BANNERS portraying the last century decade-by-decade will be displayed at the start of the region's first Test cricket match.

Sixty primary schools in the region entered a competition to win a place in a guard of honour just before play on the opening day of the match, at Chester-le-Street on Thursday, June 5.

Yesterday, judges chose one banner symbolising each decade over the past 100 years. The winners will not be informed until next week, due to the school half-term holidays.

Representatives of the winning schools will form the guard of honour. Banners will also be put on lampposts at the approach to the Riverside ground, the country's first new Test Match ground in 101 years.