Fitzherbert Park

Fitzherbert Park

Fitzherbert Park.
Ground information
Location	Palmerston North, New Zealand
Establishment	1902 (first recorded match)
End names
n/a
International information
First WODI	20 January 1982:   Australia v   International XI
Last WODI	17 February 2000:   New Zealand v   England
Team information
Central Districts (1951–present)
As of 1 September 2020 Source: Ground profile

Fitzherbert Park is a cricket ground in Palmerston North in New Zealand, a home ground of the Central Districts. ^[1] In February 2000, New Zealand Women defeated England Women at the ground, in the opening match of a 5-ODI series. ^[2]

The ground is situated on Fitzherbert Avenue in the parklands beside the Manawatū River. Known originally just as the Sportsground, it was renamed Fitzherbert Park in 1973. ^{[3] [4]}

Re-development

With the development of the NZC Warrant of Fitness (WOF) and increasing expectations of the modern game, Fitzherbert Park lost their NZC WOF due to the lack of effective irrigation to the outfield in droughty summers, causing a brown bumpy outfield that first class players did not like.

Fitzherbert Park is unusual as it has three cricket blocks (two club and one representative) and a practice block within the one facility.

Fitzherbert Park regained its warrant of fitness during the 2021-22 season and now hosts Plunket Shield, T20 and one day provincial cricket. A new 10 lane practice facility was built in 2020-21 off the playing oval in the north eastern corner. No winter sport is played over the cricket blocks anymore.

To regain the NZC WOF Palmerston North City Council in consultation with Manawatu Cricket Association have since 2013:

• Extended the drainage across the whole ground
• Installed a full outfield pop up irrigation system
• Resurfaced the two Patumahoe blocks
• Replaced the Marton soil with Patumahoe on the town end block.
• Built a new practice facility
• Built a scores box at the top of the Grandstand
• Gravel banded the outfield to link into the drainage system
• Up graded lounge facilities for players
• Up graded the lower changing rooms and toilets into unisex facilities

References

1. "Ground Profile: Fitzherbert Park". CricInfo. Retrieved 28 July 2009.
2. "Tiffen heads New Zealand victory". CricInfo. 12 February 2000. Retrieved 28 July 2009.
3. "Obituary: Mr. F. H. Cooke". Manawatu Standard: 7. 10 June 1933.
4. "Fitzherbert Park, Palmerston North". CricketArchive. Retrieved 25 April 2021.

External links

• Cricinfo
• CricketArchive

40°22′08″S175°36′58″E / 40.3689°S 175.6161°E / -40.3689; 175.6161