Cricket: Boxing Day delight as Indians come to town

By RICHARD BOOCK

Wellington's loss will be Auckland's gain when India tour New Zealand next summer.

A combination of the tourists' pressing schedule and the impending World Cup has persuaded New Zealand Cricket to ditch the usual Boxing Day test at the Basin Reserve in favour of a one-day international at Eden Park.

The Indian side will play just two tests before contesting the first seven-match ODI series in New Zealand history, including games at Queenstown and under lights at Hamilton.

Criticised as a sub-standard venue last season after problems with the scoreboard, covers and drainage, the Basin Reserve will still host the first test, starting on December 12.

The tour will then move to Hamilton for the second test starting on December 19, before arriving in Auckland for the ODI series opener on Boxing Day.

Auckland chief executive Lindsay Crocker was delighted with the opportunity and said he was certain that local cricket buffs would help to make it an occasion to remember.

"We're pretty keen to do the Boxing Day thing because we think we can do it well, and that Auckland people will get into the spirit of the occasion," he said.

"It's going to be a short international season because of the World Cup, and with that in mind we'd urge people to get along to watch what is developing into a very successful team."

The series will then move to Napier and Christchurch before Queenstown has its day in the sun, hosting its first ODI after some rave reviews last summer.

NZC chief executive Martin Snedden said the timing of the series meant much of Dunedin's student population, seen as great supporters of the one-day game, would be out of town for the university holidays.

"Queenstown, on the other hand, is a thriving holiday destination at that time of year so we felt it was an excellent opportunity to introduce the Queenstown Events Centre as a second international cricket venue within the Otago region.

"It is undoubtedly one of the most picturesque cricket settings in the world and, once the facilities have been adapted slightly for cricket-hosting purposes, we expect that it will meet our needs."

He said the decision to play the final ODI under the new lights at Hamilton's WestpacTrust Park was made after a successful trial during the England tour last summer.

"The day-night one-day match between Northern Districts and England in February demonstrated to us that the recently installed lights are up to world-class standard. ... "

The tour will start with a game of Max international at a venue yet to be announced, and will include a three-day warm-up match against Central Districts in Napier.

* New Zealand is being targeted for a triangular tournament against Australia and Pakistan next month - the only question is whether the venue will be Darwin or Nairobi.

Having planned the tournament for Pakistan, organisers have been forced to make other arrangements because of security fears and are apparently now swinging between Kenya and the Northern Territory.

Although Pakistan sources say the tournament is almost certain to be played at Nairobi, NZC is understood to be in discussions with organisers and still unsure about the likely outcome or details.

India in New Zealand: December 4 v Max Blacks (venue to be confirmed); December 6-8, v Central Districts, McLean Park, Napier; December 12-16, v New Zealand 1st test, Basin Reserve, Wellington; December 19-23 v New Zealand, 2nd test, WestpacTrust Park, Hamilton; December 26 v New Zealand, 1st ODI, Eden Park, Auckland (D/N); December 27, Reserve Day; December 29 v New Zealand, 2nd ODI, McLean Park, Napier; December 30, Reserve Day; January 1 v New Zealand, 3rd ODI, Jade Stadium, Christchurch (D/N); January 2, Reserve Day; January 4 v New Zealand, 4th ODI, Queenstown Events Centre, Queenstown; January 5, Reserve Day; January 8 v New Zealand, 5th ODI, WestpacTrust Stadium, Wellington (D/N); January 9, Reserve Day; January 11 v New Zealand, 6th ODI, Eden Park, Auckland (D/N); January 12, Reserve Day; January 14 v New Zealand, 7th ODI, WestpacTrust Park, Hamilton (D/N); January 15, Reserve Day.