Ranger Cup Fixture Will Have Benefits Down The Track

Illawarra Mercury

Thursday November 29, 2007

By LUKE KEENAN

HOLDING next month's Ranger Cup showdown at North Dalton Park will enhance Wollongong's chances of hosting matches at the next Women's World Cup, says Cricket Australia official Grant Smethurst.

NSW has won the right to host the tournament in March 2009, with individual venues to be allocated early next year.

Smethurst, a member of CA's cricket operations department, was in the Illawarra yesterday to cast an eye over the Wollongong ground ahead of the limited-overs tussle between NSW and South Australia on December 9.

"We haven't confirmed venues for that (the World Cup) yet but it's all about options," he said.

"Wollongong, Newcastle, metropolitan Sydney and even further afield, there are options to take games to.

"When we sit down early next year to allocate those matches the fact that there's been Ford Ranger Cup cricket in Wollongong is going to stand (North Dalton Park) in pretty good stead."

Smethurst added that he had been impressed by the revamped ground.

"It's a fantastic playing surface, a fantastic facility - the local community's going to get enormous benefit out of that re-development," he said.

Meantime, organisers are sweating on the health of Australian opener Phil Jaques.

The former Wests Illawarra junior was to have been the star attraction, but the 28-year-old has the mumps and might not be fit to play.

"Of course we'd love to see Phil in action," Illawarra Cricket Association administrative officer John Pemberton said.

"There are plenty of other very good players (who will play), of course, but obviously he's the local boy made good."

© 2007 Illawarra Mercury

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