Aiden Markram says Durham’s squad “looks like they really mean business” ahead of the season opener on Friday.
The opener arrived late last week and his been quick to gel with his new teammates, joining in with training over the course of this week as he gets used to conditions at Emirates Riverside.
Markram arrives on the back of previous success in England. His last visit to the country, with South Africa A, earned him his first Test call up.
The South African says he is refreshed after a busy summer at international level and is ready to help his new side.
“It was a very busy summer for us,” said Durham’s newest import. “I had a good week off back at home and I feel a lot more fresh going into these next four games.
“I’m really excited for it and I think that gets you up and going for anything. I’m feeling fresh and hopefully I can try and do well.
“I’m here firstly to help Durham do well. That’s my main focus to try help the team do well.
“I love coming to England. I don’t always love the cold weather and the rain and stuff like that but I enjoy the people in the UK and the challenges you face here.
“I really enjoy the guys here at Durham. The setup is brilliant and there are a great bunch of guys.
“It really looks like they really mean business this season and I’m looking forward to going into battle with them this first month.”
With the first round of fixtures throwing up so many low scoring games, the opener is under no illusions of the challenge that lies ahead.
“It’s a tough place to open the batting, I suppose a tough place to bat anywhere in the order.
“It’s not something that’s really daunting. If you prepare well and expose yourself to it as much as you can you’re bound to get it right at some stage or another.
“For my own performance on the field, it’s to get the side off to good starts, to take the sting out of the various attacks we will face, and to set it up so we can put enough runs on the board to win games.”