Paul Coughlin

Paul Coughlin was Durham’s top wicket-taker in the 2024 Metro Bank One Day Cup before an elbow injury ruled him out for the remainder of the campaign.

Coughlin spearheaded Durham’s List A attack, taking 12 wickets in five matches, averaging less than 20.

The Hetton-born cricketer played a leading role, taking List A best figures of 3/32 against Worcestershire and claiming three wickets each against both Somerset and Hampshire before injury curtailed his 2024 campaign.

In Durham’s clash with Somerset, Coughlin became the second home bowler in the game to take wickets with successive deliveries.

Sean Dickson chopped the ball onto his stumps, and then Josh Thomas’s waft outside the off stump gave Coughlin his second. Two overs later, he took his third wicket when Lewis Goldsworthy pulled the seamer to Jonathan Bushnell at deep midwicket.

The 32-year-old claimed 10 wickets in four County Championship matches as he positively began the 2024 County Championship, grabbing seven wickets when he was recalled to face Worcestershire.

Coughlin took three wickets in the first innings before denying the hosts any realistic hopes of victory with figures of 4/45 in the final innings.

Coughlin bowled Gareth Roderick off the inside edge, and then Brett D’Oliveira clipped the next delivery straight to mid-wicket to complete a pair. Coughlin had his third when Rob Jones was caught at backward point for a 23-ball 39 and eventually had a fourth scalp when Waite was strangled down the leg side.

The seamer also contributed to Durham’s T20 campaign, taking five wickets in as many matches throughout the 2024 Blast. He took a pair of wickets against Lancashire and Derbyshire, helping to fire Durham to the quarter-final stage.