The stunning village green setting at Seddon Park in Hamilton has become one of the country’s premier cricketing facilities and it is the setting of the final Test in the series between the BLACKCAPS and Australia starting tomorrow.
The match is the 50th Test between the two teams and is also home town hero and BLACKCAPS captain Daniel Vettori’s 100th Test.
The BLACKCAPS will be in looking for an improved performance after their heavy 10 wicket loss against strong Australian side at the Basin Reserve in Wellington.
They will take heart from their improved batting effort in the second innings but will need more from a bowling attack that took just five wickets in the last Test. This is likely to see the inclusion of spinner Jeetan Patel as they bolster the bowling attack.
With Australia’s unassailable 1-0 lead ensuring they retain the Trans-Tasman Trophy the BLACKCAPS have nothing to loss and
With Daryl Tuffey out with a broken hand, reinforcements have been called in, in the shape of Northern Knights batting star Kane Williamson and Wellington Firebirds all rounder James Franklin.
Players to watch
Daniel Vettori: He is celebrating his 100th Test match and his 11th at Seddon Park, a ground where he has been prolific with both bat and ball in Hamilton. He’s racked up 607 runs at the ground with a top score of 137*. He’s also claimed 31 Test wickets at 34.25.
Brent Arnel: He made his Test debut in Wellington and was the first New Zealand bowler to claim a scalp of an Australian batsman. Arnel is a local player and familiar with conditions at Seddon Park. He’ll be looking at improving his 89/2 and 31/0 from the last Test. At Seddon Park he has taken 35 wickets in the Plunket Shield over the course of his career.
Michael Clarke: The Australia vice captain proved his class at the Basin Reserve with a superb 168. Clarke has played eight Tests against New Zealand, scoring 771 runs including three centuries and one half century, with a healthy average of 63.44.
Doug Bollinger: After an ordinary One-Day series the Australian fast bowler lived up to his reputation in the first Test seven wickets including a five wicket bag in the first innings. He has already amassed 34 wickets in his short seven match career.
Seddon Park
Seddon Park has been a happy hunting ground for the BLACKCAPS, winning seven and losing just three of the 16 matches played.
- Seddon Park was named after former Prime Minister Richard John Seddon, the 15th leader of the country and the longest standing Prime Minister to date.
- The ground had a face lift in 1990 including the construction of a new pavilion. It was renamed Trustbank Park.
- In 1997 its name was changed again, this time to WestpacTrust Park before becoming Westpac Park in 2002 and finally reverting back to Seddon Park in 2005.
- Seddon Park has been the home of cricket in Hamilton since 1956 when the Northern Districts Cricket Association was formed.
- The first Plunket Shield game played at Seddon Park was between Northern Districts and Auckland on Christmas day 1956. The match was drawn
- The first Test at the ground was a drawn match played in 1991 between the BLACKCAPS and Sri Lanka.
- The BLACKCAPS have won seven Tests at Seddon Park, lost three and drawn six.
- The last time the BLACKCAPS played Australia at the ground the touring side were victorious by six wickets.
- Daniel Vettori has played 10 Tests at Seddon Park. He’s scored 607 Test runs, top scoring with 137*. He’s taken 31 Test wickets at Seddon Park with an economy rate of 2.54.
