John Windows , the long-standing director of Durham Men's Academy, is stepping down from his role for health reasons, after a 27-year stint in which he has helped to develop the careers of a range of the club's greatest players, including Ben Stokes , Mark Wood and Liam Plunkett.

Windows, 49, started out as a batter in Durham's second XI, but with the club still relatively new to the first-class scene, the focus on developing home-grown players became a means to fast-track the team's long-term viability. He became an academy coach in 1999, under the leadership of Geoff Cook, and progressed to the role of Academy Director in 2007.

On his watch, the academy became one of the most prolific pathways for young talent in the country. Steve Harmison, Paul Collingwood and Graham Onions wer

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