Park will be ready for Shell series

Press, 25 November 1982, Page 36

Park will be ready for Shell series

By

JOHN COFFEY

The chairman of the Canterbury Cricket Association, Mr A. G. Duckmanton, said yesterday he was a “bit disppointed” that Lancaster Park oval was not available for the match against Australian Capital Territory early next month. Instead, the A.C.T. side will make its first New Zealand tour appearance on the Christ’s College pitch at Hagley Park on December 4, 5 and 6.

Because it is not possible to enclose the Christ’s College ground and charge admittance, the C.C.A. will not be able to recoup match expenses.

A suggestion that the game be transferred to Dudley Park, Rangiora, was pursued by the C.C.A. management committee on Tuesday evening, but other fixtures had already been allocated to that venue.

“Financially; it will not be too bad because we had not

budgeted for a big gate,” Mr Duckmanton said. “It will be the A.C.T. team’s first match — had it come to Christchurch later in the tour with an unbeaten record it would be a different situation. “Not that A.C.T. will be weak — they are Australians, after all, and have given state and overseas sides strong competition,” said Mr Duckmanton. Lancaster Park oval has already been lost to cricket at club level, the Lancaster Park club having developed a pitch at Ensors Road; but Mr Duckmanton said it was unlikely the present situation would recur.

“Even though we had a very dry season, the weather was not suitable for good grass growth. Everything is under control, for the Shell Series match against Central Districts late next month, and the practice pitches are in excellent condition,” said Mr Duckmanton.

The possibility of restruc-

turing part of Lancaster Park is most exciting, said Mr Duckmanton who is one of the cricket representatives on the controlling Victory Park Board. Members of the C.C.A. management committee discussed improvements at Tuesday’s meeting now that there is a firm chance of existing loans being paid off within 12 months. •

Already proposals have been put forward.. One of the more ambitious is the erecting of a modern, tiered grandstand to replace the old and open stands at the southern end. Such a building could contain players’. and members’ facilities, private boxes, increased public seating, and news media areas. “Obviously it would be a very expensive exercise,” Mr Duckmanton said. But the present membership schemes will lapse by 1984 and the time is not far away when they can be reissued and new loans negotiated.