Durham switch Sri Lanka ODI for Australia visit

Durham have given up the one-day international against Sri Lanka they were due to stage in 2011 so that they can host Australia the following year and guarantee top-level cricket at Chester-le-Street each season.

England were due to play Sri Lanka in the North East on July 3 but the match will now be staged at Lord's, while Durham will gain a visit from Australia when they tour for a one-day series in 2012 ahead of hosting their first Ashes Test in 2013.

"We are committed to bringing regular world class cricket to Durham," said chairman Clive Leach, "and by only focusing on England against India in 2011, we are giving our members and our north east supporters the opportunity to watch international cricket every year, including England playing Australia in the one day and test match formats, instead of having no international cricket at the stadium in 2012.

"We are always looking to develop our long term strategy with regard to the hosting of international events and this is a fantastic chance for us to engrain our venue as a front runner in the annual cricket calendar. To have England and Australia playing in the North East two years running, is a very creditable achievement by the club."

While the fixture switch creates the prospect of an exciting encounter in 2012 it also means less international cricket for the north of England next summer which will be starved of Test action with none of Old Trafford, Headingley or Chester-le-Street staging a five-day match against Sri Lanka or India.