Cricket: Work pays off as Oval attracts internationals

A collaborative approach between the Otago Cricket Association and the Dunedin City Council paid dividends yesterday with news the University Oval will host a test and two one-dayers during the next two summers.

New Zealand Cricket announced its home schedule for the 2016-17 and 2017-18 seasons and Dunedin has been allocated a test against South Africa in March and ODIs against Pakistan (late January) and England (early March) in 2018.

Otago Cricket Association chief executive Mike Coggan was thrilled with the news and said it was the result of a lot of hard work.

"It is really, really exciting but it hasn't just come about by simply putting a proposition to New Zealand Cricket,'' Coggan said.

"It come about through a three-way partnership which has been driven extensively by the Dunedin City Council and [the council-owned] Dunedin Venues Management Limited.

"That partnership has been responsible for the quality of international cricket that we will now see over the next two seasons.''

The University Oval has hosted seven tests, including South Africa in March 2012.

It has also hosted four ODIs and three World Cup matches.

However, while the venue has been assigned regular matches since making its international debut in 2008, the rise of Hagley Oval and other venues around the country threatened to reduce the number of fixtures the venue could attract.

Its capacity of about 3500 was considered a major stumbling block.

Otago Cricket committed to a $750,000 upgrade of the embankments this year.

Work is under way on the project and, when it is complete, the University Oval's capacity will exceed New Zealand Cricket's minimum requirement of 6000.

"What it means is with all the work we are doing improving the quality of the embankments, the new scoreboard and all of that ... means it really is going to be an [asset] over the next two summers.''

Perhaps the highlight of the summer, though, will be the Chappell-Hadlee Series, when the Black Caps playing Australia in three ODIs in late January and early February.

South Africa's tour here will offer cricket fans a lot to look forward to, as well.

The Proteas will play three tests, five ODIs and a twenty20 match.

Pakistan will play two tests against the Black Caps in November before Bangladesh arrives in December for six limited-overs fixtures and two tests.

Pakistan will return in 2017-18 and Australia will back for more Chappell-Hadlee cricket, as well as the West Indies and England.

The first test against England will mark the return of test cricket to Eden Park after it hosted India in 2014.

The plan is for the game to be played as a day-nighter but no agreement has been reached yet.

NZC chief executive David White was pleased with the outcome of the schedule.

"The last couple of years has seen a significant rise in interest in cricket and I think the schedule we've locked in will help that interest continue to grow,'' White said.

"We're really pleased how much of the country we've been able to cover with the schedule, with a strong North and South Island split. Both will see a lot of test cricket over the next two years and that's been driven by the feedback from the fans.''

 


New Zealand
2016-17 schedule

Nov 17-21 v Pakistan, 1st test, Christchurch; Nov 25-29 v Pakistan, 2nd test, Hamilton; Dec 26 v Bangladesh, 1st ODI, Christchurch; Dec 29 v Bangladesh, 2nd ODI, Nelson; Dec 31 v Bangladesh, 3rd ODI, Nelson; Jan 3 v Bangladesh, 1st T20, Napier; Jan 6 v Bangladesh, 2nd T20, Mt Maunganui; Jan 8 v Bangladesh, 3rd T20, Mt Maunganui; Jan 12-16 v Bangladesh, 1st test, Wellington; Jan 20-24 v Bangladesh, 2nd test, Christchurch; Jan 30 v Australia, 1st ODI, Auckland; Feb 2 v Australia, 2nd ODI, Napier; Feb 5 v Australia, 3rd ODI, Hamilton; Feb 17 v South Africa, 1st T20, Auckland; Feb 19 v South Africa, 1st ODI, Hamilton; Feb 22 v South Africa, 2nd ODI, Christchurch; Feb 25 v South Africa, 3rd ODI, Wellington; March 1 v South Africa, 4th ODI, Napier; March 4 v South Africa, 5th ODI, Auckland; March 8-12 v South Africa, 1st test, Dunedin; March 16-20 v South Africa, 2nd test, Wellington; March 25-29 v South Africa, 3rd test, Hamilton.


 

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