The youngsters of both teams relished the opportunity to play at the Emirates ICG, an international venue that staged a memorable Ashes Test in the last series in 2013.
“Durham have been superb hosts in every respect,” said Mo Bobat, the operations manager of the England Development Programme, and the manager of the Under-19 team. “The facilities are excellent, the number and quality of the net bowlers provided has been hugely appreciated, the groundstaff have accommodated us superbly and everybody at the club has been friendly and helpful.”
Vic Demain, who is in his first summer as Durham’s head groundsman after previously working at Trent Bridge, provided a pitch near the middle of the square, despite the demands of the county season. “It’s a big game for these lads, isn’t it, so we didn’t want to be pushing them towards the edges,” he explained. “I think it’s important for the club that we stage the match well.”
Durham was a fitting venue for the game because the Riverside, as the ground was then known, staged the last four-day match, unofficially known as a Youth Test, between England and Australia in this country, way back in 1999.
Michael Gough was captaining England on his home ground in that game, scoring 59 in the second innings, so he was also an apt choice as one of the umpires, accompanied by the former England all-rounder Alex Wharf.
The North-East will remain the focus for the start of the five-match one-day series between the teams next Tuesday, with the first game being played at South Northumberland CC in Gosforth – where a healthy holiday crowd is expected.
The teams then head south as the series continues in Chesterfield (Friday August 14), followed by a day-night match in Derby which is being televised live by Sky Sports (Monday August 17). The fourth game is at Grace Road, Leicester (Thursday August 22) before the series concludes at New Road, Worcester on Saturday August 24 – when Graeme Hick, the Worcestershire favourite who is coaching the Australian youngsters, should receive an especially warm welcome.