DURHAM are confident they will enjoy the services of 18-year-old sensation Nicky Peng for the rest of the season.

It was feared he would be lost to England Under 19s at the end of this month for three one-day internationals and three four-day Tests against the West Indies.

But coach Martyn Moxon said: "There has been a shift of policy. The ECB believe that because he is playing regular first team cricket it will be better for him to stay with us."

Very few Durham players have hit two one-day centuries in a season, as Peng has done, and he has also made a championship hundred, plus 90 at Derby and a battling 70 against Warwickshire on Monday.

Durham are anxiously awaiting the results of Simon Brown's visit to a specialist yesterday before deciding whether he is fit to play in his benefit match against Glamorgan at the Riverside on Sunday.

While bowling last Friday he developed a problem in the knee on which he had an operation three years ago.

Steve Harmison might be fit to return on Sunday after being out for two weeks with a calf injury, while Neil Killeen is aiming to be ready for the C and G Trophy fourth round tie against holders Gloucestershire at Bristol next Wednesday.

The aim is for both of them to play in at least one of the second team's three AON Trophy matches against Nottinghamshire at Sunderland today, Derbyshire at South Shields tomorrow and Yorkshire at Darlington on Friday.

James Brinkley will not be back from ICC Trophy duty with Scotland in Canada for two more weeks, so he is definitely out of the Bristol trip.

Durham also have a slight concern about off-spinner Nicky Phillips, who had to defy pain from a wisdom tooth during the Warwickshire match.

"We are hoping antibiotics will cure it, but if he has to have it out he will be struggling for Sunday," said Moxon.