CONTROVERSY over England's withdrawal from a World Cup cricket tie in Zimbabwe has helped to increase interest in the North-East's first test match.

Durham's Riverside Ground, at Chester-le-Street, becomes the country's first new test venue for a century when it hosts the second match of the summer series against Zimbabwe, in June.

Marketing officials believe sales of tickets for the landmark fixture have been given a boost by the hiatus over England's decision not to play in Harare during the recent World Cup on security grounds.

Uptake of hospitality packages for the npower-sponsored test, over five days from June 5, are now well beyond budget more than ten weeks before the first ball is bowled.

Durham County Cricket Club's business development executive Julie Harrison said: "We were concerned that the situation in Zimbabwe could have a negative effect on our own test match, but that has not been the case.

"It seems that the events in the World Cup have kept cricket, and England, in the public eye and have brought our own match to people's attention.

"We're quite surprised, but extremely pleased that the hospitality packages for the test match are selling so well.

"This is the major 2003 international sporting event in the North-East and the vast majority of companies booking hospitality are from the region.

"Packages for the first two days, the Thursday and Friday, have been very popular and are certain to sell-out by mid-April."

Among the first companies to book test match hospitality is Wise Speke, the North-East's largest stockbroking and financial services firm.

Director Vinay Bedi said as part of its centenary celebrations in the region the presence of Wise Speke at a match of such "quality and success" exactly fitted the company's profile.

For information on hospitality packages, call 0191-387 1717.