The Bay of Plenty Cricket Oval continues to attract plenty of attention from teams from throughout the country.

Following on from the Auckland Aces, who trained on the Oval in September before leaving for their present Champions League assignment in South Africa, the Wellington Firebirds have arrived for a weeklong training camp.

Auckland Head Coach Paul Strang sats while in the Western Bay the overriding reason to bring their Champions League preparation to the Western Bay was the ability to train and play early season preparatory matches, on the grass wicket at the Bay Cricket Oval.

Wellington, who are preparing for the NZ Cricket Plunket Shield, Ford Trophy and HRV Cup, have taken the opportunity to train on a wicket block that coupled with the grounds outstanding drainage is available for training purposes outside the regular cricket season.

On Labour Monday, the Wellington visitors will have a T20 hit out against a Northern Districts X1, which will be followed up with a two-day game between the two sides on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Another side, who will see plenty of the Bay Oval before the end of the year, is the Northern Spirit, who are bringing their wider training squad to the Bay of Plenty over the long weekend.

In early December the Northern Spirit will play three NZ Cricket matches against the Wellington Blaze on the Bay Oval.

The Bay of Plenty cricket Oval will also host four Northern Knights games in January and March 2013.

On the first day of the New Year the Knights will host the Wellington Firebirds before backing up on the January 6 against the Auckland Aces.

Two Ford Trophy (One-Day) encounter in March, will see the Canterbury Wizards and Otago Volts, in action against the Northern Knights at the Bay of Plenty Oval.

Wellington Firebirds at the Bay of Plenty Oval

Thursday (Oct 17) to Sunday (Oct 21) – training

Monday (Oct 22) T20 match v ND XI

Tues (Oct 23) and Wednesday (Oct 24) – two-day match v ND XI

Northern Spirit in the Bay of Plenty

Saturday (Oct 20) training in the Western BOP

Sunday (Oct 21) training at Smallbone Park Rotorua

Monday (Oct 22) training in the Western BOP

New Zealand Cricket Games at the Bay of Plenty Oval in 2012/13

NZ Cricket Women's Games

November

30 Northern Spirit v Wellington Blaze (T20)

December

1 Northern Spirit v Wellington Blaze (One-Day)

2 Northern Spirit v Wellington Blaze (One-Day)

January (HRV Cup –T20)

1 Northern Knights v Wellington Firebirds

6 Northern Knights v Auckland Aces

March (Ford Trophy – One Day)

10 Northern Knights v Canterbury Wizards

13 Northern Knights v Otago Volts

For further information

Mark Webb Cricket Manager BOP Cricket 07 575 9120 021 734 128