The latest of our Throwback Thursday series looks at the fourth Test – and the second successive visit of the West Indies – back in 2009, where two Durham lads were called upon for national duty.
After their defeat here two years previously and loss at Lord’s in a two-game series, the West Indies came to the North East looking for revenge.
But the harsh reality was they came up against a world-leading England outfit with class in all departments – and the result hammered home the difference between the two sides.
Coming off the back of a ten-wicket success, the hosts were in buoyant mood on their fourth venture and made hay after Andrew Strauss elected to bat first with two Durham lads, Paul Collingwood and an in-form Graham Onions, both included.
Strauss himself was the first wicket to fall on a breezy morning but his replacement at the crease, Ravi Bopara, compiled an innings of huge significance.
Bopara had started his Test career with three consecutive ducks but a ton here marked a third hundred on the spin, only the fifth England player to do so. After pre-series debate over the number three position, Bopara had seemingly nailed it down.
His partnership of 213 with Alistair Cook, himself en route to 160 and just two shy of Ian Bell’s highest Test score on the ground, killed the spirit of the visitors before they even had chance to establish themselves in the contest.
The number three fell before the close of play but Cook would have to wait until Day Three to continue his innings as rain put paid to any chances of play, as it had done on their last trip to the Riverside.
Upon the resumption and having lost a full day, England’s batsmen injected some impetus in their innings.
Kevin Pietersen (49), Collingwood (60*) and Matt Prior (63) all scored at a strike rate above 70 and they eventually called the declaration on 569/6, the highest first-class score at the Riverside (which has since been eclipsed four times).
With plenty of runs to play with, James Anderson bowled full and invited the ball to swing in favourable conditions with devastating results as the Windies found themselves three down by the end of the day.
There was some support from Shivnarine Chanderpaul but he was the support act as Ramnaresh Sarwan mixed attack and defence superbly, rushing to his century with two fours from Stuart Broad.
But Sarwan fell without adding to his 100 and the West Indies fought to avoid the follow on through Denesh Ramdin’s gritty 55, but regular wickets hampered their cause. Onions’ miserly spell was finally rewarded with a first Test scalp on home ground, too, trapping Jerome Taylor lbw.
Ramdin was the last man to fall, handing Anderson his five-wicket haul, and with time a commodity captain Strauss employed the follow on. By this time Collingwood was keeping wicket in the absence of Prior, who had a finger injury checked over in hospital.
Graham Swann’s early introduction to the attack accounted for Devon Smith before Onions came to the fore shortly before the close on Day Four.
Some well-directed short balls to Sarwan set up the full one up nicely for lbw, before Chris Gayle edged to the slips.
The West Indies required another display of dogged resistance to at least make England bat again but they capitulated in spectacular fashion from an overnight 115/3 to 176 all out.
Anderson and Tim Bresnan did the damage, taking all seven wickets between them as the Lancastrian finished with excellent match figures of 9/125.
There was room for yet more Durham influence, however, as substitute fielder Scott Borthwick pouched the catch to remove Brendan Nash.
It briefly threatened to become an even contest but England hammered home their superiority and the reputation of Chester-le-Street as a fortress for the national side grew that little bit more.
Excitement is building ahead of the Second Investec Test match against Sri Lanka on 27-31 May and tickets are still available via the club website here, or by calling the Box Office on 0844 499 4466. There is very limited availablity for Saturday 28 May so act quickly to avoid disappointment!