Disgraced Australian batsman Cameron Bancroft is "the best available option" to captain Durham, the club's chief executive Tim Bostock said on Sunday.
Bancroft returned to action last December after a nine-month suspension for his role in the ball-tampering scandal in South Africa which led to year-long bans for then Australia captain Steve Smith and his deputy David Warner. It also resulted in the resignation of Australia coach Darren Lehmann.
The 26-year-old opener will lead Durham in this season's County Championship and One-Day Cup after becoming the club's overseas signing for 2019.
Bostock also revealed Alex Lees and Ben Raine each turned down the captaincy following the retirement of Paul Collingwood.
"He's the best available option. Paul Collingwood retired last year at the age of 42, he split the role with Tom Latham from New Zealand and it left a little bit of a leadership void," Bostock told the BBC.
"We certainly considered two of our existing Durham players for the role but they didn't want to do it, they wanted to focus on their own performance, we looked at Alex Lees and Ben Raine.
"Cameron, most importantly, wants to do it. He doesn't (have a lot of experience) but neither had Joe Root when he became England captain, and I don't think Michael Atherton did either.
"I think he'll be a breath of fresh air, he'll bring a different perspective to leadership."
Bancroft was caught on camera attempting to manipulate the ball with sandpaper last March.
Bostock, who is well aware of the furore created by the incident having lived in Australia at the time, believes the player continues to feel remorse.
"I witnessed the absolute outrage in Australia and the backlash and what they put the three players through - media and also the Australian public - and it was fierce," added Bostock.
"I think there was a cultural issue that was endemic within that particular set-up at that time and, unfortunately, Bancroft should have known better.
"I'm pretty sure there's not a day goes by where he doesn't think: 'Why the hell did I do it?'
"But you can also recover from mistakes and I think he's a stronger person and a better person as a result."
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How to improve Arabic reading in early years
One 45-minute class per week in Standard Arabic is not sufficient
The goal should be for grade 1 and 2 students to become fluent readers
Subjects like technology, social studies, science can be taught in later grades
Grade 1 curricula should include oral instruction in Standard Arabic
First graders must regularly practice individual letters and combinations
Time should be slotted in class to read longer passages in early grades
Improve the appearance of textbooks
Revision of curriculum should be undertaken as per research findings
Conjugations of most common verb forms should be taught
Systematic learning of Standard Arabic grammar
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
Conflict, drought, famine
Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.
Band Aid
Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.
More on animal trafficking
Champions League Last 16
Red Bull Salzburg (AUT) v Bayern Munich (GER)
Sporting Lisbon (POR) v Manchester City (ENG)
Benfica (POR) v Ajax (NED)
Chelsea (ENG) v Lille (FRA)
Atletico Madrid (ESP) v Manchester United (ENG)
Villarreal (ESP) v Juventus (ITA)
Inter Milan (ITA) v Liverpool (ENG)
Paris Saint-Germain v Real Madrid (ESP)
Company Profile
Name: JustClean
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Why seagrass matters
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Tips to stay safe during hot weather
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- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
Review: Tomb Raider
Dir: Roar Uthaug
Starring: Alicia Vikander, Dominic West, Daniel Wu, Walter Goggins
two stars
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