County Championship preview: Durham

2009 in a nutshell Durham retained the championship title for the second consecutive year in 2009. The team went unbeaten in four-day cricket throughout the whole season and also reached the quarter-finals of the Twenty20 Cup. LV County Championship Division 1 1st Friends Provident Trophy 5th in Group C Pro 40 Division 1 6th Twenty20 Cup QF What they'll be playing in this season LV County Championship Division 1 Clydesdale Bank Pro 40 Group C Friends Provident Twenty20 – North Captain Will Smith. When Durham's captaincy passed from the highly-impressive Dale Benkenstein to Will Smith a temporary blip would have been understandable. But Smith, with guidance from the head coach Geoff Cook, continued the success story. Now he needs to prove he can make runs as a captain as well. Head coach Geoff Cook. The widespread respect in which Cook is held was illustrated when he won the Peter Smith Memorial Award from the Cricket Writers Association for services to cricket. His strong appreciation of cricket's role in a community, shrewd signings and unshakeable commonsense is at the heart of Durham's success. Ins and outs In Ben Stokes, Michael Richardson Out Lee Goddard (Derbyshire), Paul Wiseman (retired) Overseas players Albie Morkel (SA, T20). Morkel, playing in the IPL with Chennai Super Kings, has slipped in form recently, which leaves Durham hopeful that he may be available for the whole of their T20 campaign. The Durham chief executive David Harker has confirmed they are also chasing the New Zealand batsman Ross Taylor for T20. Key player Scott Borthwick. Perhaps not the key player – it would be unfair to load such pressure on a 20-year-old leg-spinner – but Borthwick is certainly one of the most interesting. Eight wickets in the match for Durham against MCC in Abu Dhabi was an excellent start to the season, although the way things are going he might not see another dry pitch until August. Ashes factor Steve Harmison announced his wish to play in this winter's Ashes series even before the season began and the mood swings of one of England's most intriguing cricketers – destructive one minute, troubled the next – could dominate the summer. Andy Flower will take a lot of convincing. Prediction for 2010 First in Division 1. No county has won the championship three times in a row since Brian Close's Yorkshire side in 1968. Few, though, would bet against Durham doing just that. Lack of runs could make them vulnerable. But they won twice as many matches as any other side last season and unless Hampshire catch fire it is hard to see who can stop them.