Opinion
The announcement of the forthcoming cricket season’s international fixtures has again left Auckland fans exasperated at the lack of on-park action in the city of sails, but will that change with the backing of an Eden Park redevelopment by New Zealand Cricket?
This summer’s schedule affords the city a paltry 180 overs in the form of a singular ODI against lightweights Sri Lanka, a T20 versus the unpredictable Pakistan and a glimpse at an underperforming White Ferns side who will take on number one-ranked Australia fresh off an 8-match to zero flogging at the hands of England.
Whilst Eden Park is perfectly adequate for rugby, ideally test cricket is played on an oval-shaped ground with boundary dimensions big enough to provide a fair contest for bowlers against the thick blades and gym-honed forearms of the modern batsman.
Over the past decade, the powers that be (understandably) have not seen Eden Park as fit for purpose to host test cricket. The only respite for red-ball purists came in 2018 when England was thumped by an innings after being bundled out for 58 on the back of a Trent Boult masterclass.
The men from Blighty are again summer’s marquee tourists, but their only look at the city will be via the customs hall before they relocate down south to the impressive Hagley Oval.
The second test moves to the Basin Reserve, with Hamilton’s Seddon Park pipping Mt Maunganui’s Bay Oval to host the third.
The fact Auckland is not even in the conversation for allocation is concerning and detrimental to the governing bodies’ coffers given the city’s potential audience powered by diehards with memories of famous victories by the Men in White and a large South Asian community.
The prolonged period of exclusion has coincided with local politicians pontificating and jousting with private developers over the plans for the city’s stadia. NZ Cricket had hoped a new multi-purpose waterfront arena with dimensions that accommodate the flanneled game would become a reality. However, those tasked with planning turned their noses up at the thought.
The idea of upgrading the tired Western Springs Stadium or creating a new ground at the vast Colin Maiden Park was also mooted, but this week, New Zealand Cricket CEO Scott Weenink raised the potential of a return to Auckland by publically endorsing a revamped Eden Park complete with a 50-metre-high roof and 10-metre incursions into existing stands to fashion an oval.
“The Eden Park re-development makes much more sense across the board, taking in the considerations and needs of all the different sports and events that will be impacted,” Weenink said via a statement.
“Having a venue in Auckland with regulation-sized boundaries and the potential for a roof – well, it’s bit of a no-brainer for us, it would transform our national venue strategy and bring much more international cricket into the city, “he added.
The price tag for said development is expected to be north of 500 million and as a result, the announcement of intent was not without its detractors who increasingly see the 124-year-old Eden Park as a Dodo not worthy of being saved from extinction.
Whether the decision is viable remains to be seen. Going forward, Weenink has at least provided a glimmer of hope for the long-suffering fan that the cavernous old lady will again echo the sound of a red cherry on willow.
Until then, I’ll see you at the T20s.
