New Zealand's seventh home test venue will make its debut next month after getting a clean bill of health yesterday.
Dunedin's University Oval will host the first test against Bangladesh, starting on January 4 after New Zealand Cricket completed a review of a pitch used, with disastrous results,for last week's State Championship game between Otago and Auckland.
The game lasted less than two days, drawing furious criticism from Auckland's coach Mark O'Donnell, and more muted concerns further south.
NZC sent its turf manager, Jared Carter, to inspect the oval. Eden Park's groundsman, Mark Perham, also travelled to Dunedin to give an assessment on whether the test pitch will be ready.
"The review has suggested that, with the right preparation, there is confidence over producing a good test wicket," NZC chief executive Justin Vaughan said yesterday.
Otago's win in a game which lasted just 172.3 overs, raised the alarm.
There is a desire to get test cricket back to Dunedin. The city's more recent test - the 10th at Carisbrook - was in March, 1997, when New Zealand beat Sri Lanka by an innings and 36 runs. The match against India in December 1998 was washed out.
University Oval will join Eden Park, Seddon Park in Hamilton, McLean Park in Napier, Wellington's Basin Reserve, Christchurch's AMI Stadium and Carisbrook as a test host.
"We shall continue to work with the Dunedin City Council to ensure the pitch is up to international standard and will be closely monitoring its progress," Vaughan added, which sounded vaguely like a hint of a standby option.
Groundsmen reckon a good test pitch can be prepared in 10 days. The clock is ticking.
But Perham believes there's sufficient time to get things right.
"There's no doubt they can get things together there," he said.
* Bangladesh arrive in Auckland tomorrow for their tour, which includes two tests, three ODIs and a handful of one-day leadup games in Hamilton and Auckland.
They are captained by Mohammad Ashraful and start with one-day games against Northern Districts at Seddon Park on Sunday and Tuesday.
