Basin Reserve (Wellington) – Pitch Report

The Basin Reserve is an island of cricket in the heart of Wellington, surrounded by Mount Victoria and Mount Cook. On the eastern side of the ground, spectators are seated on a grass bank, which acts as a natural sun trap while also shielding them from the fierce southerly winds. The facility is under legislation and New Zealand’s only sports grounds on the national heritage list.

An unexpected earthquake flattened out enough ground to create the Basin Reserve in 1855, giving cricket in Wellington a shot of adrenaline. It was another 13 years before the ground was completed and the first match was held between Wellington Volunteers and representatives of HMS Falcon in 1868 because the dirt was marshy.

In 1894, the Basin Reserve was used for the first-class match between Wellington and Auckland. The Basin Reserve did not host its first Test until 1929, when New Zealand played the MCC there. Local batsman Stewie Dempster and Aucklander Jack Mills shared an opening stand of 276: each scored centuries, becoming the first for New Zealanders in Test matches.

Despite the fact that it snows and rains in the wintry months, Dharamsala has yet to host international matches because of the difficulties with scheduling them. Despite snow falling on the ground in recent weeks, it held its first ODI between India and England in January 2013, despite being hampered by harsh winters. The IPL’s 2010 extension brought Dharamsala more attention, and it has the potential to become one of India’s most popular stadiums.