Cricket: Bigger ground needed: Dykes

Otago Cricket Association patron Iain Gallaway (left) and OCA chairman Murray Hughes open the...
Otago Cricket Association patron Iain Gallaway (left) and OCA chairman Murray Hughes open the Iain Gallaway Library in the longroom at the University Oval last night. Photo by Craig Baxter.
Expanding the University Oval is critical to the future of the test venue, Otago Cricket Association chief executive Ross Dykes said at the body's annual meeting last night.

The University Oval hosted a test between New Zealand and Bangladesh in January this year and will host a test against the West Indies in December.

But Dykes said the association could not afford to be complacent, and shortly after the meeting he told the Otago Daily Times the venue might struggle to attract test matches unless it was expanded.

"If we want the ultimate test venue we have to expand its capacity," he said.

Dykes said while New Zealand Cricket had not put any pressure on the association to increase the dimensions of the venue, "they are wanting to see a time-frame as to when things can happen".

The ground can be extended if the former Dunedin Art Gallery, where the professional arm of Otago rugby has set up office, is removed or partly removed.

Both the OCA and the Dunedin City Council have expressed a desire to have the building removed, but it remains a stumbling block.

The historic building was part of the South Seas exhibition in 1925.

Black Caps captain Daniel Vettori inadvertently waded into the debate earlier this year when he described the length of the boundaries as "farcical" after his side's nine-wicket demolition of Bangladesh.

But the real powerbroker appears to be Sky Television.

"Sky are very anxious to get the media centre moved back" and the ground expanded, because it has a blind spot, Dykes said.

The broadcaster has much clout when it comes to the scheduling of internationals. Money from broadcasting rights provides much of the funding for the game at the elite level.

Meanwhile, the Iain Gallaway Library, in the Otago cricket longroom, was officially opened last night.

The retired broadcaster is the association's patron and plans to donate some cricket books from his collection of more than 1000.

Board member Stuart Heal stepped down after 10 years of service.

Former Dunedin club cricketer Mark Knox replaces him.

 

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