Basin’s Pakistan ODI bonus
The turf and drainage overhaul at Napier’s McLean Park could mean good news for Wellington cricket fans who are set for a Basin ODI bonus in January.
New Zealand Cricket is expected to release its summer schedule this week, which is understood to feature two one-day internationals against Pakistan at the Basin Reserve.
It means the Champions Trophy winners could face the Black Caps three times in Wellington in January, with a Twenty20 international also pencilled in for Westpac Stadium on January 22, Anniversary Monday.
The Basin was already confirmed last year to host one of the five January ODIs against Pakistan, as was McLean Park.
But with the ground’s owner Napier City Council confirming a $2 million turf and drainage overhaul which will stretch from late October to late January, it won’t be ready in time and left NZC searching for an alternative venue.
With the T20 in Wellington three days later it’s convenient to shift the fifth ODI on January 19 to the Basin, which also hosts the series opener on January 6.
Pakistan are familiar with the Basin, having played in the ground’s first ODI in 11 years in January 2016.
That game, won by New Zealand by 70 runs, was deemed a success even if capacity was reduced to a sellout crowd of 6192 - a far cry from its former 12,500.
That was partly due to the earthquake prone Museum Stand still being off limits to spectators, with no decision made on its future in a frustrating roadblock to progress at the historic ground.
The R.A Vance Stand received a much-needed makeover this year as part of a $20 million Wellington City Council masterplan, which aims to bring the ground up to scratch, increase capacity and eventually install lights.
NZC chief executive David White said before the 2016 Pakistan ODI that he saw the Basin Reserve as a viable ODI venue against ‘‘second tier’’ nations.
‘‘It’s such a special ground for New Zealand, and I think against the right opposition ODIs at the Basin would be terrific.’’
With the potential Basin bonus, the Black Caps will play six matches in Wellington in a home season featuring up to 48 days of international cricket.
On top of the two Pakistan ODIs the Basin will host a West Indies test in December, while Westpac Stadium hosts the T20 against Pakistan, a tri-series T20 international against England on February 14 and an ODI against England.
NZC already confirmed Christchurch’s Hagley Oval and Auckland’s Eden Park as hosts of the two England tests in late March.
The Eden Park test still has an asterisk over whether it will be a day-nighter as planned, as NZC awaits resource consent from Auckland City Council to stage cricket on a Sunday night which has never been done at the country’s largest stadium.