Celebrating The Riverside Being Awarded An Ashes Test

I'm delighted about the news that the Riverside will be hosting an Ashes test in 2013. The Chester-le-Street ground is one of the best sporting venues in the country and Durham CCC is one of the great sporting success stories of the past few years. It is quite right that such a top class venue will be hosting a top class sporting event.

So much hard work has been put in by people in North Durham to make the Riverside ground what it is today. Personally, I'm immensely proud that all this hard work and dedication has resulted in this well deserved, and long overdue announcement. We should salute everybody who has made this possible. Holding an Ashes test at Chester le Street will give us another chance to show what a great sporting spectacle we can put on in North Durham.

Of course, England also have an unblemished record at the Riverside. Here's hoping that it continues through to 2013.