Venue switch for Northern Knights State Championship match

The Northern Districts Board has decided to move the State Championship match between the State Northern Knights and the State Wellington Firebirds, originally scheduled for Westpac Park in Hamilton commencing on January 9, 2003 to Owen Delaney Park in Taupo.

This has been done to allow ground staff at Hamilton maximum time to prepare the ground for the One-Day International on January 14.

"Whilst all the parties agreed to the original allocation, the board now believes it is in the best interest of all that the maximum time possible to be given to the ground staff to prepare the pitch and ground for what could be the series-deciding one-day match," said John Turkington in announcing the decision today.

"New Zealand Cricket and the Northern Districts Cricket Association have also engaged the services of the New Zealand Sports Turf Institute, and have the full support and confidence of the Taupo District Council in preparing a quality first-class wicket for this match."