Test cricket for Cobham Oval

It started with a vision, and after years of planning logistics, hard work and plenty of commitment, Northland Cricket are celebrating.
Whangarei's Cobham Oval has met International Cricket Council standards, which means Northland Cricket can host any international game NZC allocates them. The good news was backed up a day after Cobham Oval gained international accreditation, when NZC announced the Black Caps international schedule for 2011-2012.
Cobham Oval was allocated its first One Day International on Waitangi Day, February 6, next year between the Black Caps and Zimbabwe.
It is a major coup for Northland Cricket and chief executive Gary Bell, who has helped drive the move to get Cobham Oval up to speed to host international matches.
"Our vision has always been that the Oval is an international ground.
"When I started here in 2005, we started to find out more information of what requirements we needed to make it happen ... it was more a case of could we do it, and were we committed to making it happen, and we were," Bell said.
It was a busy few years for Northland Cricket as they started to upgrade the facilities at Cobham Oval, as well as continuing with their coaching and development programmes in the region.
Recent upgrades included the additional Bellahomes Pavilion, which provides another team changing facilities, alterations to to accommodate group officials and the third umpire required at international fixtures, along with adding nine extra practice strips and the creation of extra natural seating on the embankment, which has taken the ground capacity to 5500 people.
Ground security has been improved and the Northland Events Centre's ticketing booths, located next door to Cobham Oval, will be used on game day.
The push to gain international accreditation has been a long hard slog, but it was worth it, Bell said.
"We are over the moon, and to be rewarded a One Day International straight away by New Zealand Cricket is great," he said.
He had received only positive feedback since the announcement, with past and present Northland players, along with NZC representatives, congratulating the association on their achievement, backing the accreditation wholeheartedly.
"Even at this early stage, it looks like we could potentially get a massive crowd along to the ODI, which would be good to show New Zealand Cricket their decision was a good one."
Having the fixture scheduled for Waitangi Day seemed fitting for the Northland venue, Bell added.
"It seems to be right to have a game up here on Waitangi Day - in Northland. We will be doing all that we can to encourage people to come down here in their numbers to watch this game."