Durham have been stripped of their status as a Test match venue and relegated to the second division of the English county championship after receiving a 3.8 million-pound bailout from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).

Durham's Chester-le-Street ground first hosted Test cricket in 2003 and staged a five-day match between England and Sri Lanka this year. It will continue to be eligible as a venue for one-day internationals.

With debts reported at 7.5 million pounds the ECB money will allow Durham to meet their operational costs and pay staff wages as well as settle debts.