Michael Di Venuto scored 121 in a 180 run opening stand with Kyle Coetza (172) for Durham, against the M.C.C. XI to open his County season in fine style.

Somerset has signed Victorian all-rounder Damien Wright to replace Murali Kartik for the first month of the season while Kartick is involved with the Indian Premier League.

Wright has had previous county experience with Northamptonshire and Glamorgan.

He's played state cricket in Australia for Tasmania and Victoria, where he's had good success this last season.

In total Wright has had 103 first-class outings, collecting 335 wickets at an average of 28.72 and also taken 122 one-day wickets at 29.51 runs. He also has a useful first-class record with the bat, making 3,264 runs at an average of 24.35.

Former WA player, Callum Thorp hit a valuable 79* (76 balls) for Durham after getting a duck in the first innings.

He also took 3/25 but didn't get a bowl in MCC's second dig.

I see Phil Jaques is playing for Worcestershire. In that squad is also one Shakib Al Hasan.

Other Aussies in CC squads.

Chris Rogers: Derby (captain).

Stuart Clark: Kent.

Jim Allenby: Glamorgan.

Murray Goodwin: Sussex.

Ryan Harris: Yorkshire.

Dave Hussey, Darren Pattinson: Notts

Brad Hodge (T20): Leicestershire

Adam Gilchrist (T20): Middlesex

Dave Warner (T20): Durham.

Dirk Nannes (T20): Notts.

Makes a pretty good XI.

Divva
Rogers
Hodge
Hussey
Goodwin
Allenby
Gilly
Harris
Pattinson
Wright
Clark

12th man Thorpe

Two short for the first class XI so seconded Gilly and Hodge.

I think Cam White will also play T20 for Somerset. Taunton should suit him.

Dave Warner will now join Gilly at Middlesex for the T20 Cup.

Symmo has been snapped up by Surrey for the same tournament.

Chris Rogers started with 178* for Derby.

Out for 200.

Rogers is 99* (126 balls) in Derby's second innings.

Brought up his ton from the first ball he faced, today.

Now has 43 first class centuries.

140* when Derby declared.

Goes into round 2 with a 340 average and aggregate.

His overall first class averages moved from 52.14 to 53.25

Rogers' average dropped to 171.5 after scoring 3 against Leicester.

Murray Goodwin scored 74 against Surrey.

Divva followed his last match 99 with 71 against Hampshire.

Rogers, after 3 matches: 422 runs @ 105.5

Another century (141).

This season: 7 innings for 563 runs @ 112.60

Divva 53* as Durham chases Yorkshire 6/610 dec.

Phil Jaques 92 in Worcester's 559.

Rogers scored 50 in Derby's 6/138.

Divva hit 67 in Durham's 6/347. 428 runs @ 61.14 for the season.

David Hussey, the Australia and Victoria batsman, will lead Nottinghamshire in the Friends Provident Twenty20 competition this English domestic season. Hussey is the club's second overseas player, joining his Australia Twenty20 team-mate, left-arm fast bowler Dirk Nannes.

Hussey will only lead the club during the Twenty20 tournament, while Chris Read will resume his duties as captain in the 40-over one-day competition and the County Championship.

"Captaining in Twenty20 cricket can be very intense and I feel that it's best for me and the team if I take a break and draw on David Hussey's experience," Read said. "David has an excellent record in this format and he'll have his own ideas on how the team should approach matches that I'm sure we'll all learn from.

"He'll have my full support and the support of every player in the dressing room."

http://www.cricinfo.com/nottinghamshire ... 60480.html

Clint McKay, the Australia and Victoria fast bowler, has been signed up by Yorkshire for this season's Twenty20 competition in England. He is Yorkshire's second overseas signing for the tournament, after Herschelle Gibbs.

"I am really excited about coming to Yorkshire and playing in a young side that has enjoyed such a positive start to the season," McKay said. "I've heard a lot about the setup at Headingley Carnegie and I'm really looking forward to experiencing the atmosphere of Twenty20 cricket in the UK. I cannot wait to get started."

McKay was part of Victoria's Sheffield Shield winning team last season, taking 33 wickets at 21.42. He's played ten ODIs for Australia, taking 22 wickets at an impressive average of 18.31 and has also represented them in a Test, against West Indies in Perth last year.

http://www.cricinfo.com/yorkshire/conte ... 60471.html

Andy McDonald is 86* in Leicester's 8/263.

Rogers is 49* in Derby's 3/71.

Jaques scored 80 in Worcester's 6/302.

Another century for Rogers. 115 against Gloucester.

779 runs @ 77.9 for the season, so far.

Murray Goodwin is 109* out of 4/188.

Andy Mac scored 113.

Mark Cosgrove was 113* (111 balls) as Glamorgan won by 10 wickets against Leicester.

Andy Mac hit 176 n.o. in an unfinished 360 run partnership with Jimmy Taylor (206 n.o.) in Leicester's 3(dec)/464.

Cosgrove running into a bit of form. 86 against Surrey.