DURHAM'S final NatWest T20 Blast game was washed out at Northampton last night, denying Adam Hickey and Barry McCarthy their first team debuts.

The abandonment was irrelevant to Durham, who had no chance of progress, but it secured Northants' place in the quarter-finals of the competition they won two years ago.

Fine weather is expected at the same Wantage Road venue today for the opening game in Durham's defence of the Royal London Cup.

Hickey and McCarthy have not been retained in the squad and a late decision will be taken on whether to play Graham Onions.

The former England seamer featured in the early games last year, but broke down after three balls in the penultimate group match against Nottinghamshire.

It was his second injury of the season and he didn't appear again, but while he has been troubled only by the odd niggle this year he has been unable to regain his form.

He was wicketless in this week's championship match against Hampshire and will play today only if the pitch looks like favouring the seamers after yesterday's rain.

Durham are keen to include all-rounder Usman Arshad, especially as firepower down the order is becoming increasingly important.

Northants have two big-hitting all-rounders in David Willey and Steven Crook, although Crook is one of the bowlers Durham will look to get after.

Willey, Rory Kleinveldt and Azharullah form a useful seam attack, but the lack of support is something Durham will need to exploit.

Durham (from): M D Stoneman (capt), P Mustard, G Clark, P D Collingwood, G J Muchall, S G Borthwick, K K Jennings, R D Pringle, J W Hastings, U Arshad, C Rushworth, M J Richardson, G Onions