It might not have the same aura as England's Lord's Cricket Ground or Australia's MCG but Mount Maunganui's Bay Oval is beginning to stamp its mark on the international scene, which is highlighted by a jam-packed summer schedule.

Hot on the heels of daylight saving, years of hard work are coming to fruition for the Bay Cricket Trust with the Kiwi Black Caps, South Africa, England and Afghanistan all gracing the venues pristine facilities between now and February 2015.

Bay of Plenty Cricket Trust general manager Kelvin Jones at the Bay Oval. Photo: Bruce Barnard.

The Afghanistan national men's side is currently in town for four world cup warm-up matches, but the jewel in the crown lies firmly with the two One Day Internationals between the Black Caps and South Africa – a first for the Mount.

Bay Oval will host the first two ODIs on October 21 and October 24 before the final match at Hamilton's Seddon Park on October 27.

'We think we have got the biggest sporting event that this town has ever had coming up with the internationals against South Africa,” says Bay of Plenty Cricket Trust general manager Kelvin Jones.

'In terms the national and international interest, in terms of TV and wider audience, we can't think of anything that has come close. Short of an All Black test coming here that's it.”

Most impressive is the leaps and bounds the venue has made during the last 12 months, particularly after the Cricket World Cup qualifiers earlier this year.

Since the June ODI announcement, the trust has spent close to $800,000 on temporary and permanent infrastructure, including better side screens, scoreboards and terraces – bolstering its status as a standalone cricket venue.

'We have had something like 13 international teams here in the last calendar. So I don't think there is a ground anywhere in the world that gets that sort of level of cricket and sees that level of international teams,” says Kelvin.

'One of the key things is the way our grounds drain. It can rain, and as we know it does rain; and there wouldn't be a ground in the country that you can play cricket on after rain so quickly.

But what Kelvin takes pleasure in the most is while the public lament the lack of quality rugby stadium, the Steamer's poor form and the Chiefs bypassing the city, Bay Oval is quietly going about its work as what can now be regarded at the city's premier sporting venue.

'We like to think so [being the number one sporting venue]. Baypark is getting less and less of that top class stuff and we are getting more and more.”