England pair free for Durham’s opener
Durham have been given the green light to field Keaton Jennings and Mark Wood in the seasonopening Specsavers County Championship match on April 14-17.
England coach Trevor Bayliss has allowed his internationals to feature in the first game of the campaign, with Durham entertaining Nottinghamshire in their first Division Two match at the Emirates Riverside.
Notts finished last season in bottom spot in Division One and were relegated, with Durham – who finished fourth in the table – demoted following their ECB bail-out.
Paceman Wood, who signed a new Durham contract last year, is on a central contract with England, while opening batsman Jennings made his breakthrough at Test level in style before Christmas.
He has since captained England Lions on tour in Sri Lanka and the North side in the recent North v South three-day series.
Durham Jets exited the Emirates Airline T20 Trophy in Dubai with a second group defeat yesterday.
In a game reduced to 10 overs a side because of rain, Durham posted 89-5.
Jack Burnham led the way with three fours and two sixes in a 20-ball 34 against MCC, supported by Ryan Pringle (12), Stuart Poynter (11 not out) and Paul Collingwood (10). Ryan Higgins took 2-20.
.In reply, Ben Duckett’s 21-ball knock of 34 led the way as MCC clinched a six-wicket victory with eight balls to spare. Ben Cox added a matchwinning, unbeaten 29.
Gavin Main (2-14), Pringle (1-16) and James Weighell (118) took the wickets to fall.
MCC won Group B by beating Peshawar Zalmi in another rain-hit game, before the final against Group A winners Lancashire Lightning was abandoned as a draw with the county 33-1 after seven overs.