After winning the County Championship for the first time last summer, Durham have a new man in charge for 2009 as Will Smith succeeds Dale Benkenstein as captain
After starting the campaign with three draws, Durham thump Hampshire by an innings and 110 runs as pace bowler Graham Onions produces match figures of 9-80, form which leads to an England Test call
Having Steve Harmison available for much of the season a huge boost for Durham and he takes nine wickets as Lancashire are beaten by 138 runs at the Riverside in June
The signing of all-rounder Ian Blackwell proves a shrewd move and his innings of 158 paves the way to a 10-wicket win over Warwickshire at Edgbaston
The winning run continues as Liam Plunkett takes 6-63 and 5-56 in a low-scoring game as Worcestershire are beaten by five wickets at the end of June
Dale Benkenstein (right) hits 105 as Notts are crushed by an innings and 102 runs at Trent Bridge - Durham bowling out the home side bowled out for just 83 in their second innings
Australian opener Michael Di Venuto makes an unbeaten 254 as Durham defeat Sussex by nine wickets at the Riverside to maintain their title push
A remarkable spell of 5-7 by Blackwell is a highlight in a home draw with Somerset at the start of September which consolidates Durham's position at the top of the table
Needing a draw to clinch the title, Scotland batsman Kyle Coetzer is one of four Durham centurions as they pile up a club record total of 648-5 declared in the first innings against second-placed Notts at the Riverside
Former England seamer Liam Plunkett captures three wickets to move his side closer to victory against Notts, here removing former England wicketkeeper Chris Read
West Indies star Shivnarine Chanderpaul helps his team out in the field with the run out of Bilal Shafayat
Fittingly it is local hero Steve Harmison, Durham's most celebrated academy product, who applies the coup de grace with the wicket of evergreen all-rounder Mark Ealham - and Durham are champions again
Skipper Will Smith holds aloft the County Championship trophy with Durham coach Geoff Cook, the former England batsman, after they wrapped up victory by an innings and 52 runs on Saturday
The impressive Durham squad celebrate their second successive County Championship triumph
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