Almost 18 months worth of planning has gone into creating brand new top class practice wickets at the Basin Reserve and it won’t be long till international and First Class teams are using them.
Peter Clinton from Wellington Cricket and the Basin Reserve Trust has been part of the team behind the new development at the ground. The trust worked in partnership with the Wellington City Council and Wellington Cricket to ensure international standard practice nets were available for players. “This is something new for us. We’ve only ever had practice nets on the ground.”
The new nets are located behind the Wellington Cricket office at the south western corner of the Basin and construction on the project started in late winter. “Excavation started in August then we put down the foundation. The steel frames were manufactured in Christchurch then the structure was assembled on site,” Clinton said. “The clay went down in late October and we are currently sowing the grass at the moment.”
The practice pitches were created from Patamahoe clay and “set like concrete” once put into the ground. Clinton said it is the best type of clay for cricket wickets and it suits the Wellington conditions well. “It gives a good consistent even bounce and it is suited for the Wellington climatic conditions. It will last for more than 20 years.”
The open-aired facility will be primarily available for First class and international teams with the hope to have them available for the Australian tour in March.
Funding for the new practice nets came from a Wellington City Council grant, as well as the Basin Reserve Trust.The pitches will be cared for by the Basin Reserve ground staff.
