Surgery a success for Durham quartet

Ian Blackwell thrived on his spin responsibility in 2009, taking 47 first-class wickets with his left-armers

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Four members of Durham’s LV= County Championship-winning squad have undergone surgery in the immediate close-season.

Veteran seamer Neil Killeen and all-rounder Will Gidman have had ankle surgery, the latter undergoing a similar operation to that of Mark Davies earlier in the season.

Gidman required a small piece of bone in the ankle, which was causing aggravation, to be removed.

Former captain Dale Benkenstein and all-rounder Ian Blackwell underwent shoulder surgery this month.

Blackwell said: “The tear is stitched up and sorted so the next step is to strengthen it again. But it’ll certainly take three months to get to throwing over any sort of distance, so it’ll be quite hard work over the winter months.”

Durham physiotherapist Nigel Kent said: “Neil Killeen and Will Gidman are progressing nicely and both Dale Benkenstein and Ian Blackwell’s shoulder surgery went well.

“We planned this surgery to coincide with the early part of the close-season so that we could ensure they are fit for the start of the 2010 season.”