Dunedin to shine a light for cricket

A general view of the University Oval. Photo / Getty Images

Lighting up cricket in Dunedin will enhance Otago Cricket's ambitions to host more international matches.

Plans are afoot to erect light towers at University Oval in time to be used next summer. The cost is about $2 million, of which the Dunedin City Council is being asked to stump up half, with OC confident it can cover the balance.

The DCC rejected the proposal when it was tabled before Christmas. However there is optimism a change of mind is in the offing at budget meetings next month and in June. Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull wouldn't comment.

Raising the capacity to 6000 is also part of the plan, although unconnected to the lighting project.

At present no day-night cricket can be played in the South Island with none of the other three southern venues, Hagley Oval in Christchurch, Saxton Oval in Nelson and Queenstown's Events Centre, having lights. The only grounds with lighting in the country are Eden Park, Seddon Park in Hamilton, Napier's McLean Park and Westpac Stadium in Wellington.

Given the amount of cricket New Zealand play involving the sub-continent, and the size of the financial benefits to New Zealand Cricket of beaming matches into, chiefly, India, in good viewing timeslots for them - ie, day-night fixtures in New Zealand - the idea has merit.

"The compelling reasons we think this project is worth doing is we have an assurance from NZC that we will get cricket for the next eight years against all touring teams," outgoing OC chief executive Ross Dykes said. "If we don't keep pace at the top level we start to lose credibility."

Between December and March, New Zealand are hosting inbound tours from Australia (three tests, with the possibility of some limited-overs component), Sri Lanka (two tests, five ODIs and two T20s), Pakistan for a series of limited-overs matches and possibly a short visit from the West Indies before heading to the world T20 in India in March-April.

"We are quite well off with our supply of grounds," NZC head of cricket Lindsay Crocker said yesterday.

"Lights make a difference. When India were last here (early in 2014) all the ODIs were in the North Island for television, so these lights will assist in having South Island lit games."

Auckland Cricket are advertising for a new head coach for next summer.

However chief executive Mark Cameron said it is more about taking an opportunity to see what coaches might be on the market rather than reflecting serious misgivings about the work of incumbents Matt Horne and Mark O'Donnell.

Former test opener Horne was in charge of the Plunket Shield and 50-over Ford Trophy teams while O'Donnell looked after the T20 side. Both men are expected to reapply for jobs.

Horne was in sole charge in the 2013-14 season.