Latest North East cricket & England Cricket Team news

Durham’s delight at signing Blackwell

DURHAM have signed one of county cricket’s biggest-hitting all-rounders as they look to build on last season’s Championship success. Read

HE appears to have one of the toughest jobs in county cricket, but Will Smith is thrilled to have been given the chance to succeed Durham’s most successful captain Dale Benkenstein, writes LUKE EDWARDS. Read

Durham drawn with Yorkshire

THE 50-over Friends Provident Trophy has abandoned its regional structure, but there will still be a familiar opponent for Durham after they were drawn with Yorkshire in Group C of the competition. Read

Park's expected to be only departure

GARRY Park’s departure is expected to be the only change to the Durham squad which defends the County Championship next season – and the issue of who will lead it could become clearer by the end of this week. Read

Steve puts critics on the back foot

Steve Harmison not only helped Durham win the County Championship this summer, but he rebuilt his international career in the process. In an exclusive interview, he talked to Chief sports writer Luke Edwards about the long road to salvation Read

Ashes scores can be settled next summer

STEVE Harmison has declared he has some scores to settle against Australia next summer following one of the most humiliating episodes of his career two years ago, writes LUKE EDWARDS. Read

Player of the Year Award for rising star

TWELVE months ago his entire professional career was in the balance, but Will Smith’s re-emergence was confirmed when he swept the board at Durham’s player of the year awards. Read

Benkenstein says Durham have the Will to succeed

DALE Benkenstein has just become the first Durham captain to win the County Championship but, in an exclusive interview with Chief sports writer Luke Edwards, he explains why it should be his final act as skipper. Read

Di Venuto celebrates title double

MICHAEL Di Venuto did not fulfil his potential as an international cricketer but he has no regrets about that following Durham’s County Championship title triumph. Read

TV glory can't shake South North's premier passion

SOUTH Northumberland last week tasted success on national television but captain John Graham sees winning the Cockspur Twenty20 Cup as perhaps the least important of his side’s achievements this year. Read

Time to celebrate a momentous victory

DURHAM cricket fans today have their first and possibly only chance to celebrate the club’s momentous County Championship victory with their heroes. Read

Dale to quit as skipper

GEOFF Cook has admitted Durham’s magnificent County Championship title success is likely to be Dale Benkenstein’s final act as captain as the South African is adamant he wants to step down next season. Read

Durham inch closer

DURHAM inched ever closer to their first County Championship title in Canterbury last night but captain Dale Benkenstein has warned they can still take nothing for granted. Read

Durham are not done yet – skipper

DURHAM captain Dale Benkenstein has warned Nottinghamshire and Somerset his side can still win the County Championship title for the first time in their history despite the drab draw with Sussex over the weekend. Read

Durham push for title hits setback

DURHAM experienced that horrible, sickening feeling you get when a precious vase slips through your fingers and heads towards the floor, where it is destined to shatter into tiny pieces. Read

Regional cricket preview

TEAMS in the Three Counties Northumberland League have the stage to themselves today as they end their league programme with a full set of fixtures. Read

Windies ace hits form at best time

SHIVNARINE Chanderpaul is the world’s best batsman and he finally showed why for the first time in county cricket yesterday, as a spectacular and unbeaten 130 maintained Durham’s interest in the County Championship title. Read

‘I’d love to lead Durham one day’

WILL Smith has admitted he would love to succeed Dale Benkenstein as Durham captain, but he has still urged the South African to continue to lead the side for at least another year. Read

Regional round-up

LAST week it was downpours and floods, this week it was the heavily-waterlogged grounds to blame as virtually all cricket in the region was wiped out to make 2008 the worst season ever for weather disruption. Read

Regional round-up

WELLSTREAM NTSL clubs head into their last weekend of the season with fears that last week’s torrential downpours and flooding will put many games under threat today. Read

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England in India 2008

Click here to read a special online magazine previewing England's Test and ODI series. Read

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