Rising from the East
With Pacific views and short boundaries, McLean Park is a stadium like no other
Will Macpherson
04-Nov-2014
McLean Park is a stone's throw from the ocean • Getty Images
There aren't too many international cricket grounds with ocean views, let alone of the South Pacific, but that is exactly what McLean Park in Napier, the quirky, art deco heart of the gorgeous Hawke's Bay region, offers. Lying very close to the international dateline, it's also the world's easternmost international cricket ground.
The venue
Like Eden Park in Auckland, it's a multi-sport venue that also plays host to the All Blacks, but through the presence of a vast grass bank at the appropriately named Embankment End, it has retained the personality of a cricket ground rather than simply being any old concrete sports stadium. Opposite the bank is the Centennial Stand. The adjacent Graham Lowe Stand (named after a local businessman) completed the development of the ground in 2009, increasing the seating capacity to 22,500. When New Zealand or All Blacks aren't in town, McLean Park is home to Central Districts Cricket and Hawke's Bay Rugby Union, who play in the domestic ITM Cup competition.
Like Eden Park in Auckland, it's a multi-sport venue that also plays host to the All Blacks, but through the presence of a vast grass bank at the appropriately named Embankment End, it has retained the personality of a cricket ground rather than simply being any old concrete sports stadium. Opposite the bank is the Centennial Stand. The adjacent Graham Lowe Stand (named after a local businessman) completed the development of the ground in 2009, increasing the seating capacity to 22,500. When New Zealand or All Blacks aren't in town, McLean Park is home to Central Districts Cricket and Hawke's Bay Rugby Union, who play in the domestic ITM Cup competition.
The ground itself takes the name of Sir Donald McLean, a prominent farmer and Hawke's Bay MP in the 19th century. His son, Douglas, gifted the land to the city as a memorial to his father. The four acres on which the ground lies, just a stone's throw from the city and the ocean and with those stunning views, remains prime real estate. The south side of the city is home to another cricket ground, the picturesque Nelson Park.
Out in the middle, McLean Park tends to be a batsman's paradise in both Test and ODI cricket, with just three of the ground's ten Tests ending in a result. This is due in part to the dry, dusty Hawke's Bay summers that sap moisture from the pitch and in part because of the rugby-induced square ends, which lead to short boundaries, favouring attacking batsmen, especially during the Powerplays. This is reflected in the ground's ODI statistics: since 2005, seven totals in excess of 320 have been registered.
At the back end of what we can expect to be a typically arid North Island summer, expect runs when Pakistan and West Indies take on UAE, and when Afghanistan meet New Zealand in March. Indeed, the venue has proved a happy hunting ground for both New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum and local boy Ross Taylor, who have 600 and 584 ODI runs at the ground respectively, including two centuries in just 11 innings for the latter.
Great matches
Rather peculiarly, McLean Park has played host to two tied matches, both between New Zealand and England. First, in 1997, the hosts were bowled out for 237, before Chris Harris' 3 for 20 prevented England from crossing the line. Needing two off the last ball, Darren Gough could only manage a scrambled bye to leave the scores tied. Eleven years later, England's top order set New Zealand an imposing 341 to win, thanks to six sixes by Paul Collingwood as he raced to 50 in 24 balls, but the hosts fell one short of their target, despite local boy Jamie How's 139.
Rather peculiarly, McLean Park has played host to two tied matches, both between New Zealand and England. First, in 1997, the hosts were bowled out for 237, before Chris Harris' 3 for 20 prevented England from crossing the line. Needing two off the last ball, Darren Gough could only manage a scrambled bye to leave the scores tied. Eleven years later, England's top order set New Zealand an imposing 341 to win, thanks to six sixes by Paul Collingwood as he raced to 50 in 24 balls, but the hosts fell one short of their target, despite local boy Jamie How's 139.
Top performers in ODIs
Most runs: Nathan Astle and Stephen Fleming, both 743 runs at 53.07 | Highest score: Ricky Ponting, 141* v New Zealand | Most wickets: Daniel Vettori, 25 wickets at 32.20 | Best bowling: Muttiah Muralitharan, 5 for 30 v New Zealand
Most runs: Nathan Astle and Stephen Fleming, both 743 runs at 53.07 | Highest score: Ricky Ponting, 141* v New Zealand | Most wickets: Daniel Vettori, 25 wickets at 32.20 | Best bowling: Muttiah Muralitharan, 5 for 30 v New Zealand
Home team
Central Stags have won the Plunket Shield competition nine times in their history, as well as the domestic 50-over and T20 competitions four times and twice respectively. Their most recent Plunket Shield triumph came in 2012-13. These days their squad contains internationals Ross Taylor and Doug Bracewell.
Central Stags have won the Plunket Shield competition nine times in their history, as well as the domestic 50-over and T20 competitions four times and twice respectively. Their most recent Plunket Shield triumph came in 2012-13. These days their squad contains internationals Ross Taylor and Doug Bracewell.