A BID will be launched today to bring a money-spinning Ashes series Test match to the North-East for the first time.

The move by Durham County Cricket Club to stage an England v Australia match in 2009 is being welcomed across the region.

It is hoped the Ashes will be the pinnacle of a five-year agreement of international games for the Riverside ground, at Chester-le-Street.

The bid also includes an England v West Indies Test next year, a one-day international against South Africa in 2008, and opponents for 2010 and 2011 to be confirmed at a later date.

Today, organisers of the bid to the England and Wales Cricket Board urged readers of The Northern Echo to back the campaign by logging on to www.signthebat.co.uk.

The website features endorsements from sporting celebrities such as Ashes hero Ian Botham, former England and Newcastle manager Sir Bobby Robson, and athlete Brendan Foster.

Development agency One NorthEast is also behind the bid which, if successful, will put the region on the map once again, following a series of successful sporting events.

Chief executive Alan Clarke said: "The benefits to the region of staging an Ashes Test at Durham County Cricket Club's Riverside Ground and securing a host of other internationals would be huge.

"The North-East public is passionate about sport - as can be seen by last summer's hugely successful Seve Trophy, in the Tees Valley.

"I'm sure that the Ashes Test and all the internationals would be sell-outs, raising the region's profile internationally as a place capable of staging top sporting events."

Durham chairman Clive Leach said: "Last year, the Ashes captured the imagination of the nation, not least here in the North-East, with Stephen Harmison and Paul Collingwood's involvement.

"It is our intention to bring one of the greatest sporting events to the Riverside."

Chief executive David Harker said: "The Ashes Test would not only be another major sporting event for the region, it would help develop the next generation of cricketers to follow in the footsteps of Stephen, Paul and Liam Plunkett."

Durham and England player Plunkett, from Middlesbrough, said: "Walking out to play for England in front of your home crowd must be one of the most special feelings a player can ever experience, and to do that in an Ashes Test would be unbelievable.

"We have three players in the England set-up at the moment, and with the strength of the Durham Academy, there could be a host of local lads battling it out for Ashes places at the Riverside in 2009."

The Riverside was opened in 1995, and £15m has been spent on the venue in just over ten years, with a further investment of £15m planned.

It staged its maiden Test in 2003, against Zimbabwe, and made history as the country's first new Test venue in 101 years.

Mr Harker added: "It's a hugely exciting time for the club.

"Achieving first-class status was the first step of our dream to bring the best in world cricket to the North-East.

"Securing the Ashes Test would be another huge achievement in the club's relatively short first-class history."

A decision is expected to be made by the England and Wales Cricket Board by Easter.

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