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Diva misses match on his return

Michael Di Venuto made no secret of his disappointment at not being offered the chance to come back for a seventh term with Derbyshire this season.

But there was a feeling, as the 33-year-old Australian batsman left the County Ground last September, that a change might work out for the better.

So it has proved. Having topped the averages with 53.38 for Tasmania to help them win the Pura Cup for the first time last season Down Under, he has brought that outstanding form to his new county, Durham.

Beginning with centuries in both innings of your first match is a sure way to win over a new crowd and Di Venuto has cemented the relationship by riding high in the national averages with 822 first-class runs so far at 74.72.

Durham are in a good position to challenge for a first County Championship and they are through to a first major final, preparing to take on Hampshire in the Friends Provident Trophy final at Lord's in August.

And to cap it all, he has a second child on the way in September. Life could hardly be sweeter.

"It's been perfect for my cricket to move to a new environment and face different challenges," said Di Venuto, who was back at the County Ground for the first time this week for the ill-fated Twenty20 Cup game.

"I would have loved to come back here and try to get Derbyshire to Division One but it wasn't to be.

"The club made a decision to go elsewhere and that's fine by me. No-one's got a right to play where they want.

"It's worked out perfectly for me and we're loving our time in the north east. I miss the people that I've played with down here but the cricket side of things is excellent in Durham.

"We're through to a Lord's final, so we're creating history already. To win a trophy would be amazing for a club like Durham and we're right in amongst it in the Championship as well.

"It was a bit weird being back here but it's nice. You still see the same warm, friendly faces around and it's always good to catch up with your mates who you played a lot of cricket with.

"It's just unfortunate we didn't get a game."

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