Interest in the second and final Test against the minnows on 3 June has been encouraging, and the additional seats will take the capacity to 8,000.

It is thought that 1,500 tickets are left for the first day, with only 750 remaining for day two.

Commercial Manager Gordon Hollins said: "We had to make the decision to avoid disappointing a high number of people."

Durham have sold out of their International Ticket Package, which guaranteed seats for both the Test and the NatWest Series one-day match between England and Australia, which takes place under lights on 23 June.

"The response from North East sports fans for both international fixtures here at the Riverside has been immense," Hollins added.