I think that over 300 may be a daunting task tomorrow.
Maybe we can take slight comfort from the fact that Worcestershire have lost by an embarrassing 504 runs. It is starting to look like a question of who will go down with them.

Well we do have Latham to come and maybe a little bit of Bethell.

I agree that, although the match situation after two days is not all that great, we should take some comfort from the batting of Kai Smith and Michael Booth plus Taz Ali's bowling. It's the established players who've fallen short - combined bowling figures of 3-217 from Fernando, Bamber and Barnard plus, with the bat, Davies, Hain, Mousley and Barnard not making a fifty between them. That can all change in the second innings, of course. Plenty of cricket still to be played over the next two days.

....and news of the Durham squad:
https://www.durhamcricket.co.uk/news-and-media/14-in-contention-for-home-opener-against-warwickshire/

Just Simmons added to the eleven that played against Sussex. Lintott and Briggs not in the squad.

I think it's right that Hasan Ali isn't due until the end of May. But the good news is that he has been playing again in March for the first time in a year so presumably his elbow injury is healed. And he has been very successful - in four T20 matches for Sialkot, he has taken 13 wickets for just 135 runs.

Mr Sylvester (senior) may have had a bicycle.

By contrast, fantastic match at Lord’s.

Jack Carson could be the key bowler tomorrow and he says:
“It's quite a flat wicket but there is a little bit of rough offering some spin and bite. "

Meanwhile, at Taunton, there was a triple century for the Bear that got away.

Here's my day two report:
https://deepextracover.com/2025/04/rothesay-count-championship-division-one/

He is not available until 29 May and then only if he has recovered from his elbow injury.

Not sure about Fernando. Keith Barker he ain’t. But Bamber looks good.

Here's my match preview:
https://deepextracover.com/2025/04/rothesay-cc-match-preview-warwickshire-v-sussex/

Hamza Shaikh is another to agree a contract extension:
https://edgbaston.com/news/hamza-shaikh-signs-warwickshire-contract-extension/

According to George Dobell in The Cricketer, Dan Mousley and OH-D both needed scans on hand injuries but will be fit for Friday's game. Chris Woakes has an ankle injury and won't be fit until the Yorkshire game (earliest), which is when Latham may also arrive.
Hamza Shaikh will bat at three and Kai Smith will keep wicket and bat at seven.
Fernando will be available to join the bowling attack and Ethan Bamber will also make his Bears debut.
Jacob Bethell is tied up with the IPL so is not available.
Chris Rushworth has a calf problem and is unlikely to be fit for a while.
The only question seems to be whether Danny Briggs will play as a spinner or, if not, who will be added to the pace attack - maybe Michael Booth.
So it looks like:
Davies and Yates to open (sorry, Highveld), Shaikh, Hain, Mousley, Barnard, K. Smith, Briggs or Booth, Fernando, Bamber and OH-D.

Liam Norwell episode here:
https://www.reportsfromarbroath.com/podcasts/liam-norwell

More information here:
https://www.expressandstar.com/sport/cricket/2025/03/27/bears-suffer-blow-after-overseas-star-struck-down-by-injury/
So as well as Latham, Chris Rushworth is injured and OH-D can play but has a broken finger. And the season hasn't even started yet.

Yes some bad choices but also some bad luck.

Brian Halford has just launched his new podcast with an episode featuring OH-D:
https://www.reportsfromarbroath.com/podcasts/olly-hannon-dalby-its-a-strange-life-but-i-love-it