KEY POINTS:
Forget Eden Park's stadium as a test cricket venue for the foreseeable future - but don't rule out Auckland to host five-dayers perhaps as soon as late next year.
Plans are afoot to turn the park's outer oval into a test compliant ground as Auckland Cricket work to
ensure the city's absence from New Zealand's home test roster is a one-season aberration.
When Bangladesh and England visit next summer, their five tests will be at Wellington's Basin Reserve (twice), Hamilton's Seddon Park, Napier's McLean Park and University Oval in Dunedin.
The change is because New Zealand Cricket is opting for smaller, more cricket-specific venues.
There was a message in the schedule for Jade Stadium in Christchurch, too. Both it and Eden Park No 1 are seen as ODI grounds, where the crowds are much larger than for the traditional form of the game.
Putting a test on at Eden Park, especially once its capacity is up to 60,000, is financially unworkable for crowds of less than 10,000 a day. Ditto Jade Stadium.
Auckland Cricket had heard the mutterings that this might be coming, but the decision was still a blow, especially as England are the one test nation who travel with an army of thousands of supporters.
But now the association are proceeding with plans to make the most of the outer ground, which until now has been a picturesque spot used for Auckland's domestic games.
"We've done the groundwork and believe we are very close to complying with the International Cricket Council at the moment," Auckland chairman Brent King said yesterday.
Their understanding is the present size of the playing area is sufficient but security needs tightening, along with more spectator seating and improved VIP and media areas.
"We are expecting that later this year the ICC will review it.
"It won't occur overnight. You don't expect to become a test ground in 10 minutes," King said.
Hovering over everything, however, is the impending redevelopment for the 2011 rugby World Cup.
Governance discussions are going on at present and Auckland Cricket hope the development won't affect the outer ground to the detriment of their plans.
"Now that NZC have made a ruling, it does create opportunities.
"We can't sit back and say a 60,000 seat stadium in the middle of Auckland works [for cricket].
"We've got to have something that is appropriate for cricket," King added.
The West Indies, Australia and India are due in New Zealand in the 2008-09 season, the Aussies only for the three Chappell Hadlee ODIs.
King hopes the outer oval can be approved in time for a test against one of the other two.
The main stadium will host two ODIs next summer, one each against Bangladesh, on Boxing Day, and England on February 15, and a Twenty20 match against the English on February 7.
It is expected to remain an ODI host.
From King's perspective there's no point getting grumpy over NZC's decision on Eden Park No 1.
"We understand their position. They've made it clear. We've got to deliver what NZC want, or we miss out and it's certainly an objective of ours that this is the last time we lose a test in Auckland."
