McLean Park is hosting the first One-Day International (ODI) between New Zealand and India on Wednesday (January 23). Central Districts’ home ground is witnessing international cricket after two summers as they lost their status when a game against Australia was abandoned and another with South Africa was moved to Hamilton.
Ross Taylor, who plays for Central Districts, is happy to be playing at his home ground. But the batsman suggested that the support might not be similar to when playing against some of the other countries.
“Any time India come here, they’re a powerhouse,” he said. “The NZ-Indian community come out and support them, and quite often, there are just as many Indians in the crowd as Kiwis.
“In some situations, there are more. It’s great to play in front of a packed house and many of those supporters back New Zealand, when India aren’t in the country.”
The venue lost its international status in February 2017 and since then the city council has worked very hard to get the ground fit again. There has been a lot of investment to upgrade the venue, particularly its turf, drainage and irrigation systems.
“They’ve had a few dramas, but it looks like the ground and the venue is in good nick,” observed Taylor.
With the transformation of the ground and especially the 22-yard strip, even New Zealand are wary of how it would play. A couple of 2018-19 Super Smash games were hosted and in the recent one, 225 played 207.
“I haven’t been here for a while,” Taylor said. “I watched the game on TV the other night, which I think was the second time they’d played on it.
