As someone who has watched and scored cricket games at this great venue for about 33 years, I am absolutely dismayed that once again the people of Central Otago are going to miss out on top-class cricket being played at Molyneux Park this season.
This follows the New Zealand Cricket decision to transfer the twenty/20 game between the Otago Volts and the Northern Knights to Dunedin on December 29, which followed a meeting at Molyneux Park on November 16 between NZC turf manager Ian McKendry, Otago Cricket Association chief executive Ross Dykes, Central Otago District Council representative Geoff King, and representatives from Asplundh and the Otago Country Cricket Association.
Apparently, NZC was not happy that no qualified groundsman was in place at the time. We have since learned, through the media, that the pitch wasn't up to the required standard. We have still not received any official notification from NZC that the game has been transferred or the warrant has been withdrawn or the reasons behind it.I find it unbelievable that a decision like that can be made six weeks out from a game, especially with the superb pitch and ground preparation conditions in Alexandra at this time of year.
The last wickets Colin solely prepared at Molyneux Park were for three Otago Sparks games two years ago. Gary Stead, the White Ferns coach, commented at the time that the pitches Colin had prepared were the best he had encountered in all his time coming to Alexandra.
The "qualified groundsman" part is a bit puzzling. Neither Southland cricket nor North Otago cricket has "qualified" groundsmen either but no-one can deny the great pitches that Kevin Cooper and Russell Payne produce in their respective areas. The former groundsman at Molyneux Park, Peter Domigan, is not "qualified" either but he keeps on producing outstanding surfaces at the Queenstown Events Centre. I have no doubt that Colin Buttar, and assistants, would have provided a surface suitable for the players to perform to their expectations.
The decision will deprive thousands of cricket followers who will be in Central for the holiday break - both visitors and locals - the chance to see their heroes such as the McCullum brothers, Neil Wagner, Neil Broom, Craig Cumming and Dimitri Mascarenhas in the Volts, and a Knights line-up with Daniel Vettori, Tim Southee, Peter McGlashan, the Marshalls and Kane Williamson.
It also has huge financial implications for the Alexandra area. Local businesses will suffer - accommodation providers, hotels, petrol stations and food outlets, to mention but a few.
The OCCA junior committee had fundraising planned. The OCCA itself will miss out on about $2000 in income from its share of the refreshments and food outlets at the ground. Local softballers were going to raise funds by cleaning up the ground. Others, such as long-serving caterer Jaqui Rutherford and the scoreboard attendants, will all lose income.
I estimate the loss to the community at about $100,000.
That is precious income for a small community such as Alexandra. Otago Country sponsors who were hoping for a little more exposure lose out as well.
Grounds such as Molyneux Park held Otago cricket together during the 1980s and 1990s and the early part of this millennium.
It may not have a state-of-the-art pavilion or an electronic scoreboard or its own "super sopper" (if it rains heavily enough for a super sopper to be used in Alexandra, Noah would be more use) or palatial dressing rooms. But it does have history, character, great weather (about three days play lost in over 30 years), dedicated supporters, and a good playing surface and outfield.
It also boasts two dedicated volunteers in Shayne O'Connor and Lindsay Breen. These two have led the charge in providing all that has been asked of them.
They have a group of outstanding helpers and also have the backing of Mayor Tony Lepper and his council. Shayne and Lindsay have carried on the good work done by the "Shell Committee", who first brought first-class cricket to Molyneux Park.
It seems to me this decision by NZC to transfer this game and withdraw the warrant of fitness from Molyneux Park may be the beginning of the end for smaller provincial grounds such as ours and Centennial Park (Oamaru). It seems NZC is more comfortable with playing at the bigger metropolitan, or larger provincial, grounds.
We simply can not compete with the likes of Southland cricket, which has the Invercargill Licensing Trust pouring mega-bucks into Queens Park, or the Events Centre in Queenstown. Those two grounds have great facilities and good playing surfaces but suffer from inclement weather.
The Central Otago council is working hard to retain Molyneux Park as a first-class cricket venue and must be disheartened by this latest glitch. I wonder if the council might just throw its hands in the air, and wonder why it should go to all this trouble and expense for three and a-half hours of twenty/20 cricket.
I hope NZC and its turf manager stick to their promise of working alongside the new Molyneux Park groundsman and integrate him into the "turf managers' culture", whatever that means, and the warrant is returned.
NZC and the OCA have provided the Otago Country Cricket Association with plenty of assistance over the last few years.
Those two organisations have a duty to promote the game of cricket throughout New Zealand.
A large majority of cricketers are produced in the country areas.
Without seeing their heroes in action in their own backyards, at least once a year, future Black Caps and White Ferns might choose other sports.
I hope we see Molyneux Park used again in the future. But I have my doubts that it will, no matter how hard we try, and that would be a crime.
• Malcolm Jones is the chairman of the Otago Country Cricket Association, but the views above are his own.
