Riverside Ground
Encyclopedia
The Riverside Ground, officially called the Emirates Durham International Cricket Ground, is a cricket
venue in Chester-le-Street
, County Durham
, England
. It is home to Durham County Cricket Club
.
The club's acceptance into first-class cricket
was made conditional on the building of a new Test match-standard cricket ground. Work began on the new ground at the Riverside, a spectacular location overlooked by Lumley Castle
, in 1990, and development has continued in phases until the present day. Work on the outfield and playing surface began in 1993. In its first three seasons in the County Championship, the Club played in a variety of locations around the county, but the Riverside ground was pronounced ready for cricket in time for the 1995 season, even though many of the buildings were still temporary or unfinished. The ground hosted its first game, Durham vs Warwickshire
, on 18 May 1995.
Other facilities at the ground continued being built over subsequent years, and the club's Don Robson Pavilion was opened by Queen Elizabeth II
in 1996. A Bannatyne's
Health Club is located on the boundary next to the Don Robson Pavilion. The full ground capacity, including permanent and temporary seating, is 15,000.
The development of the Riverside into a significant cricketing venue was underscored in 1999, when it hosted World Cup
matches involving Pakistan, Scotland, Australia and Bangladesh, and then in 2000 when it staged the first One Day International match in the NatWest Triangular Series
between England, Zimbabwe and the West Indies. In 2001 a One-day International between Australia and Pakistan was scheduled, but abandoned due to weather conditions.
2003 saw the Riverside Ground raised to Test match status, but has so far only been used for four England Test matches, against Zimbabwe in 2003, Bangladesh in 2005 and West Indies in 2007 and 2009. The fourth day of the West Indies Test, 18 June 2007, saw Paul Collingwood
hitting a century on his home pitch for England against the West Indies, and so becoming the first local Durham player to hit a Test century at the Riverside.
In September 2008 plans were announced concerning further developments to the ground. These included installing permanent floodlights, and extending the County Durham Stand (at the South East of the ground) all the way round so that permanent seating surrounds the entire ground, rather than the current temporary seating which is used for international fixtures, thus raising the ground capacity to around 20,000. A new entrance building will also be constructed to house the box office and club shop, as well as many new offices for club officials, a new perimeter road will be made, and a new hotel will be built. These developments were seen as a necessity, as the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) have specified that they must take place in order for the ground to maintain its status as a Test Match venue.
It was announced on 30 July 2009 that the ground would host an Ashes Test match
in 2013, the culmination of Durham's growth as a First Class County since 1992. This came after Durham missed out to Cardiff in its bid to host an Ashes test in 2009.
On 4 June 2010, before a Friends Provident t20 match against Lancashire Lightning, it was announced that the stadium would be renamed the 'Emirates Durham International Cricket Ground'.
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
venue in Chester-le-Street
Chester-le-Street
Chester-le-Street is a town in County Durham, England. It has a history going back to Roman times when it was called Concangis. The town is located south of Newcastle upon Tyne and west of Sunderland on the River Wear...
, County Durham
County Durham
County Durham is a ceremonial county and unitary district in north east England. The county town is Durham. The largest settlement in the ceremonial county is the town of Darlington...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It is home to Durham County Cricket Club
Durham County Cricket Club
Durham County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the historic county of Durham. Its limited overs team is called the Durham Dynamos. Their kit colours are blue with yellow trim and the shirt sponsor was...
.
The club's acceptance into first-class cricket
First-class cricket
First-class cricket is a class of cricket that consists of matches of three or more days' scheduled duration, that are between two sides of eleven players and are officially adjudged first-class by virtue of the standard of the competing teams...
was made conditional on the building of a new Test match-standard cricket ground. Work began on the new ground at the Riverside, a spectacular location overlooked by Lumley Castle
Lumley Castle
Lumley Castle is a 14th century quadrangular castle at Chester-le-Street in the North of England, near to the city of Durham and a property of the Earl of Scarbrough. It is a Grade I listed building.-History:...
, in 1990, and development has continued in phases until the present day. Work on the outfield and playing surface began in 1993. In its first three seasons in the County Championship, the Club played in a variety of locations around the county, but the Riverside ground was pronounced ready for cricket in time for the 1995 season, even though many of the buildings were still temporary or unfinished. The ground hosted its first game, Durham vs Warwickshire
Warwickshire County Cricket Club
Warwickshire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Warwickshire. Its limited overs team is called the Warwickshire Bears. Their kit colours are black and gold and the shirt sponsor...
, on 18 May 1995.
Other facilities at the ground continued being built over subsequent years, and the club's Don Robson Pavilion was opened by Queen Elizabeth II
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
in 1996. A Bannatyne's
Bannatyne's
Bannatyne's is the name of a UK based chain of health clubs, well known for being founded and co-directed by famous Scottish businessman Duncan Bannatyne OBE....
Health Club is located on the boundary next to the Don Robson Pavilion. The full ground capacity, including permanent and temporary seating, is 15,000.
Cricket World Cup
The ICC Cricket World Cup is the premier international championship of men's One Day International cricket. The event is organised by the sport's governing body, the International Cricket Council , with preliminary qualification rounds leading up to a finals tournament which is held every four years...
matches involving Pakistan, Scotland, Australia and Bangladesh, and then in 2000 when it staged the first One Day International match in the NatWest Triangular Series
NatWest Series
The NatWest Series is the name used for One Day International cricket tournaments held in England since 2000. The tournaments are sponsored by the National Westminster Bank.-2000 to 2005: triangular series:...
between England, Zimbabwe and the West Indies. In 2001 a One-day International between Australia and Pakistan was scheduled, but abandoned due to weather conditions.
2003 saw the Riverside Ground raised to Test match status, but has so far only been used for four England Test matches, against Zimbabwe in 2003, Bangladesh in 2005 and West Indies in 2007 and 2009. The fourth day of the West Indies Test, 18 June 2007, saw Paul Collingwood
Paul Collingwood
Paul David Collingwood MBE is an English cricketer. He has been a regular member of the England Test side, was captain of the One Day International team 2007–2008. He is also vice-captain of his county, Durham County Cricket Club. Collingwood is a batting all-rounder, whose batting...
hitting a century on his home pitch for England against the West Indies, and so becoming the first local Durham player to hit a Test century at the Riverside.
In September 2008 plans were announced concerning further developments to the ground. These included installing permanent floodlights, and extending the County Durham Stand (at the South East of the ground) all the way round so that permanent seating surrounds the entire ground, rather than the current temporary seating which is used for international fixtures, thus raising the ground capacity to around 20,000. A new entrance building will also be constructed to house the box office and club shop, as well as many new offices for club officials, a new perimeter road will be made, and a new hotel will be built. These developments were seen as a necessity, as the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) have specified that they must take place in order for the ground to maintain its status as a Test Match venue.
It was announced on 30 July 2009 that the ground would host an Ashes Test match
The Ashes
The Ashes is a Test cricket series played between England and Australia. It is one of the most celebrated rivalries in international cricket and dates back to 1882. It is currently played biennially, alternately in the United Kingdom and Australia. Cricket being a summer sport, and the venues...
in 2013, the culmination of Durham's growth as a First Class County since 1992. This came after Durham missed out to Cardiff in its bid to host an Ashes test in 2009.
On 4 June 2010, before a Friends Provident t20 match against Lancashire Lightning, it was announced that the stadium would be renamed the 'Emirates Durham International Cricket Ground'.