DURHAM have taken their first step towards hosting an Ashes Test in 2005 after receiving the thumbs up from the England and Wales Cricket Board.

A near sell-out crowd at the Riverside on Saturday witnessed Nasser Hussain's England men overcome a struggling Zimbabwe side by an innings and 69 runs to take the series 2-0.

And the ECB have been quick to praise Durham for the way they handled becoming this country's first new Test venue in 101 years.

Chairman of the club, Bill Midgley, revealed he has heard nothing but good words from the people who will decide when the Riverside will host its next Test - and more importantly just who will provide the opponents for England.

Durham are desperate to see Australia, the best side in the world, come to the North-East - but cricket minnows Bangladesh could also be next on the list.

And, after the success of the second npower Test, Midgley pleaded with the ECB not to make Riverside the home of second-rate cricket.

"It's all been very positive we have had the chairman, vice chairman and chief executive of the ECB making the right sort of noises," said the Durham chief.

"Whether that is sufficient enough to get Australia here remains to be seen. There is still a lot of lobbying to be done before then.

"This match was against Zimbabwe and it shows just how difficult it would be to sell tickets for a Bangladesh match. Every ground in the country would struggle to sell for that.

"But we would have 17,500 seats in here for Australia and we know we would sell them. But that's the argument every other ground will use: 'Give us Australia and we'll sell out'.

"It's a mix and match really because if we are going to get the lesser nations here all the time at least we will get England matches.

"But what we don't want to be is the home of second division international cricket."

It is estimated that Durham have lost in the region of £30,000 by the Zimbabwe Test not entering a fourth day's play yesterday.

The club are insured for all tickets purchased beforehand, which will be refunded to the fans.

But there were expected to be an extra 5,000 supporters who would have walked up to pay on the day.

Meanwhile, Midgley was delighted to see Durham seamer Stephen Harmison bring an end to proceedings during the comfortable success over Zimbabwe.

Harmison clean bowled tail-ender Dougie Hondo to clinch his fourth wicket of the innings and sixth of the match.

And Midgley has nothing but admiration for the 24-year-old, who then led England's lap of honour with a stump in his hand.

Now the Durham supremo is hoping that a batsman from the club will go on to become an opener for the country.

"It was tremendous," said Midgley. "We would have liked to have seen someone walking out and opening the batting from Durham.

"But the next best thing was to get a Durham player to go out and finish off the game by taking a wicket and that was great for Steve. I think six wickets for him is fantastic."