The Otago Cricket Association's chief executive, Ross Dykes, said yesterday that the association will bid for a test against a major cricketing nation such as Australia, England or India.
The $5 million re-development will result in an improved Oval and make the boutique ground the No 1 test venue in the South Island.
Dykes hopes that will result in regular international fixtures against higher calibre opponents.
He did not know which countries would be touring New Zealand in the 2011-12 season but expected a favourable response from Cricket New Zealand to a bid to hold a test in Dunedin.
The revamped University Oval will have boundaries of at least 65m to all parts of the ground.
Some of the old boundaries were too short.
The expanded ground will also cater for more spectators and temporary seating for a test will expand capacity to over 6000.
The previous crowd limit was 3500.
"It is all looking very promising," Dykes said.
"Everything is on target and is being done on time."
The test for the new ground and the expanded cricket wicket will come when first-class cricket is played at the University Oval from mid-February next year.
The Community and Recreation Services Manager of the Dunedin City Council Mick Rees said that all the planned work at the ground had been completed over the last 12 months.
The media centre had been shifted back, three bays in the old Art Gallery had been removed and the cricket block had been shifted.
There is now an eight-pitch wicket block that will allow more games to be played at the ground.
"The cricket block was shifted before the winter," Dykes said.
The drainage work for the new area of ground is being completed and new turf has been sown.
As part of the ground expansion the driveway in front of the grandstand has been reduced by a metre.
