Hussey blow softened by Harmison's one-day boost

Australia want Hussey to return home for a training camp at the end of May prior to playing his part in the one-day international series back in this country.

His Durham replacement, New Zealander Nathan Astle, will arrive in time to play in the three-day match against Durham University at the Racecourse, starting on May 25.

Hussey's early departure means he will have to miss four championship games instead of three, starting with the trip to Worcester on June 1. He will be back on July 13.

The other overseas player, Queensland seamer Ashley Noffke, is to have a scan on his back tomorrow and if given the all-clear will gradually build up his bowling at home before coming to Durham when he feels ready. Victoria's Mick Lewis will stay until then.

The England management originally ruled that Harmison could not play in any totesport games, but have now said he can play on either Sunday or Monday.

As Sunday's game is away to Scotland, where conditions may not be ideal, Durham are more likely to opt for the Sussex match at Riverside.

"The change of heart has come about mainly as a result of pressure from Steve himself," said coach Martyn Moxon. "Because we haven't any cricket this week he was keen to play.

"Even though the pitches are still slow he's skilful enough now to adapt to the conditions for a one-day game and it works well for us. With three one-day matches in four days, we can look after our seamers a bit."

Harmison is also available for the C & G Trophy match at home to Derbyshire next Wednesday and it is hoped that Neil Killeen, who missed last Sunday's win against Surrey with a calf injury, will be fit by the weekend.

Moxon has spent the last two days at his old stamping ground at Headingley watching the A team performing well against a strong Yorkshire second X1.

Mark Turner took five wickets on the first day and Moxon said: "He has shortened his run-up a bit over the winter, so rather than being a tearaway fast bowler he is going more for accuracy.

"He still bowls at a lively pace but is hitting better areas more consistently with the odd bouncer."

Another former England Under-19 player, Ben Harmison, led the way with 89 yesterday, while all-rounder Gary Scott made 83.

It is nearly four years since 20-year-old Scott, from Sunderland, made his solitary first-class appearance, and Moxon said: "He has had a number of injuries but he has stayed fit this winter and is shaping very well with the bat. His off-spin still needs a bit of work but we have high hopes of him."

* Floodlights were yesterday used for the first time in a County Championship match when Derbyshire's £200,000 lights were turned on during the first day of the match against Northamptonshire, writes MYLES HODGSON.

The lights certainly had a positive effect for the visitors as opening pair Mike Love and Bilal Shafayat set a record opening stand as Northamptonshire dominated their hosts.

Shafayat scored his first century for the team while Love compiled his fourth in seven innings. It was a miserable day for the home side after putting Northants in to bat as they also dropped three catches and the visitors were 292 without loss at the close of play.

Shafayat was put down in the gully on 16 and Love survived a sharp chance at first slip on 47 and was also missed when he was on 117.

Derbyshire hoped a green pitch would help their seamers but the ball did little through the air or off the wicket.

Both openers played cautiously in the morning but started to open up after lunch as Derbyshire's fielding began to look ragged.

Shafayat, released by Nottinghamshire at the end of last season, went from strength to strength, bringing up his third first-class hundred by driving spinner Ant Botha down the ground for his 14th four.

Umpires Vanburn Holder and Trevor Jesty gave the signal for the lights to be switched on at 3.50pm but they shone down for only one ball before heavy rain stopped play for 90 minutes.

When play resumed, the skies had cleared and Shafayat and Love went relentlessly on, passing the previous best opening stand against Derbyshire of 239 set by Geoff Cook and Wayne Larkins at Derby in 1981.

Love reached his 34th first-class hundred from 183 balls, an innings which included ten fours and he was given a second life when he was dropped at mid on off Botha.

That summed up a long, hard day for Derbyshire and Shafayat and Love helped themselves to more runs in the evening sunshine.

Shafayat closed on a career-best 156 which came from 267 balls and included two sixes and 20 fours.

Love was unbeaten on 129 from 233 balls and had hit a six and 12 fours in taking his Northamptonshire aggregate to 685 in seven innings.

l Andrew Flintoff insists he is pleased with his post-operation progress despite suffering a duck on his return to first-class action with Lancashire against Worcestershire.

The England all-rounder, making his maiden first-class appearance since having a bone spur on his left ankle removed on January 30, lasted just five balls at New Road today before edging Kabir Ali to slip as Lancashire were dismissed for 196 on the opening day.

It was a disappointing comeback for England's talisman, but Flintoff was just pleased to get back out onto the cricket field after several months of rehabilitation alongside former England physio Dave Roberts.

''The ankle feels fine,'' said Flintoff. ''I was probably a little eager today and went after one I could have left.

''It's been a while since I've played apart from Sunday and I've been desperate to play some cricket again. I've been in the gym and training for the last 10 weeks. I was probably a bit nervous and eager today.''

Flintoff, whose return was watched by chairman of selectors David Graveney, is playing as a specialist batsman to begin with and admitted: ''I don't know when I'll be back bowling again."

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