Cricket looks to Village Green (18 August 1999)

18 August 1999

Cricket looks to Village Green

John Coffey

The Village Green at Queen Elizabeth II Park could become Christchurch's new test cricket venue.

That is one option Canterbury cricket officials are investigating following the continued demise of Jade Stadium as the city's major cricket ground.

On Monday Jade Stadium missed out on hosting a test next season against the West Indies or Australia, mainly because of a clash with Super 12 rugby games at the ground.

It was a total cricket test shut-out for the South Island, with Dunedin's Carisbrook also missing out.

All but three of 36 international playing days involving the West Indies and Australia were allocated to North Island venues.

Jade Stadium will only have two days international play next summer, with day-night games against West Indies (January 11) and Australia (February 26).

Jade Stadium's future as a test ground also looks bleak, with rugby being the dominant user.

"We have to look to our future elsewhere," Canterbury Cricket chief executive Tony Murdoch said.

Although Murdoch said there was a range of possibilities, the new Village Green at QE II Park had much appeal.

Lincoln Green at Lincoln University and Rangiora's Dudley Park were too far from the city and Hagley Oval could not be developed.

"Three years ago we went to QE II and laid the wicket and outfield. We played a Shell Trophy game there last season and it was seen by cricket people as a good venue," Murdoch said.

While negotiations were ongoing with Jade Stadium Limited about future use, Murdoch said it might be possible to have Village Green "up and running" for a test match by the 2000-2001 season.

"It would need media, public, player, and corporate facilities and some seated areas.

"Looking at English cricket grounds during the World Cup, a range of scenarios are available. Many cricket people are unhappy watching in concrete dual-purpose stadiums."

Murdoch does not hold New Zealand Cricket culpable - "in any shape or form" - for Jade Stadium being passed over.

Brian Hastings, a century-maker for New Zealand against the West Indies at Lancaster Park in 1968-69, said he was very disappointed Christchurch would not host a test next summer.

"It is sad news, you become attached to a ground and have a lot of happy memories. But cricket has to be realistic now that rugby encroaches about nine months of the year," he said.

"It will be better for cricket if we can have our own ground where we can play when we like. March is in the cricket season and always has been."

Hastings said Jade Stadium had drawbacks. There was too much concrete to make cricket-watching a pleasant experience and its oval shape left rugby spectators too far from the action.

"The wicket problem has not been resolved. The portable pitch was not satisfactory last year," he said.

QE II Park general manager Alan Direen said as soil became available from other projects the sculptured embankments at Village Green would be extended around the boundaries. "Christchurch will then have a second-tier venue which will house about 3000 spectators, a bit like Molyneux Park in Alexandra," Direen said.

A partnership between cricket and the Christchurch City Council would be needed for further development.

"We need ablution blocks and changing facilities. If it was to be a major venue it would need a lot more spent on it. It has the unusual advantage of being a natural sand base," he said.

New Zealand's dual-purpose venues are administered differently.

Carisbrook is owned by the Otago Rugby Union, and the trust deed for Auckland's Eden Park gives cricket preference for six months of each year.

Canterbury cricket does not have that luxury at Jade Stadium.

Source :: The Christchurch Press (https://www.press.co.nz/)