TAUNTON will soon be hosting major international cricket after the ECB announced The County Ground as a match venue for South Africa's tour of England in 2017 – and as one of the host venues for the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup.

Taunton will host one of three T20i fixtures between England and South Africa during the summer of 2017 and will stage three matches during the 2019 World Cup.

Somerset CCC chairman Andy Nash said: “Today’s announcement of the award of international cricket and host status for the 2019 ICC Mens World Cup is an historic day for Somerset County Cricket Club.

"It’s the result of a twelve year campaign by the Club and the overcoming of many sizeable challenges.

"The phased and prudently implemented transformation of the County Ground into one of the best grounds in the country has been achieved by a lot of people – executives and volunteers and they will be feeling justly proud at the award of international cricket.

"I should like to congratulate each and every one of them and warmly thank them on their great achievement.

"Whilst there will be a good deal of preparation required over the next couple of years, we are very confident that we can deliver an exceptional experience for the players, spectators, broadcasters and local community.

"It will be a pleasure to welcome Team England and many of the world’s greatest teams and players to the County Ground from 2017.”

Giles Clarke, the ECB chairman, said that these awards are significant in ensuring the long term financial health of the game in England and Wales.

He said: “The Board commissioned international consulting firm Deloitte to examine very carefully the financial condition of all our major match venues.

“A significant amount of work was carried out with the ECB executive and the first class counties to ensure that these awards are made on a new financial basis which involves the share of risk between the ECB and the grounds.

“It means that grounds are incentivised to sell out while providing the best possible spectator experience.

“The Board and the ECB financial committee, having carefully examined the MMG’s recommendations, have made these awards with the confidence that at the end of this period our venues will be in a much strengthened financial position which will be of real benefit to the game in England and Wales as it will significantly allow substantial debt repayments.

“I am grateful to the MMG, ECB Acting CEO Brian Havill and my colleagues on the ECB financial committee – as well as the ECB finance department – for their vital work which is most important in ensuring the financial well-being of the game.”