Cricket: Two more Boxing Day tests at Basin

Wellington Stadium chief executive David Gray has admitted that the quality of New Zealand's opposition for the Boxing Day cricket tests this year and next played a significant role in it conceding the hosting rights to the Basin Reserve.

The Basin will be the venue for this year's Boxing Day test against Zimbabwe and for the 2001 test against Bangladesh.

However, the stadium has received an assurance from New Zealand Cricket chief executive Christopher Doig that it will make its debut as a test venue against England in March 2002.

"If we had had an event which we considered commanded strong appeal, then the outcome in all likelihood would have been different," Gray said.

"We do want to see test cricket here and England will be a huge occasion, but right now we are happy with the outcome."

The stadium has the rights to all tests in its first three years, but NZC pushed for the Zimbabwe test to be played at the Basin because the Boxing Day test concept has proved a popular one there.

The standoff was resolved only after Gray was satisfied that his corporate box-holders and Deloitte club members would be catered for at the Basin.

He confirmed that there was no financial trade-off involved and hinted that the stadium had bold plans for the England test, with the prospect of a later-than-normal start in a bid to attract people after work.

There had been no adverse feedback from his members over the decision, Gray said.

"Quite the opposite, really. Everyone likes the Basin on Boxing Day and now our members can get into the swing of things. Most of the corporates are out of town anyway at that time of the year."

The stadium will still host three day-night limited-over internationals this season - against Zimbabwe on January 4, Sri Lanka on February 3 and Pakistan on February 22. There are also two Shell Cup games, and a day-night match against New South Wales on November 23.

Cricket Wellington chief executive Ervin McSweeney said he was pleased with the outcome.

- NZPA