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When the Lord's marketing suits and England apologists got their way with a two-tier championship for 2000, the cast list for Division One was no doubt intended to feature the six 'Test venue' counties plus three of the more fashionable and well-heeled outfits to make up the numbers.

Well think on. While there is a distinct possibility that Lancashire and Nottinghamshire might miss the cut, perhaps Middlesex too, those perennial strugglers from Durham are showing every sign of hijacking this process and exchanging squatters' rights in the championship basement for a place in next summer's top flight.

After seven seasons of being patronised as 'poor little Durham', they have won three consecutive championship games for the first time since claiming first-class status and with four victories out of five, may well need only a couple more to finish in the top nine. What is more, they have got one or two games in hand on their rivals.

The hangdog look of embarrassment they wore only a couple of weeks ago when they lay bottom of the table and had just been knocked out of the NatWest Trophy by Holland had been replaced by a beam of confidence and satisfaction by the time they romped to an innings victory over Gloucestershire inside three days.

``Yes, good times,'' confirmed batsman John Morris as Durham's upsurge adds pulling power to his testimonial events. ``And all the more enjoyable because so many people were queueing up to have a pop at us only a bit back.''

Following the 'day of shame' against Holland, individuals came in for withering criticism, notably from the former captain, Mike Roseberry.

It was just after the Dutch treated them to that humiliation that captain David Boon tried a new tack and asked fellow Australian Shaun McRay, formerly coach to St Helens rugby league team and now with Gateshead Thunder, to talk to Durham about what makes a winning team.

``He was absolutely brilliant,'' said Morris. ``It was a real eye-opener and I'm sure it's no coincidence that we've had a 100 per cent record since then with our first National League win of the season to go with three straight victories in the championship.

``The mental attitude of the team has been a lot tougher and more intense and we've started to look a very useful side. The big difference in the last few matches is that the batters have started doing the business as well and building partnerships to give the bowlers something to work with.''