Plunkett out for six weeks

Plunkett and Harmison will have to wait to resume their partnership © Getty Images

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Durham have been hit by the news that fast bowler Liam Plunkett’s side strain will rule him out for around six weeks.

Plunkett is part of an potentially formidable pace bowling combination at Chester-le-Street, with Steve Harmison, Graham Onions, Neil Killeen and Mark Davies all vying for selection.

The 23-year-old also missed his county’s first LV County Championship game of the season at the Brit Oval with the problem.

"We've heard that Liam will be out for about six weeks and it's a bit disappointing for all of us at Durham," Onions told BBC Radio Newcastle.

"He's strong, he'll keep himself fit in the gym and he'll be ready when the season gets tough halfway through."

Plunkett took 1-32 from his ten overs in Durham’s first competitive game, a narrow Friends Provident Trophy win over Yorkshire, but he has since been laid low.

If the prognosis is correct, Plunkett would miss the championship Division One matches against Lancashire, Yorkshire, Sussex, Hampshire, along with seven Friends Provident Trophy matches.

Plunkett is keen to kick-start his England career, which faltered against West Indies last season.

He took only seven wickets at an average of 45 as England retained the Wisden Trophy.

Plunkett was also dropped from the one-day side despite taking five wickets at 19.40 in the subsequent NatWest series, which England lost 2-1.