Despite three recent washouts due to poor drainage at McLean Park, Napier City Mayor Bill Dalton doesn't believe the ground should be removed from New Zealand Cricket's calendar.
The second Chappell-Hadlee ODI was called off without a ball being bowled on Thursday despite a relatively rain-free afternoon.
Dalton told RadioLIVE that the situation was extremely unlucky for a city that hasn't seen rain in almost three months, and calls to move next month's international between the Blackcaps and South Africa are ridiculous.
"Absolutely not," Dalton told Brendon Telfer.
"Some of the best cricket I have ever seen has been on McLean Park and we have been dreadfully unlucky with the weather in recent times."
Dalton feels the weather transpired against the groundstaff who worked vigorously throughout the day to get the players on the park.
"The situation normally is, when the rain stops you then have drying in the atmosphere; we had absolutely none."
"On this particular day we had rain from 8:30am to about 2pm and after it stopped raining the air was still full of moisture."
"There was not one ounce of natural drying in the air and that had something to do with it."
Dalton pointed to a number of successful international fixtures held at the ground since 1990, which resulted in Mclean Park's reputation as having one of the best wicket blocks in the country.
"Let me make it clear, I've been to some fantastic games of cricket there at the same ground... the same head groundsman has prepared the park on all of those occasions."
With the game against the Proteas scheduled for March 1, New Zealand Cricket and the McLean Park turf staff have less than four weeks to rectify any issues that the surface may have in draining moisture, and Dalton said everything will be done, including financially, too ensure the match goes ahead.
"We are certainly going to do an investigation to see if it can be improved.
"I'm not saying there are no problems with the park, we will look at all those things.
"We are a very financially stable council; if there is work to be done it will be done."
Dalton just had one wish for March 1: "We sure as hell can pray for fine weather."
Newshub.
