Durham's ground at Chester-le-Street is to become a Test match venue from 2003.The England and Wales Cricket Board have decided that the Riverside ground at Chester-le-Street should amongst those given Test in that year
Paul Collingwood,Bill Midgley,
Simon Brown and David Harker with the bubbly
Photo Ian Middlemass
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Durham's ground at Chester-le-Street is to become a Test match venue from 2003.
The England and Wales Cricket Board have decided that the Riverside ground at
Chester-le-Street should amongst those given Test in that year. It is possible that the north-east county could host its first Test as early as May 2003
against Zimbabwe.
ECB chief executive Tim Lamb said: "I am delighted for Durham. This is
recognition of the very forward-looking and progressive way in which the county
has developed since achieving first-class status only 10 years ago.
"Chester-le-Street will be a magnificent setting for Test match cricket and
will further help to galvanise the enormous enthusiasm for cricket that exists
in the north-east of England."
Durham chairman Bill Midgley was thrilled by the news. "This is an historic day for Durham, a step forward for cricket and good news for the north-east region," Midgley said.
"Everyone at Durham County Cricket Club has worked very hard to justify our
selection as a potential Test match venue and we all look forward to staging our
first Test match, hopefully featuring at least one Durham player, supported by a
full house of north-east sports fans."
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