Here's a team with a fine North-East pedigree chosen from the squads visiting the Riverside this weekend

WEST INDIES

ROGER HARPER

Coach of the current squad, following on from a playing career with the West Indies as off-spin bowler and middle-order batsman. First came over here in 1989, as professional at Peterlee in the Durham County League, before moving down the road to play for Blackhall, in the North Yorkshire and South Durham League. Blackhall has a fine tradition of hiring West Indian test players, with Desmond Haynes and Clayton Lambert among those to spend summer at the Welfare Ground.

JIMMY ADAMS

Appointed as successor to Brian Lara as skipper earlier this year. A familiar figure in the North-East after spells at Eppleton in the Durham Senior League. He helped steer the Hetton side to the league title in 1994, with his all-round abilities as batsman, spin bowler and some time wicketkeeper. Still a hugely popular figure in the area.

SHERWIN CAMPBELL

Back on familiar territory at the Riverside where he played for Durham in 1996.

A popular character among the Durham supporters, and sure to receive a warm welcome on his return.

RIDLEY JACOBS

Now firmly established as the West Indies' number one keeper, and handy middle-order batsmen. North-East cricket fans got an early glimpse of his abilities when the Antiguan played for Philadelphia in the Durham Senior League in 1994. His swashbuckling style made him the league's top scorer in the season.

NIXON MCLEAN

Made his mark in the Durham County League in 1995 and 1996 with Evenwood. The fast bowler was a popular figure in the league, the club and the White Swan which hosts Evenwood's post-match hospitality.

FRANKLYN ROSE

Whatever his endeavours on the field today the Jamaican's place in the Riverside's history is already assured. He has the honour of bowling the first ever ball on the ground, when as a Durham trialist he turned out for the second XI in a game against Middlesex on August 2, 1994.

COURTNEY WALSH

The most prolific test wicket taker made his name in this country on the county circuit with Gloucestershire. But the veteran Jamaican got his first taste of English conditions in the early 1980s with Tynedale.

ZIMBABWE

MURRAY GOODWIN

Reputed to be the best batsman ever to play for Guisborough in the North Yorkshire and South Durham League. Not bad accolade for a club which has had West Indian stars Desmond Haynes and Phil Simmons as past professionals. Played for Guisborough in 1996 and 1998, and opted to play for Zimbabwe even though his parents emigrated to Australia when he was 14.

HEATH STREAK

The Zimbabwe vice-captain and strike bowler first showed promise outside his native country in 1993, when he joined Durham City, in the Durham Senior League as a 19-year-old. He had impressed the previous year, taking five wickets during Durham's tour of Zimbabwe ahead of their first season as a first-class county.

NEIL JOHNSON

Hailed as one of the finest batsmen to grace to North Yorkshire South Durham League in the past decade. Played for Thornaby in 1994 and 1995. He scored nearly 1,300 runs with a top score of 199 at Marske in 1994, but sustained a shoulder injury in 1995.

ENGLAND

The flimsiest of all North-East connections belongs to Nasser Hussein, the England captain. Never played for Durham County or a club side in the region. But he was a student at Durham University, when he made his name at a star of the future before joining the professional ranks.