Big is good - Dykes

Bigger is better, as far as Otago Cricket Association chief executive Ross Dykes is concerned.

• Art gallery decision culmination of a lot of effort: Dykes 

If the proposed demolition of a section of the former Dunedin Art Gallery goes ahead, the association will be able to press on with a planned expansion he hopes will see the venue attract regular tests against higher calibre opponents.

Mr Dykes said the partial demolition would pave the way to increase the capacity of the ground from about 3000 to 6500 and lengthen the venue's shortest boundary from 52m to 62m.

"I think what cricket and the council are doing is future-proofing Dunedin as a test venue.

"And I think that is pretty important," he said.

"If we can make ourselves the No 1 test venue in the South Island, which this should do, then I'd be very upset if we didn't get tests," he said, adding he believed New Zealand Cricket had been reluctant to schedule tests against opponents like Australia and England because of the ground's limited dimensions.

"It gives Dunedin and the University Oval more credibility as a test venue."

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