Fitzherbert Park is a

cricket ground Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of eleven players on a field, at the centre of which is a pitch with a wicket at each end, each comprising two bails (small sticks) balanced on three stumps. Two players from the ...

Palmerston North Palmerston North (; , colloquially known as Palmerston or Palmy) is a city in the North Island of New Zealand and the seat of the Manawatū-Whanganui region. Located in the eastern Manawatū Plains, the city is near the north bank of the Manaw ...

New Zealand New Zealand () is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and List of islands of New Zealand, over 600 smaller islands. It is the List of isla ...

, a home ground of the

Central Districts The Central Stags, formerly known as Central Districts, are a first-class cricket team based in central New Zealand. They are the men's representative side of the Central Districts Cricket Association. They compete in the Plunket Shield firs ...

. In February 2000, New Zealand Women defeated England Women at the ground, in the opening match of a 5-ODI series. The ground is situated on Fitzherbert Avenue in the parklands beside the

Manawatū River The Manawatū River is a major river of the lower North Island of New Zealand. The river flows from the Ruahine Ranges, through both the Manawatū Gorge and the city of Palmerston North, and across the Manawatū Plains to the Tasman Sea at Foxto ...

. Known originally just as the Sportsground, it was renamed Fitzherbert Park in 1973.

Re-development

With the development of the NZC Warrant of Fitness (WOF) and increasing expectations of the modern game, Fitzherbert Park lost their NZC WOF due to the lack of effective irrigation to the outfield in droughty summers, causing a brown bumpy outfield that first class players did not like. Fitzherbert Park is unusual as it has three cricket blocks (two club and one representative) and a practice block within the one facility. Fitzherbert Park regained its warrant of fitness during the 2021-22 season and now hosts Plunket Shield, T20 and one day provincial cricket. A new 10 lane practice facility was built in 2020-21 off the playing oval in the north eastern corner. No winter sport is played over the cricket blocks anymore. To regain the NZC WOF

Palmerston North City Council The Palmerston North City Council is the territorial authorities of New Zealand, territorial authority for the city of Palmerston North in New Zealand. The council is made up of a Mayor of Palmerston North, mayor elected at-large and 15 counci ...

in consultation with Manawatu Cricket Association have since 2013: * Extended the drainage across the whole ground * Installed a full outfield pop up irrigation system * Resurfaced the two Patumahoe blocks * Replaced the Marton soil with Patumahoe on the town end block. * Built a new practice facility * Built a scores box at the top of the Grandstand * Gravel banded the outfield to link into the drainage system * Up graded lounge facilities for players * Up graded the lower changing rooms and toilets into unisex facilities

References

External links

Cricinfo

Cricket grounds in New Zealand Sports venues in Palmerston North {{NewZealand-sports-venue-stub