The Rose Bowl is the newest county headquarters in England

The venue near Southampton could host its first Test in 2010, involving either Bangladesh or West Indies.

Rose Bowl Chairman Rod Bransgrove said: "This is a momentous day for Hampshire Cricket and the Rose Bowl."

The move follows an announcement of �35m redevelopment plans, including improved access, which the ECB has said must be completed by 2009.

"The Rose Bowl is an exciting new venue with international quality floodlights and impressive development plans," said ECB chief executive David Collier.

"We congratulate the Rose Bowl on this significant step."

The bidding process for the 2010 Test matches will start early next year.

The proposed work on the Rose Bowl will increase the temporary capacity of the ground to 23,600 - making it bigger than all but one of the current Test venues in England.

Earlier this year, millionaire backer Bransgrove issued a veiled threat to quit the sport after Cardiff beat the Rose Bowl to the right to stage an Ashes Test in 2009.

Since opening in 2001, the Rose Bowl has hosted seven one-day internationals and last year's Twenty20 international against Australia in front of 16,000 fans.

As part of the development a four-star resort hotel is to be built at the 150-acre site and the existing golf course is to be extended from nine holes to an 18-hole championship-standard facility.