New Zealand Cricket announces Indian tour itinerary and a series of firsts
New Zealand Cricket - 9 July 2002

New Zealand Cricket today announced an itinerary of two Tests and seven One-Day Internationals for the December 2002 and January 2003 National Bank Series between India and the TelstraClear Black Caps.

The series presents a number of notable firsts and breaks from tradition for New Zealand Cricket including:

The first seven-match One-Day International series to be played in New Zealand
The first One-Day International to be played in Queenstown
The first One-Day International to be played under lights at WestpacTrust Park in Hamilton
The first One-Day International match at Eden Park on Boxing Day
A festival tour opener of Max cricket between India and the TelstraClear Max Blacks
The repositioning of New Zealand Cricket's role within international match management

New Zealand Cricket chief executive Martin Snedden said the extended National Bank One-Day International Series had been designed to meet the needs of both teams as they prepare for the ICC World Cup to be played in South Africa during February and March 2003.

"Both teams feel that, with the World Cup so close, an extended one-day series will be beneficial to their preparation," said Snedden.

"However the Indian team are required back home no later than January 16 which has meant that we have a tight timeframe to work within.

The decision to allocate a One-Day International to Queenstown was made in conjunction with the Otago Cricket Association, Snedden said.

"The timing of the series means that much of the student population, who are great supporters of one-day cricket in Otago, will be out of Dunedin 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."

England played a tour match against Otago at the Queenstown Events Centre earlier this year and, subsequent to that, New Zealand Cricket evaluated the ground and facilities in terms of its potential to host One-Day International cricket.

"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," said Snedden.

The decision to play the seventh and final One-Day International under the new lights at WestpacTrust Park, Hamilton, was made after another 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 and certainly vindicate the decision for WestpacTrust Park to host a day/night One-Day International match," said Snedden.

In a temporary break from recent tradition there will be no Boxing Day Test.

"The Boxing Day Test has become somewhat of an institution with Wellingtonians and an annual highlight for cricket lovers all around the country," said Snedden.

"However given the time frame that we are working within and the desire of both teams to gain some valuable World Cup preparation by playing an extended one-day series, we have decided to allow for this by scheduling the two Test matches before Christmas."

In place of the Boxing Day Test, this year there will be a Boxing Day One-Day International at Eden Park.

Snedden is confident the one-day match at Eden Park will be a success.

"I am sure Auckland cricket lovers will get into the festive nature of the occasion and that Eden Park will have a fantastic crowd and atmosphere for the Boxing Day One-Day International."

The Basin Reserve, whose facilities came under criticism during last year's Boxing Day Test against England, will host the first Test between the TelstraClear Black Caps and India starting on December 12, said Snedden.

"The Basin Reserve is a dedicated cricket venue that is loved by the players and public alike.

"I have received assurances from the Wellington Regional Stadium Trust that specific remedial work will be undertaken prior to December which will have the ground up to standard for this Test.

"I have also received acknowledgement that a long-term upgrading plan is necessary if the venue is to retain its status of being one of our premier Test match venues."

The allocation of all venues for this tour is subject to satisfactory hireage and match management arrangements being agreed with each of the venue authorities.

"This year New Zealand Cricket is instigating a new international match management procedure so we are better placed to avoid the types of problems that arose last season," said Snedden.

Under the new system New Zealand Cricket will deal direct with the stadia administrators whereas, in previous years, the local associations have fulfilled this role.

"The international cricket played in New Zealand is New Zealand Cricket's product and, at the end of the day, we are accountable for the standards of that product," said Snedden.

"It therefore makes sense that we are in a position to make certain that the required standards are clearly communicated to all parties involved and that we then directly oversee the process to ensure that these standards are achieved."

India's first match of the tour will also be their first taste of Max cricket.

They play the TelstraClear Max Blacks, at a venue still to be confirmed, on December 4.

Snedden said New Zealand Cricket is committed to developing what it calls third generation cricket.

"We accept that not everybody has the time, or in some cases the desire, to play or watch a full day's cricket."

"Max is an exciting, action-packed shortened version of the game and we are committed to developing third generation cricket to satisfy existing demand."

Teams	New Zealand.
Players/Umpires	Martin Snedden.
Tours	India in New Zealand