Durham have moved quickly to fill the gap left by Kemar Roach, bringing South Africa’s Duanne Olivier straight into their County Championship squad for the rest of the summer.
Roach, 35, pulled his right hamstring on the opening day against Middlesex last Friday. Scans confirmed enough damage for Durham to end his deal a few weeks ahead of schedule, so the plan to switch overseas bowlers halfway through the season has been ripped up.
In comes Olivier, 33, a right-arm quick who knows the English circuit well from spells at Derbyshire and Yorkshire between 2018 and 2021. Those stints produced 106 Championship wickets at a tick over 25, figures that sit neatly alongside 59 Test wickets for South Africa at 24.27. His headline moment remains that 6 for 37 – 11 for 96 in the match – against Pakistan back in 2018.
“I’m thrilled to be joining Durham Cricket and starting this new chapter,” Olivier said. “I’ve always enjoyed playing in England, and the challenge of county cricket is something I’ve long appreciated. I’ve been following the first few weeks of the County Championship and I’m excited to join the guys, contribute, and get stuck in.”
Marcus North, Durham’s director of cricket, echoed the enthusiasm: “We are extremely pleased to welcome Duanne to Durham for the remainder of the County Championship season. He knows the County Championship having represented Yorkshire and Derbyshire, and he joins us off the back of a strong domestic season in South Africa.”
Olivier’s form at home has been steady rather than spectacular – 38 wickets in ten four-day games for Eastern Province since 2024 – yet Durham value the miles in his legs and his knack for hitting the splice on slowish early-season pitches. The move also nudges him towards the 600-first-class-wicket mark, a milestone he admits he keeps half an eye on.
Roach heads home frustrated but hardly finished. The West Indian seamer had only just swapped his long-standing Surrey contract for a fresh challenge in the North-East and managed two matches before the injury struck. A full rehabilitation should have him back for the Caribbean Premier League.
Durham’s next outing is at New Road on Friday, where Olivier is expected to slot straight in. Early May can be kind to fast bowlers; the county will hope his familiar, bustling run-up delivers immediate returns.
