[3] In 1981, Durham became the first university other than Oxford or Cambridge to play against a county side, with a three day match against Nottinghamshire at The Racecourse.

Prior to first-class status, players such as Andrew Strauss and Nasser Hussain played for the university's cricket club.

[16] As Durham University Centre of Cricketing Excellence, the team played 27 first-class matches from 2001 to 2009.

[10] As Durham Marylebone Cricket Club University, the team played 21 first-class matches (not including one abandoned and two cancelled) from 2010 to 2020.

[7] An expansion of the university's Maiden Castle sports centre in 2019 included the construction of an indoor cricket hall.