LUCKLESS Durham suffered further misfortune yesterday as they prepare to embark on a run of five championship games in the final month of the season.

Hard on the heels of the news that they will not have Paul Collingwood's services again this season, Australian paceman Shaun Tait arrived safely, but his luggage didn't.

Unless he has his own boots, Tait will not play in the four-day match against Somerset starting at Riverside today.

Coach Martyn Moxon said: "It would be foolish to fix him up with borrowed boots or a new pair which hasn't been broken in. All sorts of things could go wrong.

"He used two airlines in getting here, and at the moment we don't know where his luggage is. If it arrives in time and he doesn't feel jetlagged then he'll play.

"He hasn't played for a while, but he was involved with the Test squad in their two series against Sri Lanka this year, so he's ready to play.

"Marcus North has confirmed that he's quick and he swings it and we'd certainly like him to have the chance of knocking over Ricky Ponting."

Tait felled Ponting with a bouncer in the nets in Sri Lanka in March and there was a brief doubt about the Australia captain playing in the Colombo Test.

It was expected that Tait would make his Test debut in the return series last month, but Glenn McGrath's return kept him out.

Moxon is unhappy about England insisting that Collingwood can't play again before the three one-day matches against India prior to the ICC Champions Trophy.

"I have spoken to David Graveney about it and he says they are taking the advice of their medical people," said Moxon.

"Paul's knee only troubles him when he dives in the field, so we said we would field him at fine leg and keep him out of the way.

"It's obviously disappointing, but he's a centrally-contracted England player and he's been told to rest and keep practising in the nets.

"He has to join up with the one-day squad after the fourth Test so it looks like we have seen the last of him for this season.

"After winning on Sunday we had given ourselves a real chance of promotion in the totesport League, then we were told that Paul couldn't play on Wednesday night.

"Every time we get a bit of a window it seems to be slammed shut."

After seeing his side beaten by Ponting's 83 not out on Wednesday, Moxon said: "He obviously likes the short ball, but he also played some good shots on the rise on the front foot.

"He's a quality player, but we have to believe with every ball we bowl to him that it only takes one to get him out."

After his successful return in the floodlit match, Gavin Hamilton will again deputise for Collingwood, which means there is no return for Nicky Peng or Gary Pratt.

Hamilton will bat at six, with Kyle Coetzer moving up a place. Andy Blignaut is still troubled by his chest infection, so he has played his last game for Durham.

There is better news of Mark Davies, who is recovering well from his side strain and could be fit for the home match against Hampshire starting on Tuesday week.

Durham (from): J J B Lewis (capt), G R Breese, G J Muchall, M J North, K Coetzer, G M Hamilton, A Pratt, G D Bridge, L E Plunkett, N Killeen, G Onions, S Tait.

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