University Oval

Infobox Stadium
stadium_name = University Oval
nickname = "Varsity Oval"


caption = Otago host Northern Districts at the University Oval in February 2007.
location = Dunedin, New Zealand
coordinates =
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opened =
renovated =
expanded =
closed =
demolished =
owner = Dunedin City Council
operator =
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tenants = Otago Cricket Association
Otago Volts
Otago University Rugby Football Club
seating_capacity = 3500 (Expandable to 6000 with temporary seating)
dimensions =

The University Oval is an oval sports ground located at Logan Park, Dunedin, New Zealand, owned by the Dunedin City Council. The ground was originally owned by the University of Otago, but ownership was transferred to the DCC when a redevelopment was completed in the early 2000s.

The ground is the home of both the Otago Cricket Association, the University of Otago Rugby Football Club, and also used as a training base for the Highlanders Rugby Football team.

Facilities

A media complex is situated at the northern end of the ground, and a historic grandstand at the southern end. An electronic scoreboard is located in the north-eastern side of the ground.

The grandstand complex includes change rooms, members’ rooms, lounges and bars, players’ viewing areas, medical room, kitchens, offices, umpires’ rooms, canteen and shop, media rooms and storage rooms. A further building attached to the rear hosts the University Rugby Club.

International Cricket

The University Oval became NZ's 7th test ground when it hosted its first test match on January 4, 2008 between NZ and Bangladesh. This was Dunedin's first test match for 10 years. NZ$6 million was spent refurbishing the University Oval and it has now replaced Carisbrook as Dunedin's test cricket venue. [Cricket: Black Caps check out Dunedin’s University Oval [http://www.tv3.co.nz/News/SportsNews/Story/tabid/415/articleID/42795/cat/41/Default.aspx] ]

On December 3 and 4th, 2007 a State Championship match between Auckland and Otago that was scheduled for 4 days was all over inside 2 days due to an under prepared pitch. Auckland scored 94 & 128 and Otago 170 & 54/4. [Otago v Auckland Dec 3 & 4, 2007 [http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/125/125312.html] ] Auckland Coach, Mark O'Donnell had this to say about the pitch.

"It was an unmitigated cockup and a disgraceful wicket. I've been five times to [University Oval] in the last five years and on each occasion it's been substandard. They just haven't got it right. If you'd put a test attack on that surface you'd probably have killed someone once the divots dried out."

O'Donnell also said that those claiming that the pitch was not so bad and that poor batting played a large part in proceedings were "deluding themselves". [Cricket: Dunedin debacle still disgusts O'Donnell [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/topic/story.cfm?c_id=496&objectid=10481377] ]

As a result New Zealand Cricket sent its chief turf assessor Jarrod Carter, to Dunedin to help the local groundsman Tom Tamati prepare the test pitch. [Cricket: Fingers crossed for the University pitch [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/category/story.cfm?c_id=29&objectid=10485065] ]

Although the test finished inside 3 days that was due to poor batting by Bangladesh rather than the nature of the pitch. NZ scored 357 and the Bangladeshi openers had a 161 run partnership in the second innings. After the match Daniel Vettori, NZ's captain said: [Cricket: Extend boundaries and Dunedin is perfect, says Vettori [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/4/story.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10485540] ]

"Everything about the whole setup was fantastic, apart from the size of the boundaries. It was a little bit farcical. They were just too small. If you bowled to [Australians] Matthew Hayden or Adam Gilchrist it would be a tough day as a spinner. Aside from that, if they can sort it out I couldn't rate it higher. It can be one of the premier test venues."

Footnotes

References

* [http://www.otago.ac.nz/news/news/2002/28b-02-02_press_release.html Vice-Chancellor Delighted to Sign Oval Agreement With City]
* [http://www.nzcricket.co.nz/display.aspx?pri=20&sec=69&cid=1828&tpl=0 The University Oval Redevelopment]
* [http://cricketarchive.com/NewZealand/Grounds/1427.html Matches of note and records at the University Oval]