Crik: Bellerive ready to light the lights

AAP General News (Australia)
12-12-2009
Crik: Bellerive ready to light the lights

By Paul Carter

HOBART, Dec 12 AAP - Bellerive Oval's new lights will be switched on for their first
one-day day/night cricket match on Sunday, making the Tasmania-Western Australia clash
an historic milestone.

They were switched on for the first time in a match during the Sheffield Shield clash
between these teams, enabling a sensational final-ball victory for the home side on Friday.

That will be a hard act to follow but Tigers skipper George Bailey says the $5 million
lights will open the ground to hosting many more one-day internationals.

"It's one of the best grounds in the world in terms of its setting and the lights will
only add to its appeal," Bailey told reporters.

"It's been a vital step. Just about all one-day internationals are played under lights,
allowing them to be broadcast into different time zones."

Bailey said the team were excited about making history with the new lights.

"There is air of expectancy around the group," he said.

Australia wicketkeeper Tim Paine returns from a finger injury to the Tasmanian side
for the match at the expense of young opener Wade Irvine.

Coach Tim Coyle said Paine was 100 per cent fit.

"He's ready to go and itching to play some cricket," he told reporters.

WA have made one change to the squad that beat Victoria with Luke Towers replacing
Justin Coetzee after his maiden first-class century last week.

Tasmania squad: George Bailey (capt), Travis Birt, Luke Butterworth, Ed Cowan, Gerard
Denton, Michael Dighton, Xavier Doherty, Brendan Drew, James Faulkner, Brett Geeves, Jason
Krejza, Tim Paine (12th man to be named).

Western Australia squad: Adam Voges (capt), Nathan Coulter-Nile, Theo Doropoulos, Aaron
Heal, Michael Hogan, Brad Knowles, Mitch Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Ashley Noffke, Luke Ronchi,
Wes Robinson, Luke Towers (12th man).

AAP pc/imc

KEYWORD: CUP TAS

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