The founder of a futuristic, environmentally sustainable cricket stadium being built in Spain wants it to host a Test match one day.
Australian entrepreneur Daniel Weston is overseeing construction of the venue in Playa Flamenca on the Costa Blanca, a 45-minute drive from Alicante.
The ground, which will be known as Campo Maximo, aims to be one of the world’s most eco-friendly cricket venues, harnessing solar energy and harvesting rainwater.
Weston wants it to become the “home of European cricket” but has ambitions to stage more high-profile fixtures.
“I’d love a Test match to be held there,” he told the Stumped podcast.
“If I can build a place which ends up attracting Test cricket and lovers of Test cricket, that would be special.
“I also think the Indian Premier League will start going on tour like the NFL, and maybe one day they might want to play a game in Spain.”
The ground’s most innovative feature will be its outfield, which will use a new type of artificial grass being developed specifically for the venue.
The synthetic turf is still in the testing phase but has been engineered by experts to replicate the playing characteristics and feel of natural grass.
Weston describes it as “a short-pile artificial playing surface without loose granular infill”, installed over an elastic pad and specially engineered drainage layers.
The pioneering surface for the playing areas is intended to significantly reduce maintenance compared with natural grass and will not require fertiliser.
Weston believes the artificial outfield will be “better” than natural grass for cricket, while the installation of floodlights will allow the sport to be played there “365 days and nights a year”.
“I was up there in the lab last week. We’re using bowling spikes, the toughest cricket shoes, simulating the fast bowlers pounding into it,” he explained.
“It’ll be consistent, you won’t have dips and you won’t have places where water accumulates. I think the future will be artificial outfields.”
