Baltrum

Why does Nz Cricket continue to play games in the likes of Dunedin where it always seems to be raining?

Why is it that we are playing a game of test cricket in the region of the country that has the worst weather for this time of year. Im sick of watching games in dunedin which get cut half short because of rain. Why not play the December/January tests in parts of the country where the weather is better and where people would go for their summer holidays i.e Queenstown, Nelson, Naiper, The Mt, or even the Bay Of Islands. It would be good for the smaller towns plus we would get to see some cricket! The ICC may decide on which venue's are appropriate for test cricket but that doesn't meen to say that nz cant throw a few k into building/designing some new grounds in these summer areas. That would be apropriate for test matches. I'm also sure that the ICC would be all for it and would be glad to help out. All it takes is for NZ Cricket to open their mouths and talk with the ICC.

Public Comments

1. That's assuming that NZ Cricket has a say in where the ICC designated tests are to be played. I'm not sure but I think the ICC designates to locations. If NZ Cricket is the decider then I agree that they have it all wrong if they want to create that family atmosphere during summer holiday matches.
2. The grounds have to be ICC approved unfortuantly you will not see any smaller grounds than the university oval get tests. Why dunedin because they will not see any ODI's played in the city because Carisbrook has had it and they dont have any other suitable venues that would turn a profit for NZ Cricket, plus bigger venues dont get tests because they cant get crowds the stadiums look empty. So NZ Cricket have nominated Seddon Park in Hamilton, McClean Park Napier, Basin Reserve Wellington and University Oval Dunedin as their test venues because they are a good size to get a full looking venue and because these venues dont see as much ODI's. And the rain well you cant predict the weather it is spouse to be summer.
3. A draw is not a loss.
4. a test match should go on untill it called off.. how long it lasts ,...doesnt matter.. Test cricket must played in dunedin cheers~
5. they can draw the match there :D
6. I agree, Alexandra, queenstown, hamilton, tauranga (The mount) would have been far better options. I think in this instance NZ cricket got it wrong, but they won't take the blame for this. I don't think that Dunedin has hosted a test match for a number of years, and this was NZ crickets way of including them. I also think that the eden park outer oval (formerly eden park no 2) could be developed into a very good test ground.
7. I think it'd be a bit harsh to take all cricket away from Dunedin because of some bad weather. We've had some really good weather here it's just bad timing that the rain comes in when the test starts. If we lose international games that'll just hurt the game down here and then you'll see less people like Brendan McCullum around. And with everything else being stolen by the North Island it's nice for us to have something still hosted down here. Oh and just to rub in the unlucky timing, it's Monday now and it's sunny and 20 degrees.
8. The problem is not so much the venue but the timing. December is the wettest month of the year in Dunedin and all of the students have gone home for the holidays or are working to save money for next year. Having worked a summer in Dunedin I can tell you that it is basically dead during Dec/Jan. I don't know what the muppets in charge were thinking. The University Oval is across the street from the Polytech/Teachers' College and University. Imagine how good the atmosphere would be in February when all the students are coming back to town. Orientation week would be the perfect time to have a test in Dunedin. When I was a student there the one dayers were a great way to start the year. It might not please the purists but you would definitely get a 'vibrant' crowd at that time of year regardless of the weather.