Bay Oval to host Black Caps V England test match

The Black Caps will face England at the Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui in November.

News that the Bay Oval will host the test match between the Black Caps and England in November has cemented the Mount Maunganui venue as one of the top echelon of grounds in the country.

'We are just ecstatic with the confirmation that we will host our first test match in November and for it to be against the England makes it all the sweeter," says Bay Oval General Manager Kelvin Jones.

"Becoming a test venue really demonstrates we've made it to the top echelon of grounds in the country.

'New Zealand Cricket has rightly set a very high standard to be considered for Test Cricket. This is a big vote of confidence for the Bay Oval Trust, the Western Bay community, our fantastic funders and sponsors and most importantly those cricket and sports lovers that have done us proud by supporting the venue.”

New Zealand Cricket Chief Executive David White congratulated the Bay Oval team saying 'We're particularly thrilled for all those involved in securing the Bay Oval as New Zealand's ninth Test venue. A lot of people have worked hard for this recognition and I'm sure the venue will continue to go from strength to strength.”

On Thursday November 21, another chapter will commence in the story of the test matches between New Zealand and England, which date back to 1930.

New Zealand will be playing their 104th test match against England, when the two sides make their entrance at the Bay Oval.

New Zealand's first ever test match was played against England at Lancaster Park in Christchurch on the 10, 11 and 13 January 1930.

As was the (cricket) custom of the day, there was no play on the Sunday.

New Zealand posted 112 and 131, with England scoring 181 and 66 for the loss of two wickets to claim an eight wicket victory

Cricket stakeholders in the Bay of Plenty have long held a desire to develop Blake Park into a purpose-built first class cricket ground.

While in the past Blake Park had hosted major association one-day matches it was a case of making the best use of the facilities that were available.

On March 1 2005, the first sod was turned on the Blake Park re-development, which was to have a 'village green” atmosphere where up to ten thousand spectators would-be able to witness international and domestic cricket action.

Stage one was the earthworks carried out to shape the new ground. After 10 weeks of earthmoving, the next step was to put in the cricket block and outfield.

A trial run of the Bay Oval wicket block took place on March 3 2007, in a Western Bay of Plenty B Grade match, between Mount Maunganui and Te Puke.

Just a few days later current Black Cap captain Kane Williamson, provided proof of the new grounds ability to produce runs, when he hammered 131 for Bay of Plenty Under 19 verses Waikato Valley.

Receipt of the New Zealand Cricket (Ground) Warrant of Fitness in the spring of 2007 saw a myriad of milestones follow one upon the other, with the first NZC Major Association match on December 7 2007, in a Women's Twenty 20 encounter between the Northern Spirit and the Canterbury Magicians.

August 2010 saw the Mount Maunganui cricket ground come of age, with the appointment of Jared Carter as the Bay Oval Turf Manager.

Jared has been the driving force behind the emergence of one of the best wickets and outfield in international cricket, which produces runs but also offer assistance to bowlers.

International cricket arrived at the Bay Oval in January 2014, with a host of games in the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifying tournament.

The first ODI at the Bay Oval took place during the CWCQ14 playoff for seventh place, between The Netherlands and Canada, with the ground receiving temporary ICC ODI status as both teams had ICC ODI rankings.

2014 was a big year for the Bay Oval, with the first ICC Women's Twenty 20 between the White Ferns and Australia, before the Black Caps took on South Africa in an ODI series in the spring.

The Bay of Oval played a big part in the ICC Under 19 Cricket World Cup played in New Zealand during January and February 2018.

Six preliminary games were just the entree to the Grand Final, where India, who had played three pool matches in the Western Bay, convincingly defeated Australia.

Bay Oval Development Key Dates

2005 - March 1st First sod turned in the Bay Oval development

2007 - March 3rd First game played on the Bay Oval. WBOPCA B Grade – Te Puke v Mount Maunganui.

2007 – March 25th First representative century at the Bay Oval. Bay of Plenty Under 19 (Kane Williamson 131) defeated Waikato Valley.

2007 – Spring Bay Oval receives NZ Cricket WOF

2007 – December 7th - First (Women's) T20. Northern Spirit v Canterbury Magicians

2008 – February 22nd – First (Men's) T20 match. Northern Knights v Wellington Firebirds

2010 – August Jared Carter appointed to the position of Bay Oval Turf Manager

2014 – January 3rd Bay Oval Pavilion officially opened

2014 – January ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifiers played at the Bay Oval.

2014 – January 28th First ODI at the Bay Oval. CWCQ14 Playoff for Seventh Place – Canada v The Netherlands (The Bay Oval received temporary ICC ODI status, as both sides had ICC ODI rankings)

2014 – March First International Women's T20 – White Ferns v West Indies.

2014 – October 21, 24 - ANZ International ODI Series – Black Caps v South Africa

2015 - Feb 11, 13, 15 - International Women's ODI Series – White Ferns v England

2018 – January ICC Under 19 Cricket World Cup preliminary matches

2018 – February ICC Under 19 Cricket World Cup Final

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