A rebirth for Christchurch
The Hagley Oval has put Christchurch back on the cricketing map after the AMI Stadium was damaged by the earthquake of 2011
Marc Swain-Rogatski
04-Nov-2014
The Hagley Oval is all set to welcome top-flight international teams • ICC
The venue
While the Hagley Oval has only had a handful of international matches so far - during the World Cup qualifiers in January 2014 - the newly built facilities are set to host New Zealand's first Boxing Day Test in 11 years, against Sri Lanka, as well as the first match of the 2015 World Cup, featuring the same teams. The new set-up looks picturesque, with its lush outfield and floating tensile roof covering the pavilion - a fitting setting, indeed, for the cricket Christchurch has fought so hard to get back.
While the Hagley Oval has only had a handful of international matches so far - during the World Cup qualifiers in January 2014 - the newly built facilities are set to host New Zealand's first Boxing Day Test in 11 years, against Sri Lanka, as well as the first match of the 2015 World Cup, featuring the same teams. The new set-up looks picturesque, with its lush outfield and floating tensile roof covering the pavilion - a fitting setting, indeed, for the cricket Christchurch has fought so hard to get back.
The primary venue in the city was the AMI Stadium - formerly Jade Stadium and originally Lancaster Park - in the south-east of the city. Following the devastating earthquake of 2011, the ground suffered irreparable damage. From late 2014 building up to the World Cup, cricket in Christchurch will be homed in the more central Hagley Oval.
The AMI Stadium was always abuzz on game day. Before the Hadlee Stand and the other large seating arrangements were raised, the ground had a large embankment area that was often home to some very colourful individuals; its atmosphere provided a lot of fun for the boundary fielders. Spectators were even allowed to play their own games of cricket on the field during the lunch interval. If one was to walk the corridors beneath the DB Draught stand, they would find games as fierce as those on centre stage, raging between the New Zealand players of the future.
Great matches (AMI Stadium)
New Zealand v India, 3rd ODI, March 2009
The third ODI between New Zealand and India in 2009 saw an Indian batting class in session, led by Sachin Tendulkar. On track to record the biggest ODI score, he helped pummel New Zealand's attack, but retired hurt in the 45th over on 163 as India reached a mammoth 392. An excellent Jesse Ryder century and a late partnership between Kyle Mills and Tim Southee gave India a scare, but they still emerged victorious by 58 runs.
New Zealand v India, 3rd ODI, March 2009
The third ODI between New Zealand and India in 2009 saw an Indian batting class in session, led by Sachin Tendulkar. On track to record the biggest ODI score, he helped pummel New Zealand's attack, but retired hurt in the 45th over on 163 as India reached a mammoth 392. An excellent Jesse Ryder century and a late partnership between Kyle Mills and Tim Southee gave India a scare, but they still emerged victorious by 58 runs.
New Zealand v Australia, 3rd ODI, 2005
A few years earlier, in 2005, in the third ODI of the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy, a New Zealand chase led expertly by Scott Styris and Brendon McCullum got New Zealand to the highest ODI score at the time (332), and won them the match. McCullum's unbeaten 50, thrashed from 25 balls, aided Styris' gallant century in chasing down the large total, which had seemed a high mountain to climb after Michael Hussey's 88 from 56 earlier in the day.
A few years earlier, in 2005, in the third ODI of the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy, a New Zealand chase led expertly by Scott Styris and Brendon McCullum got New Zealand to the highest ODI score at the time (332), and won them the match. McCullum's unbeaten 50, thrashed from 25 balls, aided Styris' gallant century in chasing down the large total, which had seemed a high mountain to climb after Michael Hussey's 88 from 56 earlier in the day.
Top performers in ODIs (AMI Stadium)
Most runs: Nathan Astle 705 at 50.35 | Highest score: Sachin Tendulkar 163* v New Zealand | Most wickets: Daniel Vettori 23 at 31.82 | Best bowling: Simon O'Donnell 5 for 13
Most runs: Nathan Astle 705 at 50.35 | Highest score: Sachin Tendulkar 163* v New Zealand | Most wickets: Daniel Vettori 23 at 31.82 | Best bowling: Simon O'Donnell 5 for 13
Major players
Chris Cairns | Stephen Fleming | Nathan Astle | Chris Harris | Shane Bond | Craig McMillan | Richard Hadlee | Rod Latham | Lee Germon
Chris Cairns | Stephen Fleming | Nathan Astle | Chris Harris | Shane Bond | Craig McMillan | Richard Hadlee | Rod Latham | Lee Germon
Home team
Christchurch is home to Canterbury, which supplied several players to the New Zealand one-day team in the 1990s. They won the one-day trophy seven times in the 1990s. They have also won the first-class Plunket Shield 17 times.
Christchurch is home to Canterbury, which supplied several players to the New Zealand one-day team in the 1990s. They won the one-day trophy seven times in the 1990s. They have also won the first-class Plunket Shield 17 times.