THE countdown is on towards an historic date in County Durham sporting history.

Durham's Riverside ground at Chester-le-Street becomes the first new Test venue in English cricket for 101 years when England face Zimbabwe in June.

Clocks are being mounted round the region to highlight the number of days to the start of the npower-sponsored Test match.

Venues include stations on the Tyne and Wear Metro, while a 13-ft high timepiece was going up on the Riverside ground scoreboard this week.

The countdown started on Tuesday, 100 days before play is called on the opening day - Thursday June 5, 10.45am.

Apart from the kudos brought to Durham CCC, the rest of the region is expected to benefit from the arrival of Test cricket.

Should Chester-le-Street go on become a regular Test match venue over the next five years, Durham University Business School experts estimate the value of the international media coverage would cost £60m in marketing terms, while up to £12.2m would be generated by fans travelling to the region.

Durham CCC chairman Bill Midgley said it was a reflection of how far the club has advanced in a short time, given that the county only achieved first class status in 1992 and the Riverside ground only opened in 1995.

Mr Midgley said despite the controversy over England refusing to play a recent World Cup match in Harare, his latest information suggests that Zimbabwe will still tour in the summer. Should Zimbabwe pull out of the tour then, alternative opposition has been lined up.

* Tickets are available priced £25 per day for the first four days and £10 for under-16s for days one to three and £5 on the Sunday.

They can be booked via the 24-hour hotlines on (0191) 387 5151, or (0870) 909 0190.