The return of top international cricket to a renewed McLean Park will be an absolute highlight of the coming Hawke’s Bay summer, says Central Districts Cricket Association CEO Pete de Wet.

De Wet was thrilled with confirmation today of two BLACKCAPS One-Day Internationals and a WHITE FERNS ODI for Napier’s premier sports ground in 2018/19 — which will also see Sri Lanka play a warm-up game in Napier ahead of a December Test Series, and the CD public in Nelson treated to a BLACKCAPS v Sri Lanka ODI at Saxton Oval in January.

NZC announced the full 2018/19 International summer schedule this afternoon with the BLACKCAPS and WHITE FERNS to play back-to-back One-Day Internationals in Napier — both day/night matches against cricket powerhouse India, on 23 and 24 January 2019, respectively.

The BLACKCAPS will then return to Napier to play a day/night ODI on 13 February to open a tour by Bangladesh.

Napier City Council is nearing completion of a major McLean Park redevelopment project that has seen the rollout of state of the art drainage and re-turfing, including a drop-in wicket, to follow ahead of the summer.

“I’ve been thrilled to watch the progress over the past few months and, along with our stakeholders and cricketing public I’m sure, we’re tremendously grateful to Napier City Council for its significant investment,” said de Wet.

“The redevelopment is clearly restoring an iconic Napier venue to a world-class cricket facility, and I have every confidence that this is the start of an exciting new era for all International and Domestic cricket at McLean Park.”

Last summer was the first season since 1989/90 that Napier had not hosted International cricket, and de Wet said it was brilliant for the sports-loving public of the Hawke’s Bay region to have not one, but three International matches coming to the Bay for 2018/19.

“I really can’t wait to see the world’s top teams stepping onto the new turf — it’s going to be a very proud moment for Hawke’s Bay.”

NZC CEO David White agreed. Said Mr White, “It’s wonderful to see both the BLACKCAPS and the WHITE FERNS returning to a revamped McLean Park.

“Napier has long been one of NZC’s established summer locations, and the improvements at the venue should make for an excellent season of top flight cricket.”

Full BLACKCAPS and WHITE FERNS 2018/19 schedule: https://www.nzc.nz/schedules/fixtures/international/all-teams/all-series

Article added: Tuesday 31 July 2018