The emergence of high quality cricket venues around the country has forced Basin Reserve managers to up their game.

The cricket ground is enjoying a great summer, having hosted its first One Day International in 11 years, and now hosting the first test of a two test series against Australia starting this morning.

Wellington Cricket Chief Executive Peter Clinton said high ticket sales have enabled them to show they can still host cricket as well as anywhere else in the country.

"What we've got now in New Zealand - and it's a good thing - is a number of other high quality venues."

He named Hagley Oval and the Bay Oval in Mt Maunganui as examples, and said it had "highlighted to us that we can't just sit around and expect to get high profile cricket."

While there are other emerging boutique venues to compete with, few can match the Basin in recent years for moments of Black Caps success.

The ground was the scene where captain Brendon McCullum brought up the first ever triple-century in tests for a New Zealander, and in the most recent test at the ground Kane Williamson scored 242 to help overturn a huge first innings deficit to beat Sri Lanka.

A green pitch is expected to provide a serious challenge for whichever side bats first today.