WELLINGTON: Local opposition and the ever ticking clock are conspiring against him but former New Zealand captain Lee Germon remains determined to bring international cricket back to earthquake-ravaged Christchurch in time for the 2015 World Cup.
New Zealand’s second city has played host to test cricket since 1930 and one-dayers since 1973 but that proud record was brought to a shuddering halt on February 22, 2011 when the earthquake devastated the city and killed just under 200 people.
The Lancaster Park ground was wrecked but Canterbury Cricket had already identified a portion of Hagley Park as a potential future venue in line with New Zealand Cricket’s policy to play Tests in ‘boutique’ grounds.
“We were asked in 2008 where the ideal ground for test cricket was and we said Hagley Park,” Germon, chief executive of Canterbury Cricket, said in a telephone interview of the large park bordering the central city.
“It has been a cricket ground for over 100 years, it’s located centrally, it’s a natural amphitheatre for a ground so it ticked all the boxes for a boutique cricket ground.”
The plans call for a NZ$20m ($17.13m) redevelopment into a 20,000-capacity permanent venue to host test, limited overs and first class games.
It has not all been plain sailing, however, with a referral to New Zealand’s Environment Court for a hearing in June eating into an already tight schedule.
If the plans are approved, Germon will need to give the ‘go’ on the development.
Reuters
