The Otago Cricket High Performance Centre will be officially opened this evening at the Edgar Sports Centre in Dunedin.

The existing indoor cricket facility has been significantly upgraded over the past six weeks to provide two cricket lanes of equal standard to those at the New Zealand Cricket High Performance Centre. They are constructed from top grade padded astrograss, which allows bowlers a heavy training schedule with a low risk of injury. The full-length lanes feature two different batting strips, providing fast and spin practise.

"The launch of the high performance centre is exciting progress for us at Otago Cricket", says chief executive Graeme Elliott. "This is the first step in what will become our cricket academy, which will provide elite players with every opportunity to excel on and off the field. The improved complex will also compliment the programmes of our elite coaching personnel."

Elliott added that the academy will be aligned to educational institutes in Otago and Southland, with details currently being finalised.

The funding for the high performance centre has primarily been obtained from a number of charitable trusts in Otago including, the AAW Jones, the J & L Callis, and the Onedin Trusts, along with assistance from the New Zealand Cricket Foundation.

The opening will be held tonight, in the Westpac Trust Seminar Room at the Edgar Sports Centre, Portsmouth Drive, Dunedin, at 5.30pm. All media are welcome to attend.

© Otago Cricket Association