Remain sharp over and earn new deal
“Gareth Roderick got injured and it worked out for the best for all of us in that situation. It will be interesting to see what happens with Gareth when he comes back.
“I think the plan would be for us to play together in the first team, whether I’m a batsman or take the gloves I’m happy to play second fiddle to whatever he and the coaches want to do.”
Pegged as a white-ball specialist for much of his career, Mustard now must deliver in the County Championship over the next month as he prepares to test the open market for the first time this winter.
But the left-hander – who hit 71 on first-class debut for Gloucestershire last week – is approaching the next chapter in typically positive style.
“There’s five games left in the Championship and it’s a crucial period for me to show what I can still do,” added Mustard, who has not ruled out staying in Bristol.
“I’m really looking forward to a new challenge away from Durham. All the lads know what I’m capable of, but now it’s time for me to move on, give someone else the experience that I’ve put into the Durham set-up, and try to help out the youngsters while playing as much as I can.”
With Gordon Muchall retiring, Mark Stoneman set for Surrey and Scott Borthwick yet to make his mind up on his future, the Durham side that won the County Championship in 2013 and the One-Day Cup a year later could be pulled apart next season.
And Mustard said: “It’s the end of an era, but everyone has to start from scratch again at some point.
“You’ve got to get back to basics as you can’t keep relying on the older players in the squad – but there is a lot of uncertainty at Durham at the moment.
“I’m disappointed with how it ended, there’s been some great servants over the years.
“It’s a new chapter for Mark Stoneman, he’ll do well down at Surrey – but I’ve lost contact with a lot of them already.”