NORTH-EAST sports fans are being urged to take the chance to watch England's biggest stars in football and cricket on the same day.

Durham County Cricket Club have joined forces with the FA to promote the double bill of international action on Wearside on Friday.

“Fancy seeing Wayne Rooney, Joe Root, Harry Kane and Ben Stokes in the same 24 hours?” they ask.

“England's football team face Australia at the Stadium of Light for the first of three pre-Euro 2016 internationals on Friday evening, the first day of the Investec Test match against Sri Lanka at Emirates Riverside.

“Double up on your England support. Tickets for the football are on sale from just £20 for adults and £10 for kids in the family enclosure. Test match tickets are available from £25 for adults and £5 for juniors. Be there for what is sure to be an electric atmosphere.”

Following reports questioning whether international cricket is financially viable at Chester-le-Street, this promotion is an attempt by Durham to boost ticket sales on the first day of the Test.

Chief executive David Harker said: “We are really pleased with the ticket sales for Saturday and Sunday, but would like to see more fans show their support for day one.

“We are assured of international cricket at Emirates Riverside until 2019 and we are confident that there will be continue to be an appetite for international cricket to be hosted here in the North East.”

The fact that the first Test was at Headingley, rather than Lord's, has not done Durham any favours. Many Yorkshire fans who would happily travel up to Chester-le-Street will be reluctant to do so after seeing the tourists slide to defeat in three days.

Durham will be desperate for Sri Lanka to put up a better fight and at least get the second Test into a fourth day, in which case they are confident of attracting more than 30,000 fans. A fifth day's play would be a big bonus.

As they strive to balance the books, Durham are also hoping for bumper crowds for the season's first home NatWest T20 Blast match against Nottinghamshire on June 1 and for the Simply Red concert two days later.

“Tickets for Simply Red are selling well,” said Harker. “The concert won't lose money and our principal reason for hosting concerts is to raise our profile with an ambition to become an established concert venue in the North East and diversify our income streams.”

Following the installation of floodlights last year, allowing a later start time of 6.30, it is important for Durham to see an increase in T20 crowds.