AT 10.45am today this gate will open, and the cricketers of England and Zimbabwe will walk on to the world's newest Test venue.

The day of celebration for the North-East will go some way to make up for the region's disappointment yesterday in losing its bid to be European Capital of Culture.

Fine weather and a near 12,000 sell-out crowd will greet the England and Zimbabwe cricketers as they play at the Riverside, Chester-le-Street, County Durham.

Anti-Robert Mugabe protestors last night promised they would not disrupt proceedings on the field. The threat of demonstrations had marred the Riverside dream to become England's first new Test ground for 101 years.

Durham County Cricket Club officials are hoping a successful Test debut will bring an Ashes Test to the region when the Australians tour in two years' time.

England captain Nasser Hussain, a former Durham University student, said yesterday that the region deserves the honour of hosting Test cricket.

"They love their sport, and they deserve a good week's cricket and weather," he said.

But today's celebrations will be in contrast to the sombre mood on Tyneside, after the joint bid of Newcastle and Gateshead lost to Liverpool in the race to be European Capital of Culture in 2008.

Last night, the team behind the bid brushed aside the disappointment and promised to push ahead with plans to improve Tyneside's image.

Sir Ian Wrigglesworth, chairman of the Newcastle-Gateshead Initiative, said: "The competition has had a phenomenal impact on cities across the UK. It has allowed them to move forward their cultural plans, lay out their ambitions and show how they will achieve them.

"We look forward to working with Liverpool and the other bidding cities, to having a lot more success, acclaim and fun, as we continue and redouble our efforts to take our place on the world stage."