DURHAM cricket bosses preparing for next week's Test match at the Riverside are to press their case that the county receives a greater share of international cricket.

Only 24 hours before the start of Friday's match against Bangladesh - only the second Test played at Chester-le-Street - officials from the county will be at Lord's to discuss the future of staging international matches in England and Wales.

The current system favours established venues such as Trent Bridge, Old Trafford and Headingley.

The Riverside's first Test cricket game featured Zimbabwe.

Durham chief executive David Harker said: "It's been very difficult for the new grounds to break into the allocation because, clearly, every game we pick up, someone loses a game.

"There are obviously some vested interests there. It is a huge challenge for the grounds that are investing in their infrastructure - they need to be doing that with the security of some sort of long-term agreement.

"The worst thing about the current allocation is that most cricket is played within a 90-mile radius of Trent Bridge - Nottingham, Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds."

The Durham delegation will argue that the North-East is now an international cricket venue and should receive a greater share of the games.

The first two days for next week's game against Bangladesh are almost sold out, and the one-day game against Australia next month is a 16,000 sell-out.

Mr Harker said: "We want to see the South Africans and West Indians playing Test cricket."

There are tickets left for the first two days of next week's Test and for Sunday's play. To book, call 0191-387 5151. The club is appealing for people who can speak Bangladeshi to work during the Test. To help, call 0191-387 2875.

l To win tickets to the match, see Monday's Northern Echo.