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DAVID BOON, persuaded to return for a third season as captain, will be in charge of a relatively young Durham staff - only John Morris, Nick Speak and Martin Speight will be over 30, following the departure of Mike Roseberry to Middlesex.

Of the remaining 17, 10 are Durham-born, so the transformation from a team of seasoned imports to one of home-grown talent is almost complete.

Morris and Speak need a good season if their contracts are to be renewed, and with Riverside pitches expected to be among the best, Durham's primary aim will be to put behind them the batting collapses which have impeded their progress.

Pace bowling will again be the strength, especially with Simon Brown ready to resume after the knee operation which prevented him from playing any championship cricket last season.

If Melvyn Betts has recovered from the groin injury which blighted his England A tour - which also saw Steve Harmison continue his impressive progress - Durham's seam attack will be the envy of many. They also have Neil Killeen and John Wood, last season's player of the year.

Top of the bowling averages was Mike Foster, who has been playing in South Africa during the winter to prove his fitness after last season's back problems.

Once Foster was ruled out in the middle of last season, Durham played an extra batsman, giving the home-grown Jimmy Daley a chance. After finishing second to Boon in the averages, he could put Morris under pressure this season.

In the final season of his six-year contract, Morris has been awarded a benefit and has handed over the vice-captaincy to Speak, who will miss the early games after a leg operation.

Morris has enlisted the support of Sir John Paul Getty, Alan Shearer and David Gower for his benefit, but he will need to concentrate on banking rather more runs than last season if his Durham days are to continue.

The top three places in the order will pose the biggest selection problem. Jon Lewis failed to repeat his first-season success, and the only true opener is England Under-19 captain Michael Gough.

Such is the dedication of the Hartlepool youngster that Durham will be tempted to pitch him in from the outset. He has captaincy ambitions and also wants to bowl his off-breaks more, and he will be pushed forward by Graham Gooch, who is back for a second season in his consultancy role.

Paul Collingwood, 22, another popular local player, would have been a certainty for the England A tour had he maintained last year's early-season form. His brilliant fielding and occasional medium pace have already helped to establish him as a key member of the side.

The five newcomers include batsman Muazam Ali, who has played for Essex seconds, and Ryan Robinson, the former Yorkshire Academy all-rounder. The remaining three are Durham-born: Nick Hatch is a 6ft 8in paceman, all-rounder Marc Symington generates a brisk medium pace, while former Bishop Auckland club professional Steve Chapman represents a gamble, being taken on at 27.

Also knocking on the door could be 17-year-old left-arm spinner Graeme Bridge, who accompanied Gough and Symington on the under-19 tour to New Zealand.

With three in the under-19s and two on the A tour, the future is looking brighter all the time for Durham. The big issue to be decided this season is that of Boon's successor.

Details & First-Class fixtures

Staff: *D C Boon, M Ali, M M Betts, S J E Brown, S Chapman, P D Collingwood, J A Daley, M J Foster, M A Gough, S J Harmison, N G Hatch, N Killeen, J J B Lewis, J E Morris, N C Phillips, A Pratt, R Robinson, N J Speak, M P Speight, M J Symington, J Wood.

New players: Muazam Ali (Lord's ground staff), Nick Hatch (Durham Academy), Ryan Robinson (ex Yorkshire Academy), Marc Symington (Durham Academy).

Released: J Boiling (retired), C C Campbell (released), D M Cox (released), S Hutton (released), S Lugsden (released, signed by Hampshire), M A Roseberry (Middlesex), M J Saggers (released), J P Searle (released), A Walker (retained on coaching staff).

Beneficiary: J E Morris. 1998 record Championship: 14th (13, lost 9, drawn 5). AXA Lge: 17th. B & H Cup: Qtr Finals. NatWest Trophy: 2nd rd.

First-Class fixtures April: Tues 13 Worcs (Riverside). Wed 28 Hants (Riverside). May: Fri 14 Kent (Stockton). Thur 27 Yorks (Headingley). June: Wed 2 Somerset (Riverside). Wed 9 Northants (Northampton). Wed 30 Surrey (Oval). July: Fri 9 Notts (Riverside). Thu 15 Derbyshire (Riverside). Wed 21 Gloucs (Cheltenham). Fri 30 Glamorgan (Cardiff). August: Wed 4 Sussex