David Boon believes Durham's superb start to the summer will end in promotion into the First Division of both the County Championship and the Totesport League at the end of the season.

The 1994 Wisden Cricketer of the Year led the Riverside club from 1997 to 1999, guiding the side to their best ever finish in the County Championship.

After his retirement, the 44-year-old Tasmanian accepted a marketing role for his state and joined Australia's national selection panel.

He is well schooled to comment on Durham's fortunes and admits he is surprised that his former county have failed to build on the progress they made in the late 1990s, and establish themselves as one of county cricket's strongest teams

But he insists the signs are positive for a brighter future. "I am surprised but at the end of the day it's about looking forward not back," Boon admitted.

"The key for all of the Durham players is to have self-belief and play as a team. The team is doing wonderfully well this season and if they continue playing positive cricket and working hard, they have every chance of winning promotion.

"Achieving success is a process that takes time but the club is well supported by local people and business.

"The Riverside is now an international venue with fantastic facilities, so I am very optimistic about Durham's future both on and off the field."

Boon scored 3007 runs at an average of 39.05 for Durham with a top score of 139 not out. He made six other centuries, and 20 half-centuries.

He was equally influential as captain, instilling a winning mentality into his teammates and guiding the development of the younger players.

And Boon is delighted to see Durham's England duo of Steve Harmison and Paul Collingwood receive the international recognition he predicted during his three seasons at the Riverside.

He reveals, however, that without his intervention, Harmison's cricket future was in the balance and that the Ashington Express could easily have walked away from the game.

"Retirement was definitely on the cards," revealed Boon. "When I captained Durham, I was very fortunate that the committee and the entire coaching group supported me.

"I encouraged Harmison and Collingwood to believe in themselves and enjoy their cricket.

"It was a gradual process of goal-setting and working with all of the players and reassuring them when things didn't go so well. It probably sounds funny coming from an Australian but I have been following Harmison's performances very closely.

"I've watched his progress and I feel very proud, I suppose, to have been a part of a couple of developmental years. He's young enough.

"I think he could be England's premier fast bowler for some time, I just hope he doesn't get too many wickets against Australia.

"I will have mixed feelings if he does well in the Ashes. He can do well - as long as Australia win."

Boon still regards himself as a Durham supporter and keeps up to date with his former team's fortunes from Australia.

Not one for regrets, he regards his time in the North East as one of the happiest of his 17-year playing career and has fond memories of the many friendships forged and later endured in retirement.

"Durham County Cricket Club is a great club and will always be close to my heart," Boon said

"I enjoyed every one of my three years in the North-East and made many friends at Durham.

"The club made my family feel very welcome and we had some good times in what was rebuilding period at the Riverside.

"It's natural to think that I could have scored more runs but my performances were okay and there is no point in looking back.

"We made a lot of improvements both on and off the field; one of the biggest changes was when I introduced the players to pre-season training.

"They had never done any pre-season work before up to that point but afterwards the team agreed that their performances benefited from improved fitness levels."

Heroic to the last, Boon will be remembered as one of Australia's grittiest batsman and an adopted son to the people of the North East.

"I am an easy going person and as captain I had to be strong for the team," Boon said.

"What we achieved at Durham was a team effort and I will never forget the wonderful memories of my time at the Riverside.

"I believe every first-class cricketer should strive to play for his country and all of the Durham players certainly adopted that philosophy when I was there."