Briers: Beefy is a boost for Durham

DURHAM’S double whammy of relegation and their 48point deduction has provoked much anger towards the ECB from their supporters and North East MPs.

Cricket’s newest first-class county has certainly come unstuck – but one of their former players is confident cricket’s northernmost county can bounce back.

It is 25 years since Durham took their first tentative steps in the professional game.

Their squad included star names such as Dean Jones, Ian Botham and Wayne Larkins. It also embraced less established players, including leg-spinner Mark Briers who had earlier been on Worcestershire’s books.

Briers, who comes from Leicestershire, is encouraged by Botham’s appointment as chairman. He is aware how far Durham have come.

Briers said: “Anything Ian Botham is involved in is a massive lift for anybody in the game whether when he was a player or is commentating. It is a positive step for the club.

“Durham have had dark days before [three bottom spots in the old Championship in their first five years] and I am sure they will come through.

“I do not know the ins and outs of the county game but it does seem that Durham have been punished for what the ECB wanted them to do in getting a Test ground.

“They love their sport up there – and the area needs Division One cricket.”

Briers feels the route back will be tough.

He added: “It will not be easy [to get promotion in 2017 with the points deduction] and there are some good sides like Nottinghamshire in the division [Nottinghamshire beat Durham in the latter’s opening championship game]. Durham will be hoping for Academy players to come through.”

Looking back, Briers was enthused by his two years in the North East.

“They were exciting times. I fell in love with the North East. It is the best area I have lived in. They are tough, honest people with a wonderful warmth,” he said.

“It was incredibly tough at Durham. We had no fixed abode at the time. It was hard, but everybody wanted to welcome us in that 1992 season. I felt honoured to be part of that history.”