Riverside Ground

Cricket has been played at Riverside Ground in Chester-le-Street from 1999 to 2026. The venue was established in 1995 and functions as the home ground for both Durham and the England national team. Capacity drops to 5000 for domestic fixtures but expands to 17000 when international visitors arrive in County Durham for major games.

Durham has played here continuously since 1995, joined by frequent domestic opponents like Lancashire Lightning and Notts Outlaws. Domestic schedules rely on the County Championship and the T20 Blast. The pitch hosted competitive domestic action recently in 2026, including a narrow five-run win for Durham against Derbyshire Falcons.

International cricket arrived early in the venue history when Pakistan played Scotland here in an ODI in May 1999. The men's Test debut followed in June 2003 with a match between England and Zimbabwe. Men's Test fixtures here concluded in May 2016 with a game featuring England and Sri Lanka.

Shorter formats gained a foothold later. England played South Africa in the first men's T20I here in September 2012, with a men's T20I against India scheduled for July 2026. Women's international cricket also has a long presence, starting with an ODI between England and New Zealand in June 1996.

Women's ODIs continued at the ground into May 2026 with another fixture between England and New Zealand. The ground has additionally hosted matches from the ICC Cricket World Cup and the ICC Women's Championship, alongside past series involving West Indies.

Recent 2026 domestic results show tight finishes on the pitch. Notts Outlaws defeated Durham by two runs, while Northamptonshire Steelbacks beat the home side by seven runs. Other matches ended decisively, such as Durham beating Derbyshire by an innings and twenty-two runs.