Wonderful venue also NZ fortress

The University Oval. Photo: Gerard O'Brien
The University Oval. Photo: Gerard O'Brien
Eight tests.

Eight ODIs.

One twenty20 international.

Adrian Seconi.
Adrian Seconi.

And still ... undefeated.

The University of Otago Oval is to the Black Caps what Eden Park is to the All Blacks — it has been a fortress for the home side.

It has been 13 years since the venue made its international debut.

The Black Caps hosted Bangladesh in a test in January 2008.

There were concerned gasps all round when Habibul Bashar got a thick edge and it flew for six early on the opening morning.

The ground was too small in those early days.

The pitch was not that great either and the drainage was suspect.

The less said about the kitty litter incident the better. But let's just say the venue's reputation curve was a little flat to begin with.

But the Otago Cricket Association, led by the late Ross Dykes, continued to develop the ground and it has matured into a wonderful venue.

The drainage has been substantially upgraded. The dimensions have been improved, although it is essentially still a small ground.

The pitch plays nothing like it did in the bad old days of first-class sides being rolled for fewer than a 100.

In the winter, 30 burly men run around it with sprigs on their boots, puncturing holes in the hallow turf.

There is tension between rugby and cricket and how those often overlapping seasons are managed.

But it is also part of the venue's charm in a way. It is a multi-use facility which the city makes the most of.

Today the Black Caps will host Bangladesh in a one-day international and they will certainly have history on their side.

Despite Bashar — what a great name for a batsman — snicking an early six, the home side recorded a comfortable nine-wicket win back in 2008 and so began the unbeaten streak.

The test against Pakistan in November 2009 was memorable for several reasons. It was the last of Shane Bond's 18 tests and the great fast bowler took a five-wicket bag to help set up a tense 32-run win.

Daniel Vettori nicked out on 99 when he tried to run a delivery from Umar Gul down to third man.

And let's hope what we were watching was sporting theatre at its best. Pakistan appeared on track for victory but lost five wickets in the final session to lose.

It is a game which has raised a few suspicious eyebrows.

Otago's Hamish Rutherford will remember fondly the test against England in March 2013. He blazed 171 on international debut.

Unfortunately, the pitch had little life left in it after he was done and the game meandered to a draw.

Of the eight tests the Black Caps have played at the ground, they have won three and drawn the other five.

Rain has intervened once or twice; we are not going to lie. And sometimes it has answered those prayers.

Of the eight straight ODI wins the Black Caps have managed, the most memorable was three years ago when Ross Taylor bludgeoned an undefeated 181 to help his side overhaul England's formidable total of 335 for nine.

He was down to one good leg for a large portion of that knock.

Perhaps the closest the Black Caps have come to losing was last month when Australia made a late surge in the only twenty20 international staged at the ground.

The Black Caps held on to win by four runs despite Marcus Stoinis smashing 78 from 37 balls.

When Jimmy Neesham took a wicket with a full toss first ball of the last over in that game, you had to wonder if the Black Caps really are invincible at the Oval.

Add a Comment

OUTSTREAM