More than a decade has passed since the Australian women's team defeated South Africa at No.1 Sportsground in March 2009 as part of the ICC Women's World Cup.
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The venue's last first-class cricket match was a 2015 Sheffield Shield victory for Western Australia over NSW.
It's a long time between innings.
The stumbling block has been the state of No.1 Sportsground. Put simply, it's no longer up to scratch as a venue for elite-level sport, and hasn't been for some time.
Pleasingly, work is starting on the considerable task of restoring No.1's facilities, with City of Newcastle to spend almost $6 million on an overdue upgrade.
The work will increase the size of the field to cater for top-level AFL, improve the playing surface, install concrete bleachers to seat 390 spectators, upgrade the lighting, drainage and include a new fence, sightscreens and cricket square.
But as the Herald reported in May, this upgrade will still leave the venue short of first-class cricket standards.
Cricket NSW Hunter manager Neil McDonald said the upgrade was welcome but more was needed before No.1 would enter the batting order to be considered as a host for Big Bash fixtures.
Practice nets, changerooms, spectator amenities and media facilities still need addressing and while the lighting will be a major improvement, it won't be good enough for television broadcasts.
Hunter cricket fans have been looking on with envy as the Big Bash caravan has visited regional cities and towns such as Geelong, Launceston, Alice Springs and Coffs Harbour. Moe, a Victorian town with less than 17,000 residents, has hosted a game. The Women's Big Bash League has been to Ballarat, Burnie, Cairns and Mackay.
It is embarrassing for a city with such a proud cricketing history that it is not in the conversation to host these games.
The council deserves credit for acknowledging a problem sadly neglected by previous councils.
But it needs to find a way to complete the job, with the support of the state and federal governments whose backing has been vital in getting first-class facilities in the aforementioned regions.
This is not a suburban ground where the patina of neglect adds to its charms.
It is long overdue that No. 1 Sportsground was more than just a name.
ISSUE: 39,413
Matt Carr
Matt began his Newcastle Herald career as a cadet in 2009. He is a Walkley nominated reporter who has covered councils, police and general news rounds across the Upper Hunter, Port Stephens, Maitland, Lake Macquarie, Cessnock and Newcastle. Now his focus is on digital storytelling and breaking news.
Matt began his Newcastle Herald career as a cadet in 2009. He is a Walkley nominated reporter who has covered councils, police and general news rounds across the Upper Hunter, Port Stephens, Maitland, Lake Macquarie, Cessnock and Newcastle. Now his focus is on digital storytelling and breaking news.
