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
CricInfo14-Nov-2001
Paul Collingwood,Bill Midgley,Simon Brown and David Harker with the bubbly
Photo Ian Middlemass
</tableDurham'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 atChester-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 2003against Zimbabwe.ECB chief executive Tim Lamb said: "I am delighted for Durham. This isrecognition of the very forward-looking and progressive way in which the countyhas developed since achieving first-class status only 10 years ago."Chester-le-Street will be a magnificent setting for Test match cricket andwill further help to galvanise the enormous enthusiasm for cricket that existsin 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 ourselection as a potential Test match venue and we all look forward to staging ourfirst Test match, hopefully featuring at least one Durham player, supported by afull house of north-east sports fans."