South Island misses out on test (17 August 1999)

17 August 1999

South Island misses out on test

Geoff Longley

Canterbury Cricket fears for the future of Jade Stadium as a major cricket venue after its failure to secure a test match this season against the West Indies and Australia.

Canterbury Cricket's chief executive Tony Murdoch was extremely disappointed the ground missed out on a test when the international season dates were announced yesterday.

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

Wellington and Hamilton benefited, being awarded two tests apiece.

Jade Stadium will only have two days international play, with one-dayers against West Indies (January 11) and Australia (February 26).

New Zealand Cricket chief executive Chris Doig said a test against Australia at Jade Stadium was planned, but the ground was unavailable for most of March because of Super 12 rugby commitments.

"That was their (Jade Stadium's) decision that it was not available, not ours, so we had to look elsewhere," Doig said.

He admitted there was no certainty Christchurch would be allocated a test in future, with February to March traditionally the period for major cricket tours to New Zealand.

"There are no guarantees we can get a test here against England the following season although we want to play here. Cricket lovers miss out and that's a damn shame," Doig said.

However, Doig believed there was still good will on the part of the national cricket and rugby bodies to find a compromise over the problems of dual-purpose grounds in March.

Doig said Australia's request to have more rest days between one-day games, which delayed the programme's release, also had an impact on test venue allocation. When the Australian itinerary was finally released, rugby had firmed up its Super 12 venues and dates.

Doig admitted Jade Stadium could have hosted the first test, but it was given to Eden Park because it returns more money and the Auckland ground was also unavailable late in the season.

Murdoch said cricket's part in events at Jade Stadium had changed dramatically in a short space of time. "Quite clearly March is not seen as a cricket month which flies in the face of years of tradition."

He said very little cricket would be played at the game's supposed headquarters in Canterbury this season.

Being unable to stage a test match would impact financially on Canterbury Cricket.

"And it is a major disappointment to our supporters who miss the chance of seeing one of the key test clashes between New Zealand and Australia."

Doig said NZC did not wish to change the test venues for the West Indies tour and try to reschedule a test for Christchurch.

NZC also decided to stage the one-day matches, the major revenue earners, as the first segment of the Australian tour to avoid a clash with the start of the Super 12 competition.

"That's just a common-sense business decision. There was also the dew factor for day-night matches to take into account."

Doig said Australia would not entertain mixing the one-dayers and test matches because it would be re-selecting its side for the different form of the game. Last season South Africa played several one-dayers before and after the test series.

Doig said the portable pitch concept, which was trialled last season, had not yet gained approval from the International Cricket Council.

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