Durham will be aiming for big improvements on last season when they were relegated from Division One of the County Championship and finished seventh in Division Two of the National League.

But any progress will have to be made without the services of last season's overseas player, Simon Katich. The Australian batsman hit almost 1,100 first-class runs last season - over 400 more than any of his colleagues - but announced he would not be returning, giving the impression he had bigger things on his mind. And sure enough he was selected for the Australian squad to tour England this summer.

While Australia's gain is Durham's loss, the county moved to replace Katich with fellow countryman Martin Love. If the 27-year-old, who batted at No 3 for Queensland and averaged 75.91 in helping to win the Pura Cup, can continue that sort of form, Durham will be more than happy.

Another blow for Durham during the winter was the departure of Melvyn Betts to Warwickshire. He took 44 wickets at 18.91 last summer and holds three of the county's best four bowling analyses. John Wood, who took 33 wickets, departed for Lancashire to leave the bowling cupboard rather bare. But Durham recruited the former Worcestershire seamer James Brinkley - who coincidentally went to the same school in Perth as Katich – and Essex all-rounder Danny Law as replacements.

The county have some promising youngsters in their midst and they have awarded full-time contracts to two of their four England Under-19 tourists, batsmen Nicky Peng and Gary Pratt, while all-rounder Ian Pattison has been given a development contract.

Peng, who hit 98 on his first-class debut for Durham last May, said: "I would just like to establish myself in the first team, get a good run going and a bit more consistency in my batting."

And he believes that relegation was not a disaster for Durham last season. "I think playing Second Division cricket could be good," he said.

"It could work in our favour, because there will be less pressure on everyone and we will have a good chance to find our feet.

"There will be no fear of relegation, and if we start to gel as a team there is no reason why we cannot have a good season.

"If we play to our potential we have a lot of good players, and I just want to try to make sure I am a regular part of it.

"I will be looking to try to get in the team right from the start. The important thing for me is to establish myself, put a good run together and get some decent scores on the board."

Off the field, there have been changes as well during the winter. Former Yorkshire and England opener Martyn Moxon was appointed coach and he has a new captain to work with, Jon Lewis, who took over from Nick Speak towards the end of last season.

Simon Brown, who with Jimmy Daley is the only survivor from Durham's first championship season ten years ago, has been awarded a benefit year.

Squad: G Bridge, J Brinkley, S Brown, P Collingwood, J Daley, M Gough, S Harmison, N Hatch, I Hunter, N Killeen, D Law, J Lewis (captain), M Love, N Peng, N Phillips, A Pratt, G Pratt, N Speak, M Speight, M Symington.

Overseas: Martin Love (Australia).

In: D Law (Essex), Love.

Out: S Ali, M Betts (Warwickshire), R Robinson, J Wood (Lancs), S Katich.

© CricInfo Ltd.