DURHAM travelled to Guildford yesterday with Scott Borthwick in their squad for the championship match against Surrey starting today.

The 18-year-old leg-spinner from Sunderland could make his first-class debut if the pitch looks likely to take spin.

Coach Geoff Cook said: “It’s a narrow ground, so there are generally a lot of boundaries and at least two high scores.But it usually spins later in the match.”

Durham were still waiting for confirmation yesterday that their rearranged Twenty20 quarter-final at home to Glamorgan will take place next Monday.

That would appear to be the only available date if there is to be a reserve day, as stated by the competition rules, because Glamorgan start a fourday match at Worcester tomorrow.

Glamorgan’s reinstatement in place of Nottinghamshire did not surprise Cook, who said: “It was the most sensible decision in terms of the competition’s rules. It was a pity it took a lot of arriving at.”

Prior to Monday night’s hearing, the likelihood was the rearranged quarter-final would have gone ahead on Sunday against Nottinghamshire.

That would have forced Durham to rearrange Sunday’s opening match in division one of the Pro40 League against Middlesex at Uxbridge, but that is now expected to go ahead.

The turmoil has not helped fans hoping to make arrangements to visit the Rose Bowl for the Twenty20 semi-finals and final on Saturday week if Durham get through.

Durham visited Guildford for a Pro40 match last season, when Shivnarine Chanderpaul made 80 not out as they reached a testing target of 249 with seven wickets and four overs in hand.

After flying in from the West Indies, Chanderpaul was due to meet up with the rest of the squad last night, with skipper Dale Benkenstein saying: “He’s probably been practising in a hotel corridor somewhere."

“Having him coming into the side now balances everything up. It takes a bit of pressure off in the middle order.”

Durham might also have to accommodate Paul Collingwood shortly if he is left out of the Test side on Friday to make room for Andrew Flintoff. He should be available for the Twenty20 finals day, whatever happens.

Durham drew at home to Surrey in the first match of the season, which was spoilt by the weather, and are looking for a rare win against the Brown Caps to maintain their title challenge.

Surrey are next to the bottom without a win from eight games.

DURHAM (from): D M Benkenstein (capt), M J Di Venuto, M D Stoneman, W R Smith, S Chanderpaul, B W Harmison, P Mustard, P J Wiseman, L E Plunkett, C D Thorp, S J Harmison, G Onions, S Borthwick.

Read more at the www.thenorthernecho.co.uk