Bagpipes and Black Caps
Scotland will feel right at home at University Oval, where they will play two matches
Marc Swain-Rogatski
04-Nov-2014
Dunedin's Test venue, University Oval, is set for ODI action • AFP
The southernmost venue for the World Cup in 2015 is Dunedin. It is the home of Otago Volts, and cricket has a rich history in Dunedin: New Zealand's inaugural first-class fixture was played in the city, between Otago and Canterbury, back to 1864.
The venue
Three games are set to be played at University Oval in Logan Park, a seven-minute drive from the Dunedin town centre. Before this new venue for the summer sport, cricket was played at Carisbrook, in south Dunedin. Rightly nicknamed "The House of Pain", the stadium was a formidable place for touring teams. If the Otago sun was not shining, visitors often found the cooler conditions hard to adjust to. On the field, the home team would ride a wave of electric support, often from booming rallies of students in the terraces. The ground, also the home for Otago rugby, closed its gates for the last time in 2011, with the covered Forsyth Barr Stadium taking rugby duties and University Oval acquiring cricket.
Three games are set to be played at University Oval in Logan Park, a seven-minute drive from the Dunedin town centre. Before this new venue for the summer sport, cricket was played at Carisbrook, in south Dunedin. Rightly nicknamed "The House of Pain", the stadium was a formidable place for touring teams. If the Otago sun was not shining, visitors often found the cooler conditions hard to adjust to. On the field, the home team would ride a wave of electric support, often from booming rallies of students in the terraces. The ground, also the home for Otago rugby, closed its gates for the last time in 2011, with the covered Forsyth Barr Stadium taking rugby duties and University Oval acquiring cricket.
The Oval's games are all day fixtures and, with the February sun beaming down, will be set up nicely for the first outing between New Zealand and Scotland. The Scottish team has two games at the ground and will get good support, with Dunedin having a proud Scottish heritage.
Great matches (Carisbrook)
New Zealand v England, 5th ODI, 2002
Nathan Astle was one of New Zealand's finest openers. Supporting this is the fact that he has four of the top ten highest ODI scores at Carisbrook. His highest was 122 not out, in a winning effort against England to seal the series 3-2 for New Zealand.
New Zealand v England, 5th ODI, 2002
Nathan Astle was one of New Zealand's finest openers. Supporting this is the fact that he has four of the top ten highest ODI scores at Carisbrook. His highest was 122 not out, in a winning effort against England to seal the series 3-2 for New Zealand.
New Zealand v India, 27th match, World Cup, March 1992
This 1992 World Cup match saw Sachin Tendulkar hit 84 to steer India to 230. New Zealand chased down the total with three overs to spare, with fifties by Andrew Jones and Mark Greatbatch.
This 1992 World Cup match saw Sachin Tendulkar hit 84 to steer India to 230. New Zealand chased down the total with three overs to spare, with fifties by Andrew Jones and Mark Greatbatch.
Top performers in ODIs
Most runs: Nathan Astle, 422 at 105.50 | Highest score: Nathan Astle 122 not out v England | Most wickets: Richard Hadlee 18 at 10.44 | Best bowling: Richard Hadlee 5 for 38 v Pakistan
Most runs: Nathan Astle, 422 at 105.50 | Highest score: Nathan Astle 122 not out v England | Most wickets: Richard Hadlee 18 at 10.44 | Best bowling: Richard Hadlee 5 for 38 v Pakistan
Major players
Brendon McCullum | Nathan McCullum | Ken Rutherford | Hamish Rutherford | Glenn Turner | Stephen Boock | Bert Sutcliffe
Brendon McCullum | Nathan McCullum | Ken Rutherford | Hamish Rutherford | Glenn Turner | Stephen Boock | Bert Sutcliffe
Home team
Otago have won the first-class Plunket Shield 13 times since its inception in 1906, and have had recent success in the T20 format, making it to the Champions League T20 twice.
Otago have won the first-class Plunket Shield 13 times since its inception in 1906, and have had recent success in the T20 format, making it to the Champions League T20 twice.
University Oval has hosted two ODIs and six Tests so far. The pitch was criticised following the 2013 Test against England for not offering enough to provide a result. However, some exciting domestic games - including several with local hero Brendon McCullum wielding his blade in style - indicate possibilities for some exciting encounters in the South.