Durham on verge of 'golden age' - Will Smith

Will Smith, the Durham captain, believes his side have the belief to complete a hat-trick of Championship titles this season and are on the brink of a golden generation for the club. The county were streets ahead of the competition last year as they defended their 2008 crown with time to spare and they are now stepping up their preparations for this year's competition.

They key reason why Durham were so far ahead of the chasing pack was down to their potent bowling attack, spearhead by Steve Harmison but also including Graham Onions before his England call-up, Liam Plunkett, Mark Davies and Callum Thorp with a vital contribution from Ian Blackwell's left-arm spin.

"In some respects we are still a developing team and the next three or four years could be a golden era," Smith told Cricinfo. "The hat-trick is certainly achievable but we aren't going to be arrogant about it just because we've won it the last two years. We respect the amount of work we had to put in to achieve those success and we'll be doing the same things again."

Durham hoped to be boosted by having Onions available for the start of the campaign as he aims to prove his fitness after leaving the Bangladesh tour with a back problem, but this now appears unlikely, while Plunkett will be eager to prove himself again after a winter spent carrying drinks. It leaves them with a fearsome pace attack to take advantage of early-season conditions.

Although Smith would have been delighted to unleash Onions on some green pitches, he hopes his team-mate is soon back in the England set-up. "When he did play I don't think he did a great deal wrong and was unlucky not to play the last Test in South Africa and he has done himself proud this winter," he said. "The more we see him the better for us, of course, but for Graham's career I would love to see him playing for England as much as he can."

Then there is Harmison. Having indicated to the selectors that he wouldn't be available for next winter's Ashes he was overlooked for the recent tours of South Africa and Bangladesh after playing in the deciding Test against Australia, at The Oval, in August. However, during the last few months has come out and said he would relish a final crack at the Australians if the chance came along.

Andy Flower is unlikely to turn back to Harmison, but if he repeats his county form of last year he will be back in the headlines - especially if England struggle to bowl teams out during the summer. Regardless, though, of his international situation he remains a formidable prospect on the domestic scene and a player Smith has huge respect for.

"Every time I see him he's hungry for Durham and excited by what the team is doing. There are a crop of youngsters coming through and I think that will give him an extra spur to elongate his career, be it for Durham or England," Smith said. "He really wants to be part of further success. He's a phenomenal bowler and a genuine good guy as well. I know he has Simon Brown's Durham wicket-taking record in his sights and that will take him a few more years. If he breaks that we'll have had a good couple of years I'm sure."

Before Smith's attack is let loose in the Championship their pre-season takes an unusual twist next week when they play MCC, in Abu Dhabi, under floodlights and using pink balls as the trial continues into day/night first-class cricket.

Although conditions will be a far cry from those Durham will encounter in their opening game against Essex on April 15, Smith is pleased to be getting some competitive action in good weather. "Abu Dhabi will give us better preparation than we would have had with two weeks in England at this time of year," he said before the team flew out.

He is also keeping an opening mind about the use of pink balls and said the team hadn't got much further than looking at a box of balls before leaving for the desert. "I haven't had any experience of it, but we've seen them," he said. "I'm not sure if they've decided which make to use yet - they showed us Duke and Kookaburra - so we don't really know which one it will be. Once we get out there we'll practice with them and see how they behave under lights."

He also believes the four-day game at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium will give officials a better idea of the long-term prospects of using the balls in the longer format.

"I'm leaving myself open to the debate at the moment and see how this next week goes in Abu Dhabi then we'll know a hell of a lot more," he said. "I'm sure that's what the MCC are hoping will be the case. I don't know how soon they are hoping to implement it elsewhere if this trip is successful, but we can't really make an informed opinion until we see how it works. This game is an ideal chance for that and we'll have to adapt well to the conditions."