By Jonathan Agnew BBC cricket correspondent

The rain clouds stayed away, and 9,000 of the Durham faithful enjoyed their first day of Test cricket.

This was a dream come true for the hard-working administrators in these parts.

And the easy, relaxed and friendly manner in which the day passed off confirmed that the Riverside is here to stay.

Although it ebbed and flowed throughout the day, the cricket did not quite match the occasion.

Zimbabwe's attack lacks penetration and there will be English batsmen cursing the fact that they missed out again

Not surprisingly, the groundstaff have erred on the side of caution rather than prepare a bowler-friendly pitch, and the result is a lifeless strip that offered little encouragement to anybody.

Batsmen need some pace on the ball in order to play their strokes.

And I am sure that it was frustration that cost England the four wickets they lost between lunch and tea, including three for 10 in 17 balls.

This was the point that Zimbabwe should have struck: England were 156-5 and, with a lengthy tail, looking vulnerable.

But Alec Stewart and the increasingly impressive Anthony McGrath steered England to safety by surviving the day and, with flashes of extravagance, they have added 142 for the sixth wicket.

McGrath scored 69 at Lord's, but this knock was more important because of England's predicament when he arrived at the crease.

McGrath's second Test 50 was more important than his first

He is very strong off his pads, and once he had become used to the slow pitch, he was soon flicking the ball away through midwicket.

He was dropped on 32 and, when Heath Streak took the second new ball, Stewart was badly missed at first slip on 54.

This could prove very costly in the morning.

Zimbabwe's attack lacks penetration and there will be English batsmen cursing the fact that they missed out again.

Michael Vaughan hit five fours in his 20 before edging to first slip and Marcus Trescothick looked good again, but gloved a catch to Tatendu Taibu as he aimed a sweep at Price.

Mark Butcher chopped Douglas Hondo into his stumps for 47, Hussain looked out of touch and faced 54 balls in his 18 before edging Hondo to Taibu.

And, after a glorious backfoot drive through the covers for four, Robert Key was given out by the third umpire for a low catch at midwicket.

He needs to score some runs in the second innings, or his place will be under threat from Graham Thorpe who is piling up the runs for Surrey.