The Basin Reserve over the years

[SteveNZ]

Love this, I was at the 2009 Indian Test and 2008 England Test at the Basin. Would I be right in remembering we got hosed in the England one, but were saved by rain from another hosing v India. And was the India game, if not the series, where the term Gambhiring came from - G.Gambhir scoring a ton of runs then turning up in the media saying India were still not in front even though they set us 600 to win?

Also, this is my favourite Basin-related picture:

 

[RossTaylorsBox]

Lol

greg.jpg

 

[James]

A few photos of mine from the Basin in the early 2000s.

 

[HeathDavisSpeed]

A few years ago I believe there was talk about extending the motorway to go over the Basin to help sorten the time it taks to get to the airport. I hope that has died a death and no longer being considered.

I believe the current plan is to build a tunnel under the North-East corner to connect the current Arras Tunnel to a duplicate Mt Vic tunnel but without using a flyover. This plan is vastly superior to the flyover option, and might allow for a bit more space at the entrance to the ground. There was even talk about making a park at the North side of the ground, but I suspect there's still a need for the full roundabout for Newtown and Kent Terrace traffic, even if the bulk of the East-West traffic can by-pass the ground.

From the NZ Herald (https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/polit...g-two-new-tunnels/WWCAZKCKFJEDBIOK4ZCCJPWDKI/)

The transport project includes:

• A second 0.7km Mount Victoria Tunnel parallel to the existing tunnel.
• A duplicate 0.5km Terrace Tunnel parallel to the existing tunnel with tie-ins.
• Grade separation between State Highway 1 and local roads through the Basin Reserve upgrade. This will be achieved through an extension of the Arras Tunnel and moving the westbound SH1 traffic to the northern side of the Basin Reserve. Local traffic, including public transport, will pass over SH1 on the western side of the Basin Reserve.
• Wider network improvements to maximise benefits along the SH1 corridor through Wellington.
• The SH1 Wellington improvements will result in a reduction of traffic on local city streets, and this will support Wellington’s North-South, East-West, and Harbour Quays bus corridors as identified in the Government Policy Statement on Land Transport 2024.

 

[HeathDavisSpeed]

New Zealand vs. England 14th-18th March 2013

NZ vs ENG Cricket Scorecard, 2nd Test at Wellington, March 14 - 18, 2013

Get cricket scorecard of 2nd Test, NZ vs ENG, England tour of New Zealand 2012/13 at Basin Reserve, Wellington dated March 14 - 18, 2013.

www.espncricinfo.com

Highlights: Look at that turn out, and - as I mentioned in the match thread the other day - barely anyone on chairs on the bank, only at the top. Population density much higher as a result. The cricket on the other hand wasn't much chop for NZ. Compton and Trott put on a big partnership to bat NZ out of it, and then Broad took a 6 wicket haul. Rain after lunch on day 4 forced the draw in the end.

Remember when we had Test matches at the height of Summer rather than in mid-late Spring?

 

[SteveNZ]

Lol

greg.jpg

Morgs is one of my favourite cricketers of all time. Incredibly coachable, in fact way too coachable. He took on every piece of advice he was given. In that photo, he'd been told to stay in his action longer...so when he was bowling, he'd follow through so hard his head would come out from under his left armpit. There was never a c&b G.Morgan from that era, because he never saw the ball. He also was never able to appeal for lbws until others did. One day in the nets, Luke Vivian (who hits a ball harder than any man) smoked one past Morgs' ear, and we had to immediately coach it out of him.

 

[HeathDavisSpeed]

A sighting of Luke Vivian! SteveNZ comes up with the goods once more!

 

[James]

I believe the current plan is to build a tunnel under the North-East corner to connect the current Arras Tunnel to a duplicate Mt Vic tunnel but without using a flyover. This plan is vastly superior to the flyover option, and might allow for a bit more space at the entrance to the ground. There was even talk about making a park at the North side of the ground, but I suspect there's still a need for the full roundabout for Newtown and Kent Terrace traffic, even if the bulk of the East-West traffic can by-pass the ground.

