Chris Rushworth and Brydon Carse among seven Durham contract extensions

Scott Steel and Nathan Rimmington are among four players who will leave Durham at the end of the season

Seamers Chris Rushworth and Brydon Carse lead a group of seven Durham players in signing new contracts with the county.

Batsmen Alex Lees, Gareth Harte and David Bedingham have also agreed new deals, along with Matthew Potts and Matt Salisbury. Michael Jones, Jack Campbell and Oli Gibson have also signed rookie contracts.

The raft of extensions follows the news earlier in the week that Scott Borthwick is to re-join the county, having left for Surrey at the end of 2016.

However, Scott Steel is among four players who will leave Durham at the end of the season. Steel, who enjoyed a terrific breakthrough year in 2019 during the T20 Blast, departs after rejecting a contract extension.

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“It is extremely disappointing that Scott Steel has decided to move on from Durham,” said Marcus North, the club’s director of cricket.

“Following our offer to extend Scott’s contract at Durham, we could not offer the guarantees he was ultimately looking for and this has resulted in him accepting a three-year contract with another county. We wish Scott all the best for his future career.”

T20 captain Nathan Rimmington is also among those to leave at the expiry of his contract. He has featured in all three formats for the county during a three-year spell. Josh Coughlin and Sol Bell will also depart.

North added: “We would also like to wish Nathan Rimmington, Josh Coughlin, Sol Bell, Ben Whitehead and James Weighell the very best for their future careers and thank them for their commitment to Durham Cricket over the years.”

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