AS a native of Aberdeen, the unseasonal temperature didn't bother him, but it was a frustrating day for Kyle Coetzer on the first day of his first-class debut for Durham at Cardiff.

The only creatures on the Sophia Gardens playing surface were seagulls blown in on the gale, and for much of the day it wasn't fit to turn a dog out.

Coetzer claimed not to feel the cold, but after spending the last two winters in his parents' homeland of South Africa, he could have been forgiven for questioning the wisdom of settling for a future with Durham.

"I've been with the Western Province Academy, but it's not something I want to pursue because I want to commit myself to Durham," he said.

"I have also played for Scotland but I'm happier around the Durham guys and my aim is to have a first-class future with them. I want to see Scotland do well, but it's up to me to make a career for myself.

"I'm a bit nervous about my debut because I don't want to let anyone down after the faith they have shown in me. But I'm really keen to play and get a good start and I have to back my ability."

The 20-year-old middle-order batsman also bowls medium pace, which he is working hard on after suffering from a stress fracture of the back for two years.

"I used to be as much a bowler as a batsman and now it's coming back into my game," he said. "You only realise you need to do a lot of strengthening work when an injury like this happens to you.

"It has made me work hard and I have got a lot stronger in all departments, which has helped me a lot. I now see the off-season as being more for training. You don't want to feel stale at the start of the English season, you need to have a desire to play."

After playing for Scotland in two National League games and a C & G Trophy match last season, Coetzer captained them at the Under-19 World Cup in Bangladesh in the winter.

Although he scored 60 in the first match against India, they lost both that game and the next two against New Zealand and the hosts before going on to reach the semi-finals of the Plate competition.

"We eventually lost to Bangladesh for the second time," he said. "But we played well against Papua New Guinea and Nepal, who had knocked us out the previous time. This time we beat them by two wickets with two balls to spare.

"We only started to play well in the Plate because we had not had chance to get used to the conditions for the group matches. We were not prepared mentally or physically.

"I was probably a step ahead of the others because of the season I had had with Durham, which made me realise what is expected of you."

Durham's Director of Cricket, Geoff Cook, had kept tabs on Coetzer from the age of 14 and would have had him in the academy two years ago but for his back injury.

His father, Peter, who came to Aberdeen to work in the oil industry 22 years ago, played club cricket for Stonywood/Dyce, which is where Kyle started his senior cricket.

He played three Second X1 Championship matches for Durham last season, making a top score of 139 against Leicestershire at Oakham School.

This season he has scored consistently for both the seconds and the academy, with a top score of 159 against Surrey seconds at Cheam. His academy scores include 80 against a South Northumberland attack featuring Reon King and Graeme Bridge, and 60 against a Chester-le-Street side including former Durham pacemen Ian Hunter and Ian Jones.

"I like to take my time, so I don't expect to be in Durham's one-day side this season," he said. "I normally bat at three or four, but I would love the opportunity to open if it came along."

Read more about Durham County Cricket Club here.