DURHAM chairman Bill Midgley left the Riverside last night "tired, relieved and very happy" after hailing their Test debut as a success.

Although the Chester-le-Street attendance was more than 2,000 below capacity, Midgley was proud of his club's achievements in staging the game.

Play began as soon as the countdown clock at the ground struck zero, heralding Durham's arrival as the eighth Test venue in England.

Midgley said: "I'm tired, relieved and very happy. It's been a great day; the culmination of our ambitions.

"I've walked round the ground to see what the atmosphere has been like, and everyone seems to have had a great time.

"I must admit I find it strange that the North-East public didn't turn up in larger numbers; perhaps the iffy weather forecast deterred a few from coming.

"But the English Cricket Board seem delighted with the arrangements. They're not unhappy with the crowd; perhaps it's just me wanting to see every seat taken.

"We shouldn't let the attendance spoil things. When you bear in mind the opposition, we're outselling other grounds."

Midgley was content with the handling of the anti-Robert Mugabe protest that was staged outside the Riverside.

He said: "I left the ground three times during the day to see the demonstration.

"I talked to them to see if everything was all right and make sure we were doing what we promised we would do.

"They seem to have been reasonably happy, certainly from the note they left. I think they had a good platform for their message."

With England rallying from a vulnerable position, the match is set up nicely to go into at least the fourth day.

Midgley added: "It's made a game of it. I think Zimbabwe and the game needed it so that Zimbabwe aren't out of it yet.

"England need to go on to 400 or 450 and I would hope Zimbabwe get a good score, too.

"I don't want the same situation that we saw at Lord's with the game finishing on the third evening."