Worcestershire made a cautious start after winning the toss and electing to bat first in their latest Frizzell County Championship Division Two clash with Durham, which started at Stockton today.

Openers Stephen Peters and Anurag Singh began against the Durham pace attack of Steve Harmison and Javagal Srinath, and could only manage a solitary leg-bye in the first three overs.

Peters and Singh finally opened their accounts in the fourth over and they pushed the total on to nine without loss after eight overs.

The County handed a Championship debut to their new South African all-rounder Andrew Hall, who received his baptism in the thrilling tied match against Zimbabwe at New Road. Graeme Hick and Steve Rhodes returned to the side after being rested against Zimbabwe.

Durham: JJB Lewis, MA Gough, GJ Pratt, VJ Wells, N Peng, GJ Muchall, DR Law, A Pratt, J Srinath, NC Phillips, SJ Harmison.

Worcestershire: SD Peters, A Singh, VS Solanki, BF Smith, GA Hick, AJ Hall, GJ Batty, SJ Rhodes, Kabir Ali, MS Mason, M Hayward.