DURHAM, totesport’s 13-2 favourites for the Twenty20 Cup, will go into a tough opening match at Trent Bridge today still uncertain about the availability of Australian David Warner.

He was out for a duck when Delhi Daredevils lost their Indian Premier League semifinal to Deccan Chargers on Friday and it was hoped he might arrive today.

Durham coach Geoff Cook said: “We contacted his agent on Friday, but we haven’t heard anything, so we are still expecting him to miss the first two games.”

After playing at home to Leicestershire on Friday and Nottinghamshire next Sunday, there could then be a doubt about Warner’s participation at Headingley tomorrow week and at Old Trafford two days later.

That’s because he’s in Australia’s 15-man squad for the Twenty20 World Championship and they have a warmup game against Bangladesh at Trent Bridge next Monday.

Durham have included Dale Benkenstein in their squad, confident that his Indian Cricket League connections will not make them ineligible for the Champions League.

The two teams who reach the domestic T20 final should go forward to the money-spinning eight-team Champions League, but Kent were barred last season because they had fielded ICL players.

Cook said: “Dale has signed forms to agree his resignation from the ICL, and as things stand that should allow him to play for us. The situation seems to be changing all the time, but our view is that we have to give ourselves the best chance of reaching our finals day again.”

In last year’s finals day at the Rose Bowl, Durham failed to do themselves justice and were comfortably beaten by Middlesex, who then beat Kent in a much tighter final.

Kent are this year’s 15-2 second favourites with totesport, the Twenty20 Cup’s official partners, who have Middlesex at 8-1.

The bookmakers have also promised to donate £100 per run to any player who manages to beat Graham Napier’s record-breaking 152 not out.

Napier’s innings for Essex against Sussex last year included a world record 16 sixes from 58 balls.

It would have landed £15,200 for charity based on this new initiative.

“If the record is not broken, totesport will give £5000 to the player who gets the highest score in this year’s Twenty20 Cup,” said totesport spokesman George Primarolo.

“The money will be donated to the charity of player’s choice.”

Ben Harmison, who has been out of favour so far this season, is in the Durham squad, but not his brother, Steve.

Cook explained: “Ben played in the seconds last week and his all-round skills are ideal for this format.

“We are including three specialist bowlers and will be sharing the work around with four games in six days.

“We need to be careful about conserving their energies for all forms of cricket, but with Liam Plunkett out for two weeks Steve could feature later.”

Plunkett has a groin injury, but Graham Onions is fit to return after his Achilles problem and Michael Di Venuto has also recovered from injury.

Today’s match starts at 2.30 and should attract a big Bank Holiday crowd, especially as Nottinghamshire look a strong one-day side.

They will have ex-Surrey and England one-day man Ally Brown at the top of the order, while others with oneday international experience are Samit Patel, Mark Ealham, Andre Adams and Chris Read.

Durham (from): W R Smith (Capt), M J Di Venuto, P Mustard, I D Blackwell, K Coetzer, D M Benkenstein, G J Muchall, G R Breese, W R S Gidman, B W Harmison, G Onions, M E Claydon, N Killeen.