North East Business Laurence Kilgannon

Sir Ian Botham has welcomed news that Emirates Riverside has secured major international cricket fixtures until 2024, but Durham County Cricket Club's proposal to host a new T20 team in the North East has been unsuccessful.

The English Cricket Board's announcement confirmed that Emirates Riverside would host three England internationals following the 2019 World Cup including a clash against Australia in 2020.

England will face Sri Lanka at Emirates Riverside in 2021 with South Africa visiting Chester-le-Street the following year. Durham have been promised leading opposition for their fixtures in 2023 and 2024.

The ECB also named the eight venues which will host the new T20 franchise competition which will be launched in 2020, with Durham missing out.

Durham said they wished all the venues who have secured the hosting of one of the new regional T20 teams success for the competition and said they would work closely with the ECB on any future opportunities as the tournament develops.

Durham CCC chairman Sir Ian Botham said: "We're delighted to have secured international cricket at Emirates Riverside and thrilled that we have managed to keep top level sport in the region.

"We will continue to identify future opportunities for the club and although we’re disappointed with not being given the chance to host one of the regional teams in the new T20 tournament, we will continue to back the competition and encourage sports fans to get behind it.

"We have some great fixtures lined up for the next five years, including the Cricket World Cup in 2019 and we will continue working hard to ensure we give North East cricket fans the best matchday experience possible."