Hamilton’s Seddon Park will host three matches as part of ICC Cricket World Cup 2015.
In an announcement made today in Wellington, tournament organisers revealed the city’s picturesque ground will be the venue for matches between South Africa and Zimbabwe (Sunday, 15 February) India and Ireland (Tuesday, 10 March), and Bangladesh and New Zealand (Friday, 13 March). All three games will be day-night matches.
Mayor Julie Hardaker welcomed the announcement as a testament to the calibre of the ground and a reflection of the city’s ability to host large sporting events.
“We are very proud of Seddon Park: it’s one of our city’s best assets, and when it’s full for big matches, the atmosphere is fantastic,” Mayor Hardaker said.
“Hamilton really gets in behind big sporting events and I am very confident cricket supporters from around the region will fill Seddon Park for these ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 fixtures. The countdown begins now.”
Northern Districts Cricket Association Chief Executive Peter Roach echoed the Mayor’s sentiments: “The allocation of these tournament matches is terrific news for local cricket fans. For many, being at an ICC Cricket World Cup match will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
“This will be a great opportunity for cricket to grow engagement in the game at every level.”
Seddon Park is highly-rated as an international cricket venue, regularly hosting Tests, One Day Internationals and T20 fixtures involving the Black Caps and visiting teams. In May 2012, influential magazine The Cricketer ranked Seddon Park as the 15th-best Test match venue in the world.
The magazine described Seddon Park as “a perfect circular venue with grassy banks running around from a classy pavilion”, and quoted South African writer Neil Manthorp’s comments the park had “fabulous grass banks, white picket fences, and just five minutes from the centre of town”.
Seddon Park was the venue for two matches as part of the 1992 Cricket World Cup, the only previous time New Zealand has been involved in hosting the tournament.
