Canberra could be in line for Test debut with seventh game in 2016-17 summer
If there are seven Test matches next summer – as proposed under the Future Tours Program – surely Canberra deserves to have one of them?
Cricket's ultimate game of strategy, survival and strength is the last piece of the puzzle the national capital needs to have ticked off every box.
Under the Future Tours Program, South Africa are set to play four Tests in Australia in late 2016 followed by a three Test series with Pakistan.
There is the possibility one of the current Test match venues in Australia would host two Tests instead of bringing the seventh Test to Canberra.
With Pakistan set to play on Boxing Day and at the SCG for the New Year's Test, you could assume CA would like to see at least one of the Tests against South Africa – a massive money-spinner of a series – to be at either Sydney or Melbourne.
A spokesperson for the ACT Government said a Test match wasn't an immediate consideration after securing a four-year deal to play a one-day international at Manuka Oval until 2019.
That is a different attitude to the one ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr adopted late last year when he said Canberra would make a big play at a Test match if a seventh Test was up for grabs.
"Clearly the ultimate goal is a Test match in Canberra, that requires a summer that has seven Test matches,'' Barr said. "I'm told there is a future tour calendar that has a four and three Test match program. In a seven Test summer, we would be in the box seat for that content."
The Manuka Oval pitch came in for criticism during the recent CA XI v New Zealand tour match, when only four wickets fell across the two days.
Former Test batsman Mark Waugh said Canberra had the facilities capable of hosting a Test match.
"I think it's good enough," Waugh said. "They've had first-class and international games here in the past and the pitch has been fine. Maybe if the pitch was too flat here last time, they can spice it up a bit. This venue is excellent, it's a great ground and great surface.
"The lights are great for day/night cricket and the crowds are normally good, so it's got all the ingredients as a top-class cricket venue."
The past three years have seen a rapid growth in the amount of quality cricket played at Manuka Oval. It started with the inaugural visit of the Australian team for a one-day international in Canberra's Centenary in 2013.
There was also a sold-crowd crowd to see the Big Bash League final earlier this year and three games of the Cricket World Cup.
But when talk of bringing a Test match to Canberra is brought up, all you hear is silence on the other end.
There are concerns about crowds over five days and whether the batsman-friendly pitch would deliver an entertaining contest.
Cricket ACT chief executive Cameron French said his organisation would throw its hat in the ring if there was a seventh Test.
"Cricket Australia are still working through what the Test schedule for next year is," French said. "Obviously, if there is a seventh Test in the summer, we would love to have it in Canberra."
A Cricket Australia spokesperson said the cricket boards of South Africa and Pakistan had yet to sign off on a memorandum of understanding for the Test series to go ahead.
"We're in the very early stages of working through our 2016-17 home schedule," the spokesperson said. "At this point, we aren't in a position to comment on specific details."
http://www.smh.com.au/sport/cricket...th-game-in-201617-summer-20151114-gkz0mf.html
