Kiwi Kaleidoscope
Preservation at the Basin Reserve
When we are in any cricket ground outside Bangladesh the first impression we get is not the beauty of it but the wise thinking behind it. The Basin Reserve, for instance, is not as imposing as Bangladesh's home of cricket in Mirpur.
It is small in size. But it has got something that makes the venue more complete for a cricket aficionado. There is a small museum just beside the member's stand. And if you move around inside that small cubicle you will get enough information about this very ground and history of New Zealand cricket dating back to the 1750s.
And then, if you enter the member's stand, a three-storey structure, your eyes will invariably be drawn to a small wooden-board with the heading 'Basin Reserve Test Matches'. It a simple log of all the 58 Test matches played on this ground so far, including Bangladesh's two games. It did not cost that much or will cost even less to update it after the completion of the Test starting today. This simple thing not only adds enormous value but also speaks of a rich cricketing culture. We do not know how much it will cost the Bangladesh Cricket Board to have such a simple yet basic ornament in its imposing structure. It might be less than a refreshments bill on a busy day in the board office. Actually it has nothing to do with money, but a desire with a purpose.
Blame it on the Cook
Wellington is a windy city. And the wind is so strong that sometimes you cannot even feel a mild tremor if you are walking along the street. A 5.1 magnitude earthquake, which is an aftershock of the November Kaikoura quake that rattled the south island, hit the city at 1.19pm. I was actually walking along the street and could hardly feel it while struggling my way against the strong wind. Besides, I have also not noticed people behaving differently on the busy street.
Ask anyone, he or she will blame the Cook Strait. It is through this strait that the sea breeze funnels into the Wellington Harbour. But to feel the full fury of the wind one must drive to the top of Mount Victoria, a 643-feet high hill east of Wellington. When you are on the deck atop the hill you can not only feel the fury of the wind but also get the opportunity to have a 360 degree view of the bustling Wellington city including the harbour, the runway and the Basin Reserve. The wind, accompanied by the clouds, is colder and it varies with the speed of the wind. If the wind speed is 10 knots, a 10-degree temperature will come down to 9; if the wind speed is 20 knots it will come down to 3 and if the wind speed is 30 knots it will turn zero.