AFTER leading the second team to a three-wicket win against Warwickshire at Longhirst Hall, Durham skipper Phil Mustard is confident he is ready for LV County Championship action.

But whether Steve Harmison has done enough to oust either Callum Thorp or Ruel Brathwaite against Somerset tomorrow remains to be seen.

Mustard has missed the last three games with an inflamed toe, which is believed to be gout-related.

“The doctor told me it could be connected with my diet, so I’ll have to eat less red meat, for example,” he said.

“There’s a danger it could flare up again, but I should be all right if I follow the doctor’s advice.

“I thought I was okay when I played in the first CB 40 match, but the day after it was really painful so we had to send for Michael Richardson to come back from a second team game in Billericay and play against Warwickshire.

“He’s had a tough start to the season but he seems to be thriving on it.”

Richardson scored 88 off 89 balls to set up the second team win at Longhirst, hitting 12 fours and two sixes and sharing a fourth-wicket stand of 129 with Ben Harmison.

Chasing a target of 231, they came together on 28 for three and Harmison made 55 off 101 balls before he was run out.

Medium pacer Steffan Piolet removed Gareth Breese for 14 and Keaton Jennings for five before academy left-hander Ben Raine continued his good form with 19 not out in an unbroken stand of 36 with Mark Wood.

Mustard’s predecessor as captain, Will Smith, took on the task of operating the scoreboard at the delightful ground near Morpeth and admitted he’ll be looking for a big score when Durham entertain Somerset.

Given his chance after Mark Stoneman’s injury at the Rose Bowl in the opening match, Smith has passed 35 in the first innings of each of his three appearances but has a top score of 66 against Warwickshire.

“I thought a big score was coming then, but I got a good ball from Chris Woakes which bounced a bit more than usual,” he said.

“Mark was very unlucky to get injured in the first match. He’ll be back soon, then we could have Paul Collingwood available at the end of the month.”

Following the four days at Longhirst, second team coach Jon Lewis said: “This is a lovely place to play and for those coming back from injury it has been a good workout. It was definitely a step forward.”