Cricket Tasmania CEO Dominic Baker details reasons behind the desire for move away from Bellerive Oval to new high performance centre

Cricket Tasmania’s CEO has revealed the key reasons as to why the organisation is keen on a move away from Bellerive Oval to a new high performance centre.

Cricket Tasmania CEO Dominic Baker is keen to lead the development of a new high performance centre that will “future proof” the sport in Tasmania. Picture: Chris Kidd

Cricket Tasmania CEO Dominic Baker says the organisation’s desire to create a new high performance centre for cricket in the state is key to giving the next David Boon, Ricky Ponting or Tim Paine the best chance to succeed.

Baker believes the development of a new cricket high performance centre is key for the future success of the sport in Tasmania. Picture: Chris Kidd

As first reported by ABC Hobart on Saturday, Cricket Tasmania is keen to pull up stumps at Bellerive Oval and relocate to a yet to be developed state of the art high performance centre.

The bold plan would come about through both the sale of Bellerive Oval – with Cricket Tasmania owning the infrastructure at the arena and leasing the grass oval portion of the facility from Clarence City Council – and government funding.

The organisation is set to pitch to both major political parties in the upcoming state election, as well as individual candidates running for parliament, about an increase in funding for cricket and look for a commitment to help fund the new home of cricket.

Baker said that while the sport had continued to produce high level talents for many decades while housed at Bellerive Oval, it was now time to give the next generation the best chance to play for their country through modern facilities and match-up with every other state cricket organisation across Australia.

Cricket Tasmania has called Bellerive Oval home for many years. (Photo by Steve Bell/Getty Images)

“We had a piece of work done recently to understand what cricket’s high performance needs would be over the next 20 to 30 years and what came out of that very clearly was that Blundstone Arena would no longer be fit for purpose to prepare our professional and emerging athletes,” Baker said.

“We have been working on a plan now over some five years to find another location. It all boils down to ensuring we give young Tasmanian’s, and our professional athletes, every opportunity to be the best they can be.”

While many may question Cricket Tasmania’s desire for change given the state has produced a long line of national cricketers while housed at their current location, Baker said it was about future proofing the sport in Tasmania.

“I think people would look at that (the need for change) and rightfully so say ‘why do you need it’,” he said.

“But also a lot of people involved in professional sport know it’s an arms race and as we sit here at the moment we are the only professional cricket organisation in the country that doesn’t have exclusive use of a piece of grass.

“So what we are looking to do is future proof Tasmanian cricket by providing or building a high performance centre of excellence that can prepare young Tasmanians for years and years to come.

Baker also said that a number of possible locations had been looked at with community cricket’s ability to use the facility also factored in, and that they were in continued discussions with Clarence Football Club on how the potential sale of Blundstone Arena would affect the state league club that is based at the venue.