By Simon Mann Test Match Special commentator

Durham's success off the field is not being matched on it.

The club will host its first-ever Test match in early June by which time the team will probably be involved in another season of struggle.

Paul Collingwood will be unavailable during this summer's two one-day series

They are getting used to it.

Relegated from the First Division in 2000, Durham finished eighth in Division Two in 2001 and bottom last season.

It was a wretched summer. They won only one championship match, finishing 45.75 points adrift at the foot of the table, and were also relegated from Division One of the Norwich Union League.

It is some consolation though that Durham's emphasis on nurturing home grown talent is paying off.

Since last year, Steve Harmison has made a promising introduction to Test cricket, Paul Collingwood has become an integral part of England's one-day team and Gordon Muchall was chosen for the England Academy.

Durham are clearly taking a long-term view and it should be applauded.

Coaches normally pay the price for failure but Martyn Moxon, in charge of for the last two seaons, has had his contract extended until 2006 after Yorkshire tried to take him back to Headingley.

Some concessions have been made with 37 year-old Vince Wells signed on a two year contract after his sacking by Leicestershire.

It is a stop-gap measure but understandable.

Durham's problem last year was their star players were not available often enough. Harmison played nine championship matches, Martyn Love played six and Collingwood only five.

A similiar problem could arise this time round.

Harmison, if he stays fit, is sure to be required by England and Collingwood will be unavailable during this summer's two one-day series - and might make his Test debut.

DURHAM 2003 Coach: Martyn Moxon Captain: Jon Lewis Overseas - Martin Love, Dewald Pretorius (Javagal Srinath as cover) Main players in - Vince Wells Main players out: Simon Brown

Love will miss the first three championship matches because of Australia's tour of the West Indies and could also be required for a two-match series against Bangladesh.

Javagal Srinath will add his experience while Love is away.

Dewald Pretorius, a 25-year-old pace-bowler from South Africa is Durham's other overseas player. He will also miss the start of the county season because of the South African A side's tour of Australia.

His signing is a gamble but he does have a good strike rate in South Africa's domestic competition and has played club cricket in the north-east.

Pretorius' arrival will take some of the pressure off Mark Davies and Neil Killeen, last season's leading wicket-taker in both forms of the game, but the attack still looks lightweight in the probable absence of Harmison.

Jon Lewis' two seasons as captain have coincided with two disappointing summers with the bat and a heavy burden has been placed on the younger players.

Durham's youth policy is laudable and to be encouraged but it is unlikely to translate into tangible benefits in 2003.