Cricket: University ground returned to first-class venue

Slip the roast beef sandwiches into the picnic basket and get ready to unfold the rug on the lush grass embankment. There are assurances Colin Maiden Park (CMP) will be ready in time for Auckland's domestic cricket season.

The ground replaces Eden Park outer oval while the Rugby World Cup is a work in progress. CMP will return as a first-class venue in the fourth round of the Plunket Shield when Auckland hosts Northern Districts from December 3. Mark Perham will have at least five of his grounds staff on the job as they prepare to all but vacate the Eden Park precinct.

"The Outer Oval looks more like a junk yard, we move out of our office next week and the sheds get demolished in about three weeks," said the Auckland provincial groundsman. "We'll be living out of shipping containers."

The wicket block at the reconditioned CMP is made up of Patumahoe soil, the same composition as the Eden Park number two ground.

"I've been giving it plenty of rolling, but up until two weeks ago the weather wasn't helping. Since then it's been fine. The outfield's been reseeded with a warm-season grass. It's totally drought-tolerant so hardly needs watering over summer."

Auckland Cricket chief executive Andrew Eade admits it's been a major undertaking turning the University club ground back into a first-class venue.

"It's a question of how you minimise your risk. It's hard enough supplying the resources to get one ground up to first-class standard but club grounds like Cornwall Park and the Devonport Domain could be ready for the second half of the season if we're desperate."

A trial game will be held in the last week of November between the Auckland and Northern Districts A sides. That's designed to reduce the prospect of the pitch misbehaving and anyone being a sitting duck for Brent Arnel in his current form or Daryl Tuffey (presuming they're not selected in the Black Caps to play Pakistan).

In contrast, the number one ground at Eden Park is now completely stripped of turf. Perham still can't get over the enthusiasm of punters to buy it.

"We had queues 30 cars long with trailers lining up - it was a bloody nightmare, to be quite honest. It'll be re-sanded and sown next week. Once that's done it should require minimum work over the next month or so. And we've got time, given the next fixture's in March."

At this stage Eden Park Outer Oval will be extended at the northern end and turned into a 7000 capacity test ground after the Rugby World Cup. The Black Caps last played a test in Auckland in 2006 when they beat the West Indies.