New Australian National Cricket Campus plan announced

Australian Cricket is seeking government support to realise its vision of an $18 million National Cricket Campus in Brisbane.
The Boards of Cricket Australia and Queensland Cricket recently committed $4.25 million in funding towards the creation of a National campus, which would include the integration of the existing Bupa National Cricket Centre and Queensland Cricket facilities at the Allan Border Field precinct in Albion with a new facility at Shaw Road, Kalinga.
The Campus would provide improved standards and access for all male and female National teams and performance squads as well as become the premier venue for State and National age championships, international youth events and female tournaments in all formats.
The Shaw Road Precinct, currently the home of Queensland Premier Cricket Club Northern Districts, would see the venue upgraded to enable it to host senior men’s Domestic One Day matches,
women’s International series games, International A series and Tour matches. It would also deliver increased community access to junior and senior club cricket.
Among the proposed additions to the Kalinga precinct are:
– A new Pavilion between the Ian Healy Oval and Alan Pettigrew Oval catering for male and female teams,
– Lighting of the main oval and training areas,
– Provision of 16 new turf practice nets and wickets,
– Renovation of the playing surfaces and wicket blocks
The Allan Border Field precinct would also be redeveloped, including refurbishment of Queensland Cricket’s main building, additional training and playing pitches, a new amenity building, new electronic scoreboard and lighting of Allan Border Field and training areas.
ALSO READ: Pattinson aims to go out with a bang
Cricket Australia’s Executive General Manager Team Performance, Pat Howard and Queensland Cricket Chief Executive Officer Max Walters said the National Cricket Campus proposal would create a fully integrated world class indoor and outdoor high performance training facility to allow the world’s best players to train, play and compete.
Howard said the demands and scale of high performance facilities were far greater now than they were five years ago, with success at the elite level by Australian teams putting pressure on current capabilities.
“Advances in our key performance programs demand that our cricketers train more like they play, and as we play the bulk of our cricket outside on turf, accessing world class facilities 365 days a year is a must have rather than a wish,’’ he said.
“The National Cricket Campus will provide the vehicle for improved standards and greater access for all of our National teams and squads – male, female, All-Abilities, Indigenous and Indoor – as well as becoming a premier playing venue for national age titles and pathway teams,’’ Howard said.
“Australian Cricket has committed to spending more than four million dollars to achieve this vision, and looks forward to working with all interested parties to make the National Cricket Campus an internationally renowned facility in the future,’’ he said.
Walters welcomed the refurbishment of Allan Border Field and the utilization of existing underdeveloped green space at Kalinga to create assets that benefit both the local community and wider Australian Cricket demands.
“This would be a model for the future with the project’s strong links and access to community cricket providing a leading example for Premier clubs and key regional facilities to aspire to,’’ he said.
“As well as their importance to Queensland and Australia’s elite teams, Allan Border Field and the Bupa National Cricket Centre are significant community assets with local schools and sporting bodies utilizing the facilities. The integration of Shaw Road would deliver significant benefits to many levels of the game.”
“Ultimately, we see this model expanding to create other Cricket Hubs in key locations around the State,’’ he said.
Howard said that pending funding, Australian Cricket was aiming for the Campus to be in use in time for 2020 when Australia hosts the ICC Men’s and Women’s World T20.
“With support, we believe the place for the next generation of cricketers to develop, train and master domestic and International cricket will be in Brisbane through the National Cricket Campus,’’ he said.
Latest
-
News
India extends lead to 160 on third morning in Ahmedabad
While Washington Sundar was stranded on 96 not out, the hosts increased the pressure on England in the fourth Test.
-
News
England accused of throwing Dom Bess ‘under the bus’
The spinner struggled on his return to the side.
-
News
India v England, day 2: Ben Stokes efforts fail to turn tide in England’s favour
Rishabh Pant’s remarkable century and the folly of England’s imbalanced attack left India in full control.
-
News
Brilliant Rishabh Pant century gives India stranglehold in Ahmedabad
Pant built to a brilliant 101 as he changed the complexion of the game.
-
News
I was told to ‘die in a hole’ – Alex Hartley reveals online abuse over tweet
The former England international received a barrage of abuse over a tongue-in-cheek post.
-
News
Ben Stokes removes Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma as England fight back
England scrapped their way back into contention as they left their opponents 153 for six, with Stokes to the fore in Ahmedabad.
-
News
Ben Stokes dismisses Virat Kohli for a duck as England battle back against India
The hosts struggled to 80 for four at lunch, with a disciplined bowling display making matters difficult in Ahmedabad.
-
News
Temba Bavuma and Dean Elgar named Proteas captains
Temba Bavuma is set to lead the Proteas in the 2021 and 2022 ICC Men’s T20 World Cups as well as the ICC Men’s World Cup in 2023
-
News
Ben Stokes admits England came up well short with the bat again in India
The tourists were skittled for 205 after winning the toss.