DURHAM seamer Mark Davies has suffered a setback in his attempt to get fit for the opening championship match against Yorkshire at Riverside next week.

After returning a few days early from the England Lions tour of New Zealand because of an ankle injury, he bowled at the weekend for the first time since the problem flared up.

“He didn’t come through it too well, so we might have to seek further medical opinion,”

said coach Geoff Cook.

“It was a shame for him that he wasn’t fit to play at Lord’s because conditions would have suited him, as they did Callum Thorp.

“He was outstanding. He just seems to get better and better. He knows his game and paces his build-up to the season accordingly.

“Graham Onions and Liam Plunkett bowled better in their second spells and along with Mitch Claydon they all bowled quite quickly.

“Batting-wise, Will Smith looked more comfortable than any other player in the match.

Conditions were tough and he was technically excellent.”

Although raised in Australia, both Thorp and Claydon now have a residential qualification in this country and were Thorp younger than 34 some people would be putting his name forward for England consideration.

He played a big part in clinching the title for Durham at Canterbury in September, when his seven for 88 in Kent’s second innings took him past 50 championship wickets for the season.

The fact that both bowlers are England qualified means that Durham benefit financially under the ECB’s performance related payments.

But Cook added: “It’s also good that they are showing their commitment to us.

Gareth Breese is going down the same route, so we will have no Kolpak players and accusations that Durham have become a resting place for overseas players have been disproved. It’s a question of getting the right balance between experience and young local players.”

Durham are likely to include Steve Harmison when they start their three-day fixture against Durham University at the Racecourse ground tomorrow.

■ Durham will consider having their own championship pennant made after it transpired at Lord’s that Sussex adopted that policy last year.

When Durham were asked if they would be flying the pennant during the MCC v Champions match they assumed it should have been passed on by Sussex. But it seems the 2007 champions had one made because the original had gone missing a few years earlier.