A quick peek at Seddon Park

Cricket365
November 24, 2016

Established: 1950
Capacity: 10000
Floodlights: Yes
End names: Members End, City End
Home team: Northern Districts
Test history: 21 games – 9 home wins, 6 away wins, 6 draws

Overview

The ground is located close to the centre of Hamilton, New Zealand’s fifth largest city 150 kilometres south of Auckland, and is renowned for it’s village green-style setting, affording a picnic atmosphere for spectators.

Known as Seddon Park, having been named for former New Zealand Prime Minister Richard John (King Dick) Seddon, the track has a history of favouring spin bowlers.

Originally outfitted for cricket, Seddon Park is a well-grassed stadium with a centre block of nine pitches, running approximately North/South.

It is usually a very good batting track although two days out from the Test the pitch is sporting a green top.

There is a grass embankment going around three-quarters around the venue.

Last time out

The Black Caps outmuscled Sri Lanka in a low scoring affair in December 2015.

Sri Lanka had established a first innings lead after posting 292 and bowling out the hosts for 237.

New Zealand fought back with the ball though as Tim Southee and Neil Wagner combined to make short work of the Sri Lankan batting and leave the hosts chasing 189 for victory.

Kane Williamson scored a ton as the Kiwis eclipsed the Sri Lankan total with five wickets in hand.

Happy Hunting Ground

Kane Williamson scored a ton last time out in Hamilton but Ross Taylor is the leading scorer at the venue among the current group of Black Caps players with 642 runs in 8 Tests at an average of 42.80.

Tim Southee leads the wicket-taking standings for currently active players having grabbed 26 scalps in five Tests.

Asad Shafiq top scored for Pakistan on their last visit to the ground in 2011 hitting 83 in their first innings.

They Said

BJ Watling told ESPN Cricinfo in the lead up to the Test: “A lot can depend on the cloud cover we get here when conditions are around.

“It can swing when it’s overcast. I’m hoping it doesn’t spin too much because Yasir Shah is a world-class bowler, and we really don’t want to bring him into the game too much.”

“Our pitches here can flatten out quite quickly. If it’s green on day one, I can guarantee that by the end of day two, if it stays sunny, it won’t be that green anymore.”

Weather forecast

Not the best outlook on the weather front with a high probability of rain on all five days.

The toss could be crucial with the bowlers expected to get the most out of the pitch early on before it becomes flatter and easier to bat on later in the Test.

The wicket was exceptionally green to days before the Test but would have had at least a day or two of sunshine so that bowling green-like tint should have faded somewhat by the time the captains meet for the toss.

This is a result wicket and it will need to be with a lot of rain around.