DURHAM have handed Danny Law the chance to get his season off to a flying start against Somerset at Taunton tomorrow.

In the final year of his three-year contract, the 27-year-old former Sussex and Essex all-rounder has plenty to prove after being out in the cold at the end of last season.

He has been preferred to Gordon Muchall and will bat at No 6, with coach Martyn Moxon explaining: "We expect it to be a good batting pitch, so we need as much bowling as we can get.

"Danny missed the start through injury last season and never really caught up, particularly with his bowling.

"We haven't been able to work with him as much as we would have liked this winter because he had a double hernia operation around Christmas then had a bad dose of flu.

"But he has batted very well in pre-season and we know he can bowl better than he did last year. It's a big year for him and he can be a very important player for us.

"It's unfortunate for Gordon Muchall and it was a tough decision to leave him out, but we need the extra bowler."

With Paul Collingwood ruled out for six weeks by his dislocated shoulder, Durham will look to the experience of Vince Wells to shore up the middle order at No 4.

Indian paceman Javagal Srinath arrived on Sunday and will stay until Martin Love has finished his Australian tour commitments in the West Indies on May 17.

That means Srinath will play three championship games - against Somerset, Gloucestershire at Riverside next week and Worcestershire at Stockton on May 14-17. It is hoped Love will be available to face Derbyshire at Riverside starting on May 21.

Neil Killeen gets the third seamer's spot, with Nicky Phillips narrowly earning the vote over Graeme Bridge for the spinner's role.

Durham: J J B Lewis (capt), M A Gough, G J Pratt, V J Wells, N Peng, D R Law, A Pratt, N C Phillips, N Killeen, J Srinath, S J Harmison. 12th man: N G Hatch.

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