Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui will stage more first-class action next season.PHOTO/PHOTOSPORT
Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui will stage more first-class action next season.PHOTO/PHOTOSPORT
Preparations are well under way for what promises to be an exciting year for cricket in the Bay of Plenty.
The work done during the winter months is what sets our course for the following summer, and undertaking this work in August and September simply does not work well forus - it concentrates effort in the wrong places when we should be putting the finishing touches on our plans for the season ahead.
Our constituent sub-associations (Taupo, Rotorua, Whakatane and Western Bay of Plenty Cricket Associations) are also reviewing and revising their plans in light of the progress that each is making. Our BOPCA personnel have met with the committees from each area, to assist them with developing key strategies that will shape the outcomes in those places in years to come.
Early preparations are also key with our players and we know that the work put in at an early age pays rich dividends years down the track. The concept of investment in the development of sport among younger players is well-established and the evidence is compelling. However, for the investment to be effective, there must be consistent delivery of high-quality development programmes.
New Zealand Cricket has introduced their One Cricket concept, which is designed to embrace diversity in the game and in the participants. Ably led by Martin Snedden (former Black Cap and former CEO of NZC), the determination to place cricket among the top international sporting codes is well on track.
Closer to home, there are big plans afoot for the ongoing development of Bay Oval at Mount Maunganui. Bay Oval is one of the premier sporting facilities in our region and it is set to move up the list of cricketing venues in New Zealand. A major announcement is to be made soon which will detail the progress - so watch this space.
Tauranga (and Bay Oval) has been selected as a host city for the upcoming Under-19 Cricket World Cup, due to be held in New Zealand during January 2018. This promises to be a major international drawcard for visitors to our region, further developing the business of sport in the Bay. In addition, the matches played here will attract an international television audience of more than 400 million people.
Through cricket, Bay of Plenty will hit the international stage in a way never before experienced.
