For a ground more famously known as where a future Test captain Ricky Ponting cut his teeth, Invermay Park is shaping up for its biggest moment yet.
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The Launceston venue is set to leap into the national spotlight on Wednesday by hosting Hobart Hurricanes' WBBL Twenty20 encounter against Sydney Sixers.
Ground resurfacing at UTAS Stadium and the failure of the NTCA Ground to meet standards has forced Cricket Tasmania to allocate Launceston's only WBBL match this season to Invermay Park.
Inveresk Precinct manager Robert Groenewegen never thought in his two decades in charge that Invermay Park would get to host such a prominent cricket fixture.
"In all fairness, that wasn't our intent when it was redeveloped," Groenewegen said.
"It is only there because UTAS Stadium is in this state or else it would have been here. It really was the desire of Cricket Tasmania to play it there - it wasn't our choice."
Invermay Park redevelopments from 2014 included resurfacing the oval, improvements to changerooms, adding the former Cameron Tyson Stand from UTAS Stadium plus new cricket and football clubhouses.
Groenewegen believed the ground will be match-ready.
The centre wicket has been used previously for turf practice at Hurricanes' fixtures in Launceston.
"It has taken on a whole new face since that period five years ago," he said.
"We actually now think the playing surface has probably been better than York Park over the last few years.
"It is probably testament to why we're upgrading this stadium now. It's just become a great community venue."
ELSEWHERE IN SPORT
A video screen has been installed as part of Cricket Tasmania requirements, but no additional seating or any corporate marquees will be put in for the midweek game.
A special sightscreen will be brought in as it was when Invermay Park hosted the under-19 national championships two summers ago.
Players will use the UTAS Stadium changerooms at the back of the Carlton Draught stand that runs back onto the playing arena for more room.
"For us, we can say that Invermay Park is a fantastic complement to UTAS Stadium," Groenewegen said, "so there is no doubt the standard has really gone through the roof since we have redeveloped the surface."
Groenewegen also has no doubt that spectators attending will embrace the community venue's atmosphere on what is a working day.
Expectations of a crowd figure are relatively low, but a number of schools plan to bring students to the game and Cricket Tasmania has accommodated that with Hurricanes' fans zones.
Burnie's West Park has been given more games than in the past to compensate for the change of the Launceston venue this year.
A Saturday opener for the double-header on November 2 and 3 was rained out.
"I think it will present pretty well and we should be able to well cater for what it is," Groenewegen said.
The match will attract two of Australia's highest-profile female cricket heroes when Ellyse Perry and Alyssa Healy turn out for the Sixers.
Perry is not unfamiliar with playing in Launceston after appearing in Tim Coyle's Aussie 15s competition back in 2015 at UTAS Stadium.
BASH AT THE PARK
- Who: WBBL game 31 - Hobart Hurricanes v Sydney Sixers
- Where: Invermay Park, Inveresk
- When: Wednesday, November 13
- Times: 11am-2pm
- Cost: Free entry
- Broadcast: Foxtel, Kayo or https://live.cricket.com.au/
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