Cello Basin Reserve, Wellington

The Basin Reserve at Wellington, New Zealand is the only ground in New Zealand to be listed on the National Heritage list and be protected by the Act of Parliament. The first match ever to be played here was in 1868 between the Wellington Volunteers and the representatives of the HMS Falcon. Five years later the first first-class match was played here between Wellington and Auckland. The first test match played on this ground was between New Zealand and England in 1930. Coincidentally, the first One Day International was also played between the same two sides, 45 years later in 1975. Sir Richard Hadlee picked up his 300th wicket at this ground; his victim was the then Australian captain, Allan Border. This ground which is situated at the foot of Mt. Victoria and is surrounded by numerous Wellington landmarks. These include Mount Cook Barracks, the Wellington National War Memorial Carillon, the Caledonian Hotel and the former Dominion Museum among others. In addition to cricket other sports have also been played at the Basin Reserve some of which include rugby and Australian rules football.