DURHAM will be captained by South African Dale Benkenstein during Mike Hussey's six-week absence, starting today in the three-day game against Durham University at the Racecourse ground.

It was intended that vice-captain Paul Collingwood would take over until he joins the England one-day squad around June10, but he suggested Benkenstein should have the job.

"Paul felt it would be better to have two captains rather than three and Mike and I decided it was the best thing to do," said coach Martyn Moxon.

"Dale's experience has been hugely beneficial to the squad and I don't think we could have found anyone better qualified for the job or more dedicated."

Benkenstein, who led Natal for eight years, said: "I'm really delighted to be able to captain the team. Mike has left us in a great position and I'm hoping we can continue to play positive and confident cricket."

Collingwood and Liam Plunkett are rested for the University game, so Graeme Bridge and Callum Thorp come in.

Thorp, the Western Australia swing bowler, will be making his debut along with overseas pair Ashley Noffke and Nathan Astle.

Noffke's stand-in, Mick Lewis, will be around for a while in case the Queenslander needs more than this game to build his match fitness following his back injury.

Durham resume competitive action in a totesport League game against Kent at Tunbridge Wells on Sunday, followed by another at The Oval on Monday then the championship match at Worcester on Wednesday.

Astle will take over the opening slot from Hussey, despite being more used to doing the job in one-day cricket than in first-class games.

The New Zealander will play in four championship games before Hussey gets back from Australia one-day duty, while it is hoped his powerful striking will light up the Twenty20 Cup.

Durham: D M Benkenstein (capt), J J B Lewis, N Astle, G J Muchall, N Peng, G R Breese, P Mustard, G D Bridge, A A Noffke, M Davies, C Thorp

l Martyn Moxon yesterday played down the possibility of Durham signing former Lancashire and England leg-spinner Chris Schofield, who is currently playing for Durham seconds against Nottinghamshire.

"He was on the England A tour to New Zealand in 1999/2000, when I was the coach," said Moxon. "He has always had the potential to be a very good all-round cricketer.

"He rang me to say he wanted to get back into the first-class game and with Graeme Bridge playing against the University this was an opportunity to have a look at him. We will just have to see how it goes."

Schofield took Lancashire to an employment tribunal for not following the correct procedures when they released him at the end of last season and won his case. He was awarded £7,000 last week.

He has admitted approaching several counties, while he is also playing Minor Counties cricket for Cheshire.

l Steve Harmison has promised to be ruthless against Bangladesh in his quest to return to the peak of his Test powers, writes RICHARD GIBSON.

Bangladesh play their inaugural Test at Lord's, starting tomorrow, before heading up to the Riverside, Durham paceman Harmison's home ground.

''We have to be ruthless, that is the big thing over the two Test matches,'' said Harmison, who insists there will be no motivation needed at the home of cricket as Michael Vaughan's team seek a fifth straight series win.

''If you cannot get yourself up for a test at Lord's there is something wrong.

''Whether you play Bangladesh or Australia your preparation and mindset have to be the same when you first walk out, the opposition is irrelevant.

''But it is quite a difficult place to play at this time of year and hopefully with the ball doing a bit we can exploit that.''

Left-arm spinner Ashley Giles is still struggling with a hip injury, although he took a full part in practice yesterday.

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