Editorial: Get the events, but make sure we are ready

Andrew Austin, Editor of Hawke's Bay Today.

Napier has certainly found itself firmly in the national spotlight (and across the ditch) and unfortunately it is all for the wrong reasons.

Everyone was very excited about McLean Park hosting the second Chappell-Hadlee match between Australia and New Zealand on Thursday and it was poised to be a great contest.

Alas, it was not to be as much-needed rain fell and rendered the outfield too dangerous for the players. As a result, the game was abandoned after seven hours.

The problem is that it probably should not have happened. Not that much rain fell and these days international cricket grounds are supposed to have sufficient drainage to ensure that play can resume shortly after a downpour.

It is good that Napier City Council CEO Wayne Jack and New Zealand Cricket have called an urgent, and independent, review into what happened, but frankly it is unacceptable. Our national cricket body needs to be able to rely on venues being up to the task as it is their reputation at stake.

Black Caps coach Mike Hesson was apparently incensed by the failing and the debacle has now put in doubt McLean Park's status as an international cricket venue. The immediate ramifications is that an ODI against South Africa in March could be moved elsewhere. Imagine the embarrassment if Auckland or Wellington got the game we were supposed to have.

It is all very well for our city council to brag about Napier being good at hosting events, but this means everything needs to be right on the day, especially when the event is being televised live.

Generally speaking Napier is a good host city - the Tremains Art Deco weekend runs smoothly every year and once again the Summer Festival of Cycling was an outstanding success this year.

However, a stuff up on the scale of Thursday's cricket match undoes all the good work that went before.

Unfortunately, Napier will be now tagged with the reputation of having a cricket ground that is not up to scratch.

This is a timely reminder for all venues in the Bay, be it McLean Park, the Hawke's Bay Showgrounds or even the Sports Park, to ensure that their facilities are ready for big events.

Systems need to be in place to ensure that marque events like international one day cricket matches are not derailed by something as basic as poor drainage in the outfield.