New Zealand Cricket shows its support behind the redevelopment of Eden Park in Auckland
Published - 12 Jul 2024, 04:47 PM | Updated - 24 Aug 2024, 05:13 AM
New Zealand Cricket (NZC) has shown its support in the redevelopment of the iconic Eden Park in Auckland. If the ground gets revamped, it will be well-placed to host marquee Tests against Australia, India, and England in the future.
Not only the marquee Tests, but the redevelopment of Eden Park will hold it in good shape to host important knockout games in the ICC T20 World Cup 2028, which will be jointly hosted by Australia and New Zealand.
NZC chief executive backs the redevelopment of Eden Park
Although there have been multiple proposals for a new stadium in Auckland, NZC chief executive Scott Weenink has backed the redevelopment of Eden Park. Weenink feels that a revamped Eden Park will help the different sports and the regulation-size boundaries will help the city host more important international games.
“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.
“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 Eden Park has an inconsistent oval-sized shape, because of which just one Test has been played at the venue in the last ten years. The ground has really short straight boundaries and long boundaries towards the midwicket region. This is the reason why most ODIs and T20Is have been played at this ground for the past few years.
“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,” NZC CEO Scott Weenink said. h<!---->t<!---->t<!---->p<!---->s<!---->:<!---->/<!---->/<!---->t<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->/<!---->k<!---->i<!---->w<!---->5<!---->2<!---->7<!---->L<!---->x<!---->x<!---->X
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Advantages of a revamped Eden Park
Scott Weenink also noted the advantages if the ground gets revamped claiming that it can eliminate any rain threat, which can bring more international cricket to the venue. He also added that it can allow the venue to host important Tests against the Big Three of international cricket.
"If Eden Park is re-designed so it can, a) accommodate a proper cricket oval and b) has a roof to eliminate the threat of rain, then I can envisage far more international fixtures being scheduled in Auckland. A venue like that would be well-placed to win hosting rights for marquee Test Matches against India, England, and Australia, and also in the box seat to host both a quarter-final and a semi-final in the upcoming 2028 ICC T20I CWC,” Weenink stated.
Weenink also mentioned that the proposed redevelopment of the iconic ground is an energy-efficient option and it will avoid wasting energy. He concluded that NZC completely supports the redevelopment of the venue.
“This is a time when we’re all being challenged to reduce our emissions, to make the most of what we’ve got, and to avoid wasting energy – and Eden Park’s proposed redevelopment is easily the most efficient option in this regard.
“NZC supports the re-development of Eden Park as the best, and probably the only solution, for future-proofing international cricket in Auckland,” Weenink said.
Eden Park in Auckland is an iconic cricket ground in New Zealand. Over the years, the venue has hosted several important matches like the 1992 ODI World Cup semi-final and the 2015 ODI World Cup semi-final. The 2015 ODI World Cup semi-final was played between New Zealand and South Africa. New Zealand won the thrilling match to book a place in the final.
