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Alvin Sallay

Like Kevin Costner in Field of Dreams, Hong Kong Cricket Association president Rodney Miles has had a persistent voice in his ear urging him to build not one but many fields. But unlike the former Hollywood heartthrob who hears "If you build it, he will come", Miles' crescendo blares the message "they are already here, build it quick, goddammit."
With Hong Kong's elevation to ODI (one-day international) status, the need for more grounds has increased. As it is, the game's growth has been stunted by the small number of facilities, with just five available - the two established clubs (Hong Kong Cricket Club and Kowloon Cricket Club), Mission Road, PTS (Police Training School) and Po Kong Village Road.
But this is about to change. The number of pitches and grounds is set to double if Miles has his way, and with the government fully behind the game - perked up, no doubt, by the recent success of the men's national team - things are looking as rosy as a new Kookaburra ball.


	We are more optimistic than we have been in a long time and if everything goes according to plan Hong Kong cricket will soon have more grounds

	Rodney Miles
"We are more optimistic than we have been in a long time and if everything goes according to plan Hong Kong cricket will soon have more grounds," Miles said. "New facilities might come on board as early as the start of the new season with the government backing us.
"The Home Affairs Bureau is very supportive of our plans, and they [the government] are also making good the promise made to cricket a few years ago to provide an international-standard ground. Things are moving forward and looking good," Miles said.

A derelict landfill site in Gin Drinkers Bay in Kwai Chung has been earmarked as the short-term prospect for cricket. This venue, which is big enough to hold two artificial pitches, was considered by the association many years ago as a possible site but then quickly forgotten as it was felt too much work was needed.
"I resurrected the plan to use the Gin Drinkers Bay venue simply because it will make available a ground the fastest for cricket," Miles said. "We have got approval in principle from the government but need a licence from the Environmental Protection Department who want to build a park there in two to three years. If we get this passed, we can use it in the short-term until the other facilities come on board."
Jonathan McKinley, deputy secretary for Home Affairs, is fully behind this plan. He has also suggested the HKCA applies for funding from the Sir David Trench Fund, which can allocate a maximum of HK$3 million for projects of this size. The HKCA is waiting for the licence before making an application.
"Special projects of this kind can get funding up to HK$3 million. We have already given funds to other sports. The good thing about this fund is money can be obtained fairly quickly," McKinley said.
If Kwai Chung can come on board by the end of this year, it will give cricket some breathing space to accommodate the growing numbers taking up the sport. And even once a park is built, the association hopes a ground will still be made available for cricket.
The medium-term goal is to build an international-standard ground at Whitehead in Ma On Shan. Formerly the Vietnamese detention centre, this site is big enough to hold two medium-sized grounds which can come together to form an ICC-standard ground for international matches. With Hong Kong having qualified for ODI status - finishing among the top six associates at the World Cup qualifiers in New Zealand in January - the need will arise soon.
"Unfortunately we won't be able to get the venue until 2017 to start building. But this is the site the government promised us at the ICC conference a few years ago [when Donald Tsang Yam-kuen was chief executive], and we are confident it will come on board and hopefully be ready by 2018 or 2019," Miles said.
The government has plans to build a sports park at Whitehead and apart from cricket this will also include a baseball diamond, a cycling facility and possibly one for ice sports.
"There is a car park currently on the site and we won't get access until 2017," McKinley said. "But once we start developing, work can be finished quickly and cricket can have an international ground with temporary seating for 6,000 to 7,000 fans."
In the long term, Miles and cricket are eyeing the proposed Kai Tak Sports Complex and have put forward a case for cricket's inclusion in plans for the new 50,000-seater stadium.

	If we are to compete with the likes of the new Singapore Sports Hub, it is very important that cricket has a presence at Kai Tak

	Rodney Miles
"If we are to compete with the likes of the new Singapore Sports Hub, it is very important that cricket has a presence at Kai Tak," Miles said. "Singapore has plans to host IPL matches and ODI games between Pakistan and India, and they are not even an ODI country like us."
McKinley is receptive to the idea but is leaving it to the HKCA to come up with concrete plans and a proposal. "If we get a strong case from the HKCA to have top-class cricket we can make certain the stadium can have seating so the ground can be configured for cricket," McKinley said.
"You must also remember we will have a secondary stadium at Kai Tak with around 5,000 fixed seats and the capability to add another 5,000 more temporary seats. This will be an ideal venue for the Hong Kong Sixes."
When Gin Drinkers Bay in Kwai Chung and Whitehead in Ma On Shan come on board, they will join Mission Road in Kowloon to form three solid bases from where cricket can further push into the Chinese community. "At the end of the day, this is what it's all about," Miles said. "We need to spread the game and right now we are prevented from doing this fully because of the lack of grounds. But things are looking up right now."


Why Hong Kong Cricket Association has grounds for optimism over new home

Hong Kong cricket pitches are being fully utilised, leaving demand for more pitches. Photo: Getty Images

The number of cricket pitches in Hong Kong is set to double in the near future. Graphic: SCMP

Hong Kong Cricket Association chairman Rodney Miles is optimistic the city will get more pitches. Photo: SMP 

Sport

Hong Kong

Chairman Rodney Miles buoyant on expansion as good performances bring government firmly onside