From the NZ Herald (https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/polit...g-two-new-tunnels/WWCAZKCKFJEDBIOK4ZCCJPWDKI/)

The transport project includes:

• A second 0.7km Mount Victoria Tunnel parallel to the existing tunnel.
• A duplicate 0.5km Terrace Tunnel parallel to the existing tunnel with tie-ins.
• Grade separation between State Highway 1 and local roads through the Basin Reserve upgrade. This will be achieved through an extension of the Arras Tunnel and moving the westbound SH1 traffic to the northern side of the Basin Reserve. Local traffic, including public transport, will pass over SH1 on the western side of the Basin Reserve.
• Wider network improvements to maximise benefits along the SH1 corridor through Wellington.
• The SH1 Wellington improvements will result in a reduction of traffic on local city streets, and this will support Wellington’s North-South, East-West, and Harbour Quays bus corridors as identified in the Government Policy Statement on Land Transport 2024.

Thanks Heath, that sounds like a much better solution.

 

[SteveNZ]

A sighting of Luke Vivian! SteveNZ comes up with the goods once more!

The great man is now coach of the Howick Pak premier men.

I wish youtube had videos of him batting in the HRV Cup, with the late great Martin Crowe talking up how big his bat was and calling him the Viking.

 

[shortpitched713]

I don't know why, but this ground is one of the most charming in world cricket to me.

 

[HeathDavisSpeed]

New Zealand vs. India 14th-18th February 2014

NZ vs IND Cricket Scorecard, 2nd Test at Wellington, February 14 - 18, 2014

Get cricket scorecard of 2nd Test, NZ vs IND, India tour of New Zealand 2013/14 at Basin Reserve, Wellington dated February 14 - 18, 2014.

www.espncricinfo.com

Ah, the McCullum Test. A number of CricketWeb's finest were at the ground - @Dan @Jono @KiWiNiNjA and @Hurricane were there. I got there by 9.30am on the first day and secured us all one of the wonderful spaces at the top of the bank in the shade of a Pōhutukawa. Similarly early on day 2 to watch the warm ups. By the day McCullum was scheduled to reach his 300, I was back at work. I put in a request to my then boss if I could sneak down to the Basin to see if history was unfold, and he let me - along with a large number of other office-bound people, if the attire was anything to go by. I recall standing with Jono as the 300 unfolded and then told him McCullum would probably be out in short order as the weight and the pressure being lifted from him would completely change his mindset. And sure enough, he was out. Also saw former CW member Jimmy Neesham go pretty well on debut, bringing up his ton. Brilliant stuff.

 

[jcas0167]

I caught a taxi from outside Wellington Station to the Basin when McCullum was on 293. The driver was listening on the radio and it was a nerve-wracking ride. I was worried he would bring up the triple before I got there. Arrived in time to see Neesham pull one away for his maiden ton when I arrived and I think McCullum was on 298. He brought up the triple shortly afterwards. The ground was packed from memory and the ovation was tremendous.

 

[HeathDavisSpeed]

Nice work @jcas0167! My photos of the 300 were **** as I had a terrible camera phone. Great to see some better pics of that historic day.

 

[_Ed_]

I'd completely forgotten Fulton's involvement in that match - not surprising, really.

 

[Bahnz]

A few photos of mine from the Basin in the early 2000s.

View attachment 43228

View attachment 43229

View attachment 43230

The day the greatest catch of all time was taken.

 

[Zinzan]

I'd completely forgotten Fulton's involvement in that match - not surprising, really.

Right, and it was those hundreds in each innings against England a year or so earlier that gave him a free pass for way too long. IIRC he was very lucky in both innings.

 

[jcas0167]

I'd completely forgotten Fulton's involvement in that match - not surprising, really.

Also, Latham's debut.

Nice work @jcas0167! My photos of the 300 were **** as I had a terrible camera phone. Great to see some better pics of that historic day.

Haha, I think I was using a digital camera as my camera phone was hopeless. Some other Basin pics. Russell and Martin Crowe at the Fill the Basin for Christchurch charity game in 2011. You can see the top of Sir Graham Henry's head between them.



Sir Ian McKellan collecting donations at the game.



Kevin Pietersen on the boundary 2013. Some guy was calling him "Straussy" (who Pietersen had apparently described as a “doos” in texts to some SA players in their recent series). Pietersen seemed to take it pretty well. Taine Randell was also on the bank enjoying the game.



Also seen during that test.