Summer just got longer

New Zealand Cricket have just announced that the Sri Lankans will return here in April to play the two tests which were cancelled by the tsunami.

This is late in the year for cricket, but I actually it could actually be a much safer proposition in April than it is in January - especially given the weather we have seen so far in the new year.

The tour means that our test programme for the season will be completed. Sadly, the one day programme has been badly restricted and the money-spinning holiday season has been left vacant. In addition to the loss of New Zealand Cricket's main source of revenue, the World XI games brought in to replace them could also be a financial downer - money from the games will go to help tsunami victims and the Board will be the ones paying the tourists' wages and travel costs (the expenses of touring sides are usually met by their own Boards) - making this a financially disastrous year for the game.

Another issue is where the games will be played. The tests will take place during the Super 12 rugby programme, which means that the choice of venues is likely to be restricted. The Basin is an obvious choice for one match given that it is not used for rugby, but perhaps this tour is also a chance to take cricket a bit further afield. McLean Park in Napier maybe. Or the Queenstown Events Centre (but only if they change the name to something a little more exciting). Cricket in April is unlikely to draw crowds anyway, so a chance to give the highest level of the game more exposure in the provinces will not result in too much additional cost.