Durham bring in Raymond Toole to bolster seam attack

The New Zealander has taken 84 wickets at 25.78 in 25 first-class appearances and finished second in the wicket-taking charts during the 2022/23 Plunket Shield

Durham have bolstered their depleted seam bowling lineup with the addition of New Zealand quick Raymond Toole on a short-term contract.

Toole, who has 84 wickets at 25.78 in 25 first-class appearances, was straight into Durham's XI to face Leicestershire in their County Championship Division Two clash, which began on June 25.

Durham's bowling department was looking light prior to Toole's arrival, with Paul Coughlin, Brydon Carse and Ollie Gibson all injured and Mathew Potts on England duty.

Toole joins Durham in prolific form after taking 31 wickets at an average of 22.96 for Central Districts in the 2022/23 Plunket Shield - only Otago's Jacob Duffy (32) took more than him in the competition.

More recently he has been plying his trade for Shotley Bridge CC in the North East Premier League, taking 20 wickets.

^{Raymond Toole in action for Central Districts [Joe Allison/Getty Images]}

^{Matt Parkinson has joined Durham on loan until the end of July [Gareth Copley/Getty Images]}

His arrival marks the end of Ajaz Patel's time at Durham. The New Zealand spinner picked up 10 wickets in three matches, all of which came against Gloucestershire.

Lancashire's Matt Parkinson will take over the spin bowling responsiblities after joining on Durham on loan until the end of July.

Marcus North, Durham's director of cricket, said: "As Ajaz has moved on, we have acted quickly with the return of Matt Parkinson on loan from Lancashire until at least the end of July.

"During Matt's loan spell with us earlier in the season he fit into the group very well and are pleased to see he is returning to the club on a short-term basis.

"With Paul Coughlin, Brydon Carse, Ollie Gibson injured and Matthew Potts on England duty with the Ashes we felt the need to bring another quick bowler in to the club and with that we have signed Raymond Toole on a short-term deal.  

"Raymond has been training with the club over the last few weeks."

Durham currently sit top of the Division Two table, 32 points clear of second-placed Sussex.

Related Topics

• Durham confirm signing of Colin Ackermann on three-year contract from 2024
• Matt Parkinson joins Durham on red-ball loan until end of July