NEW England test captain Ben Stokes looks set to make his first appearance of the County Championship season this week when Durham face Worcestershire at New Road. 

Having signed a new three-year contract at the club in the winter, Stokes has been out injured with a knee injury picked up during the tour of the West Indies earlier this year.

Stokes bowled 99 overs across England’s three Tests in the Caribbean – more than anyone expected given he was coming back from a side strain he had sustained in the Ashes.

But a scan on his knee came back all clear and no the all-rounder looks set to play some part this week against The Pears. 

Worcestershire welcome Durham in what is their fourth game of the 2022 campaign.
The Pears suffered defeat at Trent Bridge last week as Nottinghamshire won by five wickets, which left Worcestershire sitting in sixth in the Division Two table. 

They have one won, drawn one and lost one but do come up against a Durham side who are yet to register a victory this season. 

The visitors on Thursday will be targeting promotion, having spent five years outside the top flight, but their challenge has got off to a mixed start in this campaign.

Prior to Nottinghamshire, their batting had been solid in two draws against Glamorgan and Leicestershire, but another tough deck at Trent Bridge saw them falter to an innings defeat.

A promising start hasn’t quite equated to points on the board, and with a draw in the previous match against Sussex they sit in third place in the table.