Brendon Bracewell's vision became a reality yesterday as the red ribbon was cut on his new cricket academy on the Rathkeale College grounds.
Former test paceman Bracewell moved to Masterton a year ago from Tauranga and had a dream of lifting Wairarapa cricket back up to the lofty heyday of the
late 1970s.
"Wairarapa was New Zealand's strongest cricketing province back then, but we have since seen the slow demise of provincial cricket with the rise of professionalism," he said.
"This is the first step towards reversing the shocking trend of the provinces dying for the benefit of the super-provinces."
The new all-weather practice nets along with the existing cricket oval, a strategy for coaching and the import of quality young overseas players, aims to raise the level of Wairarapa cricket coaching to rival any in the country.
The $80,000 needed to build the practice facility was raised by the Wairarapa Sports Education Trust, Rathkeale College and members of the community.
Trust board member Doug Catley said the new nets and strategy were a "great attribute" to Wairarapa cricket.
"It will put us up with any province you care to name. The Wairarapa will become a centre of excellence for cricket," he said.
Bracewell explained that New Zealand wickets were slower than most overseas, and the new practice facility had been specially designed to mimic New Zealand test wicket conditions.
"The wicket is underlaid with absorbaform, rather than asphalt, to take the edge off fast bowlers, and overlaid with astro-turf.
"It also has a full 22-yard run-up for quick bowlers, and it's a good spin surface."
- NZPA
