Cricket clock the tick-it till Cup

Otago Cricket marketing manager Andy McLean (left) and Black Cap Nathan McCullum unveil the...
Otago Cricket marketing manager Andy McLean (left) and Black Cap Nathan McCullum unveil the countdown clock for the 2015 Cricket World Cup, while (from left) cricketers from Tahuna Normal Intermediate, Otago Cricket chief executive Ross Dykes, Volts player Ian Butler and Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull watch at the Octagon yesterday. Photo by Linda Robertson.
The countdown is on to the 2015 Cricket World Cup.

In 365 days international cricket's showpiece event will return to New Zealand for the first time since Martin Crowe's heroics and tactical nous took New Zealand to within a sniff of the final in 1992.

The University Oval will host three matches and yesterday, despite the rain and cold wind, about 40 people gathered to watch the unveiling of the countdown clock in the Octagon.

Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull joked before the unveiling that he had requested council staff to put good weather in the diary for a year's time - ''God knows what it's going to do to the budget''.

While not an ''avid fan'' of cricket himself, Mr Cull said he was nonetheless looking forward to what the event ''brings to the city''.

''There's the obvious economic benefit of visitors, but it's the ability of Dunedin to have access to top-class cricket players,'' Mr Cull said.

Otago Cricket chief executive Ross Dykes said preparation for the event was going well.

New Zealand plays Scotland in Dunedin's first match of the contest on February 17.

It was fitting New Zealand would play the Scots in the Edinburgh of the South, Mr Dykes said.

''It's quite a nice touch,'' he said.

''Whoever played New Zealand in Dunedin, it would have been a feature match, but it's quite appropriate.''

In Dunedin's other matches, Sri Lanka will play Afghanistan on February 22 and Afghanistan and Scotland will meet on February 26.

The countdown clock is on display in the council's Civic Centre Plaza.

 

Add a Comment

 

Advertisement