THIS week brings the visit of Durham, not the County but the University, in its new guise as one of the six University Cricket Centres of Excellence.

Twenty years ago the unknown names from Durham would have included Lord and Curtis. This year, James Foster has already made a name for himself as keeper on the A tour to the West Indies and no doubt more will go on to join the sizeable cohort of Durham students, led by Nasser Hussain, playing county cricket.

Phil Weston, currently enjoying his best run of form for some time, turned down a place at Oxford for an Under 19 England tour and a career in cricket.

Anurag Singh, on the other hand, completed a first class law degree at Cambridge before pursuing his cricket.

What is it about university students that they end up as opening batsmen? Brearley, Atherton and Montgomerie spring to mind.

Are they intelligent but gullible, or is it that there is too much to think about if they were to have to wait to bat? And why aren't they bowlers?

The initiative which has led to the UCCE's represents a typically British broad-minded approach; a response to the failing standards of Oxford and Cambridge cricket as well as an attempt to keep the traditional university route into cricket open. I am deeply grateful for what I gained from combining sport with my education.

I'm not convinced, however, that it made me a better cricketer.

I hope that the UCCE's can offer excellence of coaching and facilities, approaching that of the Australian academy, and that the players/students have the time to take advantage.

Looking at the technical excellence of some of the Australians like Ponting and Martyn we cannot afford to compromise if we are to achieve their standards.

Steve James is another university man turned opening batsman who will be leading Glamorgan when Worcestershire travel to Cardiff on Sunday.

The previous visit brought a high point in the Benson and Hedges Cup campaign with Andy Bichel's hundred leading a successful run chase.

Monday's inactivity whilst B&H Cup semi-finals take place will be a salutary reminder of how easily things can go wrong.

Worcestershire's one-day form is improving, though, as more batsmen join David Leatherdale in finding consistent runs.

In Cardiff, they will have to contend with Croft and Cosker on a pitch which tends to favour the spinners.

Worcestershire should be able to match them, though. Matt Rawnsley is growing in confidence as he continues to chip in with wickets and runs, while Graeme Hick and Vikram Solanki are talented if under employed off spinners.

Let's hope that last wicket and lower order partnerships of the type with which Warwickshire thwarted us in both B&H and Championship games are not going to become recurring features of the season as of old.

Certainly, we cannot rely on Worcestershire doing the same, despite all Steve Rhodes' promptings.