Collingwood chance

With the second Test due to be played on his home ground at Riverside in early June, Collingwood wants to be ready to step in if Andrew Flintoff is not ready to bowl following his foot operation.

Using Collingwood as their fourth seamer has allowed Durham to select an extra batsman for their opening match of the season starting at Leicester tomorrow.

"Paul is keen to bowl as much as possible and we are happy to give him the chance to get some overs under his belt," said coach Martyn Moxon.

"Dale Benkenstein is no mug with the ball either, so we can bat Gareth Breese at No 7.

"It has been a tough first selection for Mike Hussey, but that's the way we want it. Both our spinners have been bowling well, so it's tough on Graeme Bridge to miss out."

Creating room for an extra batsman has meant there is room for Nicky Peng, but there is no place for either of the Pratt brothers.

Phil Mustard is preferred to Andrew Pratt behind the stumps and Gary Pratt has failed to oust deposed captain Jon Lewis from the top of the order.

Pratt had a chance of opening with new captain Hussey, but Lewis's two centuries on the pre-season tour to Dubai and Sharjah earned him the vote.

Moxon added that Western Australia swing bowler Callum Thorp had not been considered following a recent operation.

"He bowled well in the nets today but we feel we need to give him a bit longer," said the coach.

Durham: M E K Hussey (capt), J J B Lewis, P D Collingwood, G J Muchall, D M Benkenstein, N Peng, G R Breese, P Mustard, L E Plunkett, S J Harmison, M Davies. 12th man: G Onions.

* Joe Sayers has missed out on selection for Yorkshire's opening Championship match against Essex at Chelmsford tomorrow. Director of cricket, David Byas, said: "It was a very tough decision to leave out Joe but one or two other batsmen shaded him on experience."

Yorkshire (from): Wood, Jaques, McGrath, Lumb, Harvey, White, Dawood, Dawson, Silverwood, Kruis, Hoggard, Bresnan, Lawson.