THE injury jinx which has reared its ugly head for a third successive season for Durham has never been as cruel as it was yesterday.

They had to draft in 41-year-old bowling coach Alan Walker for the C & G Trophy second-round tie against Sussex, only for him to suffer a torn calf in the sixth over of the match.

In his first appearance for the first team for six years, the seam bowler was hurt when attempting a diving stop at third man.

He got his hand to the ball, but it still went for four, reminding old sages that in Walker's heyday bowlers weren't expected to do any more than stretch out a boot if they couldn't bend down to pick up the ball.

At the end of the over he limped off after speaking to skipper Jon Lewis, who looked as though he didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

Play did not begin until 4.10 because of rain and one ball after Walker's departure the lightest of showers sent the players back to the pavilion for half an hour.

By the time they returned it was clear that Walker would take no further part and his place in the field was taken by Teessider Alex Roberts, an all-rounder on a development contract.

Walker had been selected because Liam Plunkett had joined the casualty list with sore shins, something which plagued Stephen Harmison at a similar age.

It is hoped Plunkett will be fit for the championship match against Essex, starting at Riverside tomorrow, otherwise Durham will be in dire straits.

Given their lack of bowlers, they desperately needed early wickets yesterday, but Ian Ward and Matt Prior had 36 on the board before they were parted in the 11th over by Neil Killeen.

After six overs each from Killeen and Mark Davies, Lewis's plight was all too obvious as he turned to the medium pace of Ian Pattison and Gordon Muchall and 28 came off the next two overs.

Former Surrey left-hander Ward pulled Pattison's second ball for a big six and drove two fours through the off side in the same over.

Things were looking desperate when he repeated the pulled six in Pattison's second over.

The relaxation of the fielding restrictions after 15 overs helped as Ward and Murray Goodwin settled for a series of singles to the men on the boundary.

But it looked like a temporary reprieve for Durham, for whom the only other bowlers available were off spinning all-rounders Gareth Breese and Marcus North.

Bad light came to the rescue just after 6pm with Sussex on 87 for one after 18 overs.

Rain shortly afterwards ended play for the day and the match will have to be completed today, when yesterday's tickets will be valid.

Read more about Durham County Cricket Club here.