NZC shifts one-dayer to Basin Reserve

Australia's one-dayer against New Zealand, which was to be held at Westpac Park in Hamilton, has been shifted to the Basin Reserve after complaints with the pitch. The match has been preponed by a day, and will now be played on March 1. New Zealand took on a World XI last week on the fresh strip, but 16 wickets fell for 164, raising concerns of its suitability for international matches. Shane Warne was vocal about his doubts over the wicket, and then the New Zealand Cricket Board decided to transfer the game to another location.

The chief executive of the New Zealand board, Martin Snedden, said, "The Basin Reserve presented us with the best option for a mid week match," before explaining that the pitch could be relied upon, and the venue made geographically logistical sense as well. "...with matches in Auckland before the transferred match and in Napier immediately after, Wellington suited us better logistically than a South Island venue.

"We were also conscious of the need to avoid flooding the Auckland market with cricket, as Eden Park is already holding three major matches during the Australian tour.

"This is the first time we have held an ODI at the Basin since 1999 and we are looking forward to a good response from the Wellington public."