of the side, he needs to score more runs. He was top of the averages in 1999 but has endured two poor summers.

The team has a nucleus of young players. Graeme Bridge, Nicky Peng, Ian Hunter, Nicky Hatch, Michael Gough, Gary Pratt and Harmison are all 23 or under.

The emphasis on youth is even more pronounced following the departures of veterans Nick Speak and Martin Speight.

Aside from Harmison, Peng has the most potential.

His innings of 98 against Surrey on his Championship debut at the age of 17 inevitably attracted the spotlight, and he too should have benefited from a winter with Rod Marsh.

  Title of factbox here

Captain: Jon Lewis

Coach: Martyn Moxon

Overseas player: Martin Love

Main signings: None

Main departures: Martin Speight, Nick Speak

Last summer's return of 551 runs at 27.55 was modest but he made his first championship, a feat beyond most other 18-year-old English batsmen.

The club's emphasis on youth is unlikely to bring success in the short-term but Durham's policy should be the model for the English game.

Confidence, however, comes from winning and so the more senior players - Love, Collingwood and Lewis - have a big part to play.

Durham's most noticeable improvement in 2001 came in one-day cricket. They reached the quarter-finals in both knock-out competitions and won promotion to the first division of the Norwich Union League.

A one-day trophy is too much to expect but the confidence gained in the shorter game can only help their four-day prospects.