Harker hits out at Test bidding system

England v West Indies, 2nd Test, Riverside, 2nd day

Bulletin by Shwe Wai

	There's no legislating for the weather, but May is hardly renowned for sunshine

As the rain fell on a miserable second day at Chester-le-Street it provided an apt backdrop to a game that has reignited the debate about Test cricket's future. Even if the sun had shone, it's unlikely the ground would have been even half full with punters turned away by high ticket prices and unattractive opposition.

Factors such as the weather are out of anyone's control, but cold and damp conditions in May are hardly unexpected. David Harker, Durham's chief executive, has been left counting the cost of an ill-thought-out fixture, and has called for a rethink as to how Test cricket is marketed outside of the major contests.

"There has been a lot of comment about the lack of attendance at this game, but if you don't give them the right sort of product you can't build the audience," Harker told Cricinfo. "It doesn't just happen, you have to work at it.

"There has been talk of a Test championship, and I think that sort of development is necessary to add a context and make the games relevant to people who are going to be asked to part with hard-earned cash to come and watch them. A game that doesn't seem to matter to anyone, not least the players at times, isn't a great advert for a sport."

Durham, who bid £500,000 for the right to host this match, initially wanted an Ashes Test this summer, an understandable aim having held Test status since 2003. But that bid was trumped by Cardiff's massive offer of £3million to host a match backed by the Welsh Assembly. It has left the club trying to market a game that even the die-hards are struggling to get excited about.