Paul Collingwood,Bill Midgley, Simon Brown and David Harker with the bubbly Photo Ian Middlemass

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."

© CricInfo Ltd.