Glamorgan County Cricket Club (CCC), the only Welsh county to play in the English county championship, has announced plans to redevelop its Sophia Gardens ground.

The plans include the construction of a new pavilion at the Cathedral end and a grandstand on the site of the existing pavilion.

The scheme that could see Test cricket played in Cardiff – by the end of the decade – also includes a number of corporate boxes and two additional buildings.

When completed, the ground will hold 15,000 people.

The first phase, costing around £4m, is planned to get underway at the end of the 2004 cricket season, when – pending planning permission – the rebuilding of the pavilion and the erection of floodlights will begin.

Overall, Glamorgan CCC has budgeted £12m for the programme, and hopes to finance the plans via bank loans, with private businesses investing in the new facilities for the later stages.

The tradition of holding a benefit year for a player – when a number of friendly games and functions are held to honour a player – has also been scrapped for 2004, as the club plans to host golf days, dinners and other fund-raising events for the club’s own cause.

Paul Russell, chair, said: “Cardiff is the capital city of Wales and Glamorgan the only Welsh county in English cricket. Therefore, this is the natural home of Test cricket in Wales and will bring to the city and the club a huge kudos.” Details: www.glamorgancricket.com