CRICKET - Hard work pays off as big match comes to Northland

You could almost hear the champagne corks popping as Northland Cricket administrators celebrated news that Whangarei has been awarded its first international.
The New Zealand Women's team, the White Ferns, will play the two opening matches of the 2008-9 Rose Bowl ODI series against Australia in Whangarei in February - a decision Northland Cricket CEO Gary Bell said was in recognition of the progress made at the ground.
"We've been working a lot, obviously at this end on the venue but also to let New Zealand Cricket know how good the venue is ... and obviously we've made the right impression," he said.
He said the matches would hopefully be a precursor to more top level games in the future.
"I would say the next step would be New Zealand A games or international teams playing invitation teams here," he said.
He said that there was still a way to go before the facility could be awarded full test match status but at least it was moving in the right direction.
Bell believed the novelty of seeing the White Ferns play Australia would bring Whangarei's sporting public out to support the matches even though women's cricket was still a developing game here.
"It's an international game and like any international game they're keenly contested, especially when you put a New Zealand team up against the Aussies.
"The women's game has blossomed here ever since we've appointed a women's development officer and having the White Ferns playing up here will help to lift the game's profile here among junior players," he said.
The following two matches of the Rose Bowl series would be at Seddon Park, Hamilton, including a day-night game, with the fifth and final match at the Basin Reserve in Wellington.
The White Ferns will then leave for Sydney to play in a Twenty20 international double header at the SCG before returning to New South Wales for the ICC Women's World Cup in March.
More good news is expected for Northland cricket fans when the first class domestic programme is released by NZC but Bell can not reveal details until the programme is finalised.
"It's a bit like having your Christmas presents under the tree but you can't open them - I know what we've got this year but I can't release it yet, all I can say at this stage is that indications are that we will have a plethora of quality teams playing at Cobham Oval throughout the season," he said.