IT didn't happen in Fred Trueman's day, of course, but the need to safeguard against injuries means Durham now have nine seam bowlers on their staff.

Including all-rounder Marc Symington, all bowled in the two-day practice match against Yorkshire yesterday, but sadly for all of them the recent drought has left the Riverside lacking its usual sap at this time of year.

The sort of seam-friendly conditions which saw mighty Surrey rolled over in the first match two years ago have given way to a batting paradise, even at the bottom end of the square where yesterday's pitch was located.

Lacking Darren Lehmann, Michael Vaughan, Craig White, the injured Anthony McGrath and the departed David Byas, the Yorkshire batting had an unfamiliar look, as did Chris Silverwood with his bleached blond hair.

The lesser lights failed to shine as brightly as they would have hoped in the sublime conditions, although 22-year-old left-hander Michael Lumb staked an early claim for Byas's place

The son of Richard Lumb, most famous for the number of times he was run out by Geoff Boycott, Michael made 122 against Leicestershire at Headingley last season but played only four championship games, partly because of injury.

He survived a sharp chance to second slip on 12 yesterday to make 82 as Yorkshire reached 324 for eight in 92 overs.

Had it not been for the slight chill in the breeze, and the verdant outfield, it might have been high summer. It was certainly a far cry from the opening championship day three years ago, which was snowed off, or even from the match against Durham University last year, when all the Durham fielders wore woolly hats.

But while the seamers had no trouble keeping warm, warming to their task was a different matter on a ground where they will have to work hard for their wickets this season.

Ian Hunter and Mark Davies took two each, and it was Hunter who had Lumb dropped as both he and Stephen Harmison bowled with encouraging accuracy.

Davies' victims were both caught at second slip by Symington, while left-arm spinner Graeme Bridge also weighed in with a wicket with a well-flighted ball in his first over.

Proving his recovery from a shoulder injury suffered playing for the England Academy in Adelaide, Harmison bowled within himself but was the one bowler capable of making the batsmen hurry on the placid surface.

He and Simon Brown, who also got past the bat a few times, conceded only 19 runs off the first 12 overs before Matthew Wood accelerated against Nicky Hatch and Danny Law.

Wood pulled and cover drove fours off Law's first over as he dominated an opening stand of 81 with Oldham-born Scott Richardson.

An on-drive for four off Hunter's second ball took Wood to 51 off 73 balls, but two balls later he played round an in-swinger and was bowled.

Lumb had made only two when he was beaten in the flight and almost bowled by off spinner Nicky Phillips' sixth ball.

The left-hander had another lucky escape on 42, when straight after pulling James Brinkley for six the bowler swung one in and looked to have him lbw.

Otherwise Lumb was pretty much in charge, reaching 50 off 101 balls and accelerating after tea in partnership with the pugnacious Gary Fellows.

Lumb was shaping to pull Law when he was bowled off his pads, leaving Fellows to reach 50 off 76 balls.

Durham used 20 players at various stages, including reserve wicketkeeper Phil Mustard in the afternoon session. They used 14 bowlers, but hopefully they won't need more than 11 batsmen today.

They need to make runs while the sun shines. By the time they start first-class action on Saturday, with a three-day game against the university, it will probably be snowing