Otago indoor facility proving popular

Otago's modern indoor cricket facility is starting to prove very popular as teams work on their winter programmes and clubs start to build up for their seasons.

Otago has 35 winter representative squads working out of the facility and time is having to be managed carefully.

Because of the high use of the indoor facilities, the Otago Cricket Association has spent another $20,000 doing up a secondary area for use by club cricket sides.

"Otago chief executive Graeme Elliott said today, "The beauty of having the facility is that we can do work with all those squads.

"The squads and individuals have been doing their preparations there while clubs haven't really used it yet. However, we are starting to get enquiries."

The main part of the complex has two batting strips, one for pace and another for spin and the bowlers' run-ups are softened to minimise injury prospects for bowlers.

The coming season is a big one for Otago as it is celebrating its 125th summer.

Jubilee activities are still being planned but one feature promises to be the presentation of New Zealand Cricket's individual Test Black Caps to New Zealand's surviving triple century makers, Glenn Turner, Ken Rutherford and Mark Richardson while a member of the Blunt family is expected to be able to attend the function to receive Roger Blunt's cap.