THE first-class season opens today when Durham begin life under David Boon in the three-day match against Oxford University in The Parks and the former Australian Test batsman takes over with three bowlers already on the casualty list.

John Wood (ankle) and Steve Lugsden (hamstring), plus the all-rounder Michael Foster (back) are ruled out and Boon's predecessor, Mike Roseberry, is also missing with an in-growing toe nail.

Jon Lewis is likely to be given a chance at the top of the order and the other newcomers, Nick Speak and Martin Speight, also play.

Allan Donald, the 30-year-old South African fast bowler, is prepared to commit himself to Warwickshire into the next century.

Although the United Cricket Board of South Africa want Donald to stop playing county cricket so he can prolong his Test career, the fast bowler said he would like to see out his playing days with his adopted county.

In Islamabad, Test player Aamir Sohail yesterday reiterated his match-fixing allegations against some top cricketers in a statement to the Pakistan Cricket Board.

Sohail, suspended from cricket for a month in March, submitted a written statement to the PCB disciplinary committee in support of his allegations. Details have not been disclosed and the committee will settle the issue today.

TODAY'S CRICKET

(1st day of 3, 11.30) Fenner's: Cambridge Univ v Derbys. The Parks: Oxford Univ v Durham.