After the ICC World Twenty20 competition in the Caribbean the BLACKCAPS head to Florida to play three Twenty20 games against Sri Lanka.
Recently a group of New Zealand Cricket representatives headed to the states to check out the facilities and New Zealand Cricket's Operations Manager, Tim Murdock, currently in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, was able to answer some questions.
What will conditions be like for this series?
It's really starting to warm-up in South Florida, with most days getting close to 30 degrees but with humidity as high as 90 percent. Although these conditions are quite alien to New Zealanders' experience with cricket, they are quite common within the cricketing world and I'm sure both teams will acclimatise.
What is the facility like?
The Central Broward Regional Park is a very pretty ground that was specifically tailored to cricket. It has a grandstand with a 5,000 seat capacity and a great embankment that's likely to take another 7,000 - 8,000 for cricket.
And the wicket block?
The block has four wickets which are maintained by a full-time groundsman from the UK. To ensure the playing conditions are right up to international standard, we've had a couple of days working with the ICC head groundsman, Andy Atkinson, and now have New Zealand Cricket's turf advisor, Jared Carter, on the ground to work with the local groundsman.
Is there a local appetite for cricket?
We are told that more than 200,000 Jamaicans live in South Florida and there is a strong representation from other West Indian nations, Sri Lankans, Indians, Pakistanis and an ex-pat community from the UK, Australia and New Zealand.
There are a number of cricket leagues operating within Broward County (which is where the playing facility is located) and the Mayor of the City of Lauderhill is a strong personal supporter of cricket.
Will the players have the opportunity to enjoy any of the local attractions in Florida?
Depending on when both teams finish their commitments at the ICC Twenty20 championship in the West Indies, they are likely to have quite a tight schedule. Matches will be played on Thursday May 20, Saturday May 22 and Sunday May 23 and the teams will then leave on the 24th.
At this stage we have a promotional event planned with the local Major League Baseball team, the Florida Marlins, at one of their home games next week and I think a number of the cricketers (particularly the BLACKCAPS) are looking forward to the chance to meet and mix with the baseball players. We think some of them will have the chance to pitch a baseball in the warm-ups for the players.
Fort Lauderdale is situated right on the Everglades (which is one of the world's great natural wonders) and just north of Miami which is a thriving, dynamic city, so if the teams do get any down-time there's certainly plenty to see and do.
