Here we go again.
Therese Walsh, the ''Wonder Woman'' of mega-sport events in New Zealand, has managed to convince Cricket World Cup officials as well as Cricket Australia that it was fair dinkum to split pool matches evenly between New Zealand (Dunedin, Christchurch, Nelson, Wellington, Hamilton, Napier and Auckland) and Australian (Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Hobart, Perth, Sydney and Melbourne venues.
Walsh has worked wonders. Despite being a tad earthquake-prone, Wellington will host a quarterfinal, and Christchurch hosts the tournament opener between New Zealand and Sri Lanka on Valentine's Day.
Another wish to be granted was a semifinal at Eden Park despite having half the capacity of the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
She also convinced the decision-makers that Nelson's Saxton Oval could host not one, not two, but three international matches, having never hosted one before.
Did Walsh get everything she wanted? It appears so, but there has been a concession and one that involves money. Two-thirds of the tournament profit via ticket sales will go to Cricket Australia and one-third will stay here with New Zealand Cricket.
Not bad negotiating, really, when you consider that last year early indications were given that New Zealand would get a 50-50 split of the profits but only one-third of the matches.
As New Zealanders, what would we prefer? Seeing more cricket or more cash?As a chartered accountant, Walsh will know how important a healthy bottom line is for business success, so how did she convince New Zealand Cricket to accept a smaller cut of the profits?Walsh is the epitome of great leadership, having sold the vision that patriotism rather than profit was more important; that getting bats in the hands and cricket in the dreams of our youngsters was more valuable than cramming more bums on seats and padding in our pockets.
The only snag will be resistance from those keen to keep Hagley Park more accessible to the public rather than granting resource consent to develop a commercial stadium.
So, in less than two years, will New Zealanders get behind this global sporting event like they did for the Rugby World Cup in 2011? Will the ''stadium of four million'' call go out to all nooks and crannies in Aotearoa, and will venues overflow with cricket purists, boisterous cricket fans, party revellers and nosy parkers?Even more important, is cricket still a popular summer sport to watch and/or play here?According to the 1997-2001 Sport and Recreation statistics, 8% of New Zealand's population played cricket at least once in the last 12 months, and at the time was more popular as a participation sport for men than rugby union.
A more recent survey of 4443 adults in 2007-08 suggests participation rates have dropped, with approximately 5% of those surveyed playing cricket at least once in the last year.
A large proportion of these cricket participants were men, aged 16 to 24 and self-identified as New Zealand European or Asian. They played cricket at home or at someone else's home, at sports facilities, or by a beach, river, lake or sea.
Because cricket is something we can play in our backyard, on the streets, near water, or down the hallway, perhaps cricket fever will catch on quite easily. New Zealanders also like any excuse for a party, especially one that involves sport and possibly pulling a sickie at work.
Walsh's vision for the CWC in 2015 is all about community engagement and about getting councils, cricket associations and communities involved.
Small towns such as Nelson and Napier will get behind the teams they host and big cities such as Wellington are used to putting on a party for similar carnival events like the international sevens.
At least Auckland's public transport system will not have to deal with hosting the opening match, and it would be a great story if Christchurch could pull it off.
There are always huge costs associated with hosting global sporting events but it is amazing how time tends to heal all wounds and make our memory hazy.
The NZRU has recovered from its operating loss of $3.1 million in 2011 and boasted its first operating profit of $3.2 million at this year's annual meeting. If it has recovered from the financial hangover of hosting a global event, surely New Zealand Cricket, with Therese Walsh at the crease, will be in safe hands.
