Earthquake trauma forces cricket rescheduling

All remaining rounds of New Zealand's first-class cricket competition, the Plunket Shield, have been moved forward to new dates in order to allow the quake-affected Canterbury Wizards team to deal with the impact of the Christchurch earthquake yet remain an integral contestant in the premier national competition.

Round six matches, which had been due to start imminently on Thursday March 3, will now begin on Monday March 7. Teams have been disassembled and will now reassemble in the host venues on Sunday.

Canterbury's home venue at QEII Park, which had been due to host several games, has been signicantly affected by liquefaction and is unlikely to be fit for use for the remainder of the season. All other cricket in Christchurch has been cancelled for the remainder of the summer, including all club cricket. The White Ferns' Rose Bowl one day international series against Australia at Lincoln, which was due to start last week, was also cancelled in the wake of the quake catastrophe.

For further information and details regarding the new Plunket Shield schedule please visit:

http://northernknights.yahooxtra.co.nz/ndca/news/plunket-shield-date-changes-announced

 

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