New Zealand's Nelson to host first ever ODI

Nelson will host it’s maiden ODI match on West Indies’ tour of New Zealand in December-January

Nelson, the oldest settled city in New Zealand’s South Island will host it’s first ever ODI match when the West Indies tour New Zealand for three Tests, five ODIs and two T20s in December, later this year.

The Saxton Oval, which had earlier hosted a women’s international T20 match in 2010-11 was one of seven venues chosen to host group stage matches in the 2015 World Cup which will be co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand.

West Indies’ tour of the island nation begins with three Tests in Dunedin, Wellington and Hamilton, followed by five ODIs at Auckland, Napier, Queenstown, Nelson and Hamilton and concluding with two T20s at Auckland and the country’s capital.

Nelson Cricket Association general manager Ed Shuttleworth said the tour will give the city an opportunity to test the venue at Saxton Oval.

Shuttleworth was quoted by ESPN cricinfo as saying: “To bring international cricket to our region has been a goal for many years and achieving this is a moment of real pride for all those involved in developing cricket and the facilities in the region.

“The legacy of international cricket will be significant with participation increasing and kids being inspired by seeing the Blackcaps in their home town,” he added.

The timing of the tour had prompted New Zealand Cricket to schedule three of the five ODIs in holiday ‘hot spots’ in Napier, Queenstown and Nelson. However, New Zealand cricket CEO David White said that there has been no progress with regards to India’s speculated tour of New Zealand later next year.

“I have to admit discussions with the BCCI have taken longer than we hoped, but we should be able to announce the tour schedule in the next few weeks,” White remarked.

Although no warm-up games are scheduled, Auckland’s Eden Park will host the first ODI on Boxing Day while Queenstown will celebrate New Year’s day with John Davies Oval hosting the third ODI on the same day.