Their opponents at Riverside today are Gloucestershire, who Boon would have joined three years ago if he had not withdrawn injured, and it will be interesting to see if Durham can defeat one of the weaker sides.

Gloucestershire's visit to Riverside will remind Boon that fate probably dealt him a good hand in 1995, because he would have gone to Bristol for only one season pending Courtney Walsh's return.

His longer-term presence at Durham, potentially three years or more, is bringing its own reward. At 37, Boon has fitted well into his job as captain and mentor at Durham and he is enjoying life with wife Pip and three children in the city. As a Test player, he has begun building self-belief among his colleagues.

``I'm definitely not of the old school,'' he said. ``Cricket isn't a male domain. I believe the women and children should be included at every realistic opportunity such as club dinners and at the ground when they come and support.

``I see talent here that's capable of going on to play for England and if I can have some small part in assisting them that would be great.''

Essex would expect to bounce straight back from their wounding defeat at Worcester by beating Sussex at Chelmsford but they have lost their new-ball attack, Mark Ilott and Ashley Cowan, to injury.

Franklyn Rose makes his championship debut for Northamptonshire at Southampton, while Nottinghamshire expect to field Paul Strang, their Zimbabwe leg-spinner, at Taunton today, despite a broken finger.