Collins Eager To Bring One-day Internationals From Mcg To Dome

The Age

Friday August 24, 2007

Chloe Saltau

TELSTRA Dome chief executive Ian Collins has stated his desire to lure "some or all" international cricket away from the MCG.

After The Age revealed last week that the right to stage international games in Melbourne beyond 2008-09 could be put to tender if Victorian authorities cannot strike a better commercial deal with the Melbourne Cricket Club, Collins said he was keen to host more than the occasional game at Docklands.

"The contract is up with the MCG in 2009. Hopefully, we will be talking to cricket and hopefully, they will be talking to us about some or all of it and we will pursue that as we would any other event that can fit into the stadium."

Cricket Victoria sources have said it is possible that one-day internationals could be played at Telstra Dome, while the Boxing Day Test remains at its traditional home. The MCG came close to losing all cricket to Docklands after three years of bitter negotiations in 1999, and now the battle is set to begin again.

This time, Telstra Dome has some experience, having hosted cricket in winter, as well as the ICC Super Series and other one-dayers during the Commonwealth Games.

"I think it would be hard to justify playing a Test away from the MCG, especially Boxing Day, but . . . it's a changing market," Collins said. "We are running a business and . . . when the contract is up . . . we would be very happy to talk to cricket for some or all."

© 2007 The Age

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