RYAN CAMPBELL has challenged his Durham players to lay down an immediate marker when they begin their County Championship campaign at Sussex tomorrow morning.

Durham start the 2023 season with a four-day County Championship game at Hove, with Campbell taking charge of his first match since being appointed as head coach in the summer.

The Australian replaces James Franklin, who left towards the end of last season as Durham failed to seriously challenge for promotion from Division Two.

Campbell wants that to change over the course of the next six months, and is hoping his players will produce an immediate statement of intent this week.

“This is now the really exciting part of the season,” said the Durham boss. “All the guys are up for it and ready to kick off the 2023 season. We have put the 2022 season behind us and even if you went in the changing room, you wouldn’t know from the way the guys are how the 2022 season went.

“Sussex have a very good coach in Paul Farbrace, who is renowned for being one of the best coaches in English cricket, so he will bring a different style to the way Sussex have been playing.

“Yes, they may not have won as many games in recent years as they would have liked to, but their squad on paper is very talented and we have to be aware of the dangers they bring.

“On that, I expect Sussex to be a tough opponent, but Durham need to bring their A game to the match and show the fans what we are going to be about this season.”

Campbell has named a 14-man squad to face Sussex, with three players in contention to make their first-class debuts for Durham.

Ollie Robinson, who moved to the North-East from Kent during the close season, will take the gloves for the first time in whites, while new overseas recruit Matt Kuhnemann has now arrived in England and will debut.

Ben McKinney is also named in the first-team squad for the first time having impressed for England Under-19s against Australia during the winter before scoring an unbeaten 120 against Durham UCCE at Seat Unique Riverside last week.

New Dutch signing Bas de Leede is currently rehabbing an ankle injury and has not travelled to Hove.

“We go into the game at Sussex wanting to win,” added Campbell. “If that means we have to declare early to force the win, then that is what we will be doing. I can’t wait to get going, and neither can the players.”