AFTER England’s cricketers had warmed up for the start of this morning’s second Test against Sri Lanka indoors, captain Alastair Cook was in a positive frame of mind as he reflected on a winning run at Chester-le-Street and an aim to make history on a personal note.

The weather forecast is more positive over the next five days even if it is likely to be overcast at the Emirates Durham today, where the England team have won all five Tests they have played; including beating Australia to win the Ashes in 2013.

The players are hoping for a rush in ticket sales as the first ball approaches because the take-up so far has been disappointing, with estimations combined for the whole Test around the 30,000-mark; and today’s opening day will not draw in the biggest daily crowd.

A low attendance would hardly help Durham’s hopes of staying on the Test rota, particularly given how the visit of Sri Lanka represents the last of the scheduled Tests to be held there before the end of the 2019 season.

Nevertheless Cook and his England team-mates are focused on claiming a first series win of the summer courtesy of defeating a Sri Lankan team which comprehensively lost by an innings and 88 runs at Headingley in the first Test.

It could also be the setting where Cook becomes the first England batsman to pass the 10,000 run milestone; only the 12th man in history to achieve the feat.

“I hope so. It will be nice to get the next 20 runs to get there. I'm doing it in small instalments!” Cook said.

The 32-year-old added: “I think the weather's due to improve. When the sun's out, very similar to Headingley, I think it will be good batting conditions. There have been plenty of runs scored at county level this year, I think it will be a good wicket.

“There's always a danger after a good win that everyone's nice to you and you forget that to get 300 runs (Alex) Hales had to bat extraordinarily well in those conditions and play a different type of innings to what he's used to.

“He really ground out an 80-odd, then Jonny (Bairstow) batted as if he was on a different wicket. But you can forget the hard work which got you there. The game was in the balance. We're aware of that as a side and we've already spoken about it.”

Warwickshire’s Chris Woakes has been given the nod ahead of Nottinghamshire’s Jake Ball to replace Durham’s Ben Stokes. The local lad would have been the only player to gain an outing on home turf, but he has had to undergo surgery on his left knee.

Woakes has only played for his country six times spread across three years but Cook hopes he lays down a marker after the disappointment of losing Stokes.

Cook explained: “We enjoyed playing with the balance of the side and it gives Chris another opportunity for him to play. I don't think we've seen the best of him in an England shirt. But he's in fine form for Warwickshire – a nine-fer and a hundred in the last two weeks.

“We know Ben balances our side really well but like anyone he can get injured and we need competition in all places. It's disappointing for Ben. I've just seen him upstairs and it was good to see him around but the bad thing for him is it gives someone else an opportunity.

“Ben’s got that ability to change games of cricket very quickly. He's done that a few times over the last 12 months. A lot of people want to watch him come and play so he's going to be a big loss for us.”

Durham and the ECB hope for a positive five days played in front of a big crowd, with real uncertainty surrounding whether Test cricket will remain on the agenda in the view of the picturesque Lumley Castle.

It has cost Durham a staging fee of £952,000 for the right to hold the second Test, but it will be years before another Test returns, if at all, to a venue which has made huge strides since it became a first-class county 24 years ago.

When asked if he was concerned about international cricket, Cook said: “The glass is half-empty today, isn't it? We've all been sat at Lord's and watched it rain as well. It's raining so of course it's not great but when the sun's out there's great support and the castle ...”

Cook had earlier stated: “I didn't realise I had such a good record here. When you've won five out of five you wonder if the sixth is going to be a bad one. Hopefully we can play well here this week.

“We've always had great support here. When Stuart (Broad) took those wickets in 2013 against Australia the noise and the atmosphere was brilliant. People really enjoy watching Test cricket up here.

“I think we need to keep playing at each end of the country so people can watch Test cricket. I don't know about the other stuff – the finances and the administration side – but I know as players we enjoy playing at different grounds because other people enjoy seeing us.

“I don't know the ins and outs of it, all I know is Durham have a really good record and a great academy at bringing players through. It would be a shame (if this was the last Test).”