Durham County Cricket Club (DCCC) has been awarded the right to host an Ashes Test match between England and Australia for the first time in 2013 by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).

The ECB accepted the recommendations of the independent Major Match Group (MMG) to allocate one of the five 2013 Ashes Tests to the Riverside Stadium in Chester-le-Street, along with The Brit Oval in Kennington, London. However, the remaining three venues have yet to be confirmed. DCCC's Riverside Stadium, which is set to undergo a major refurbishment after planning permission was approved to increase the venue's capacity to 20,000, first hosted Test match cricket in 2003 as well as a number of one day internationals.

Clive Leach, DCCC chair, said: "The completion of the stadium over the coming years, which will increase capacity to 20,000 as well as providing an onsite hotel, will offer spectators the ultimate cricket experience in what will be a truly world class set up. "For an Ashes Test match to be played at the Riverside Stadium will be a huge milestone for Durham County Cricket Club and this achievement is testament to the hard work of all involved."

The MMG's decision forms part of a new system of awarded Major Match Packages to grounds that do not currently have long-term staging agreements, which is designed to allow grounds to attract increased revenue and redevelop facilities. Cardiff's SWALEC Stadium and the Rose Bowl near Southampton have also been awarded Test matches against other opposition between 2012 and 2016 as part of the MMG's recommendations, although a number of fixtures are yet to be allocated.

In addition to the three Ashes Tests in 2013, five one day internationals against Australia in 2012, three in 2013 and four in 2016 are yet to be allocated, as well as one Test against India in 2011 and the neutral Test matches between Pakistan and Australia next year.