Although Durham is the newest test venue in the country, there's also a feeling they don't get a fare crack of the whip when it comes to staging tests. In summer 2005, Durham had to make do with a test match between England and Bangladesh. It lasted three days.
 | | Harmison contributed to England's Ashes triumph |
In the summer of 2003, they hosted England and Zimbabwe. That lasted three days as well. The cricketing super powers have not been to the North East for test matches so Durham has taken the step to go for the big one. The jewel in the crown - Australia. On the back of the successful 2005 series, the board at the Riverside have approached the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), with a view to staging a five-day test match, when the Australians return to the UK in 2009. Local backing The move has been backed by One NorthEast who helped to attract the Seve Trophy golf tournament to the region in 2005. The ECB is the body which will decide the outcome of who gets what in 2009 cricket. But there are seven test venues in this country and only five tests to go around, so two of the grounds will miss out on the big time and Durham hope it won't be them yet again. Durham, though, have shown they can stage tests competently and sell seats - even against inferior opposition. And the stadium is excellent. The ground can accommodate about 18,000 people and the players and media like coming here. But there is a feeling in the game that after doing so much to become a test venue, Durham have been left with the dregs. Chairman, Clive Leach, wants to see an end to that, "We are a designated test venue, while the likes of Hampshire and Glamorgan are not yet, Hampshire have been given more one day matches than us in 2006 and we don't stage a test this summer. We have just the one one day international against Sri Lanka. | "The people up here are sports mad and deserve top class action." | | Chairman Clive Leach |
"We say, as the country's newest test venue, we deserve a fair share of the big test matches. The nearest venue to us is in Leeds which is nearly 100 miles away from here. "We have a compelling argument for staging an Ashes test and indeed bigger tests than we have had so far. "We serve a massive area from North Yorkshire, right up into Scotland and across to Cumbria. The people up here are sports mad and deserve top class action. "Once you get to Leeds you have Old Trafford not too far away. Nottingham is about 60 miles down the road and then there's Birmingham not that far from Nottingham too. There are a lot of grounds concentrated in a small area of the country." Agreement Durham are trying to reach a five-year agreement with the ECB, that would not just see them hosting the Ashes test in 2009, but also top class matches before that. They want the West Indies in 2007 and South Africa in 2008. They are going after the big players on the world test arena. A new grandstand with a roof is planned and a hotel is going to be built inside the ground.
 | | Sir Bobby Robson backs the bid |
Rooms will face the pitch and can double up into corporate hospitality suites. There are similar hotels at Old Trafford and Trent Bridge. There's obviously competition, but Durham have placed their cards firmly on the table. Chief executive David Harker says the club is trying to right a perceived imbalance in the game, "On 1 January, Headingley was able to enter into a 15-year agreement with the ECB. "Now, just a few weeks later we are only allowed to bid for a five-year deal so that is what we are doing. "There is obvious competition from Old Trafford and I would imagine the likes of Hampshire and Glamorgan are trying to get onboard the test list too. "We have to concentrate on the things within our control and the beauty of this is it is a very compelling case. We have a fantastic facility here and it is only going to get better. "We have a covered grandstand planned and a hotel to add to what we have already done here and we have great support too." The ECB are expected to reach a decision on the Ashes in April, probably around Easter week. | 
