Olympic stadium could be giant Twenty20 cricket venue

CALLS were growing today for the 2012 Olympic Stadium to be used as a future cricket arena.

Supporters want a "super-stadium" to reflect the popularity of Twenty20 matches and high-profile international games.

If used, the stadium would be about double the size of Lord's, which holds 28,000 spectators and is the largest ground available to the English and Wales Cricket Board. It could hold 50,000 to 60,000, making it a larger cricket venue than the 46,000-capacity Sydney Cricket Ground. Melbourne Cricket Ground is the world's largest, holding 100,000.

Shadow sports minister Hugh Robertson is the latest high-profile figure to urge the ECB to consider the proposals. He said: "Given that the public purse has paid half a billion pounds for the stadium it makes perfect sense to examine every possible use."

Other supporters include head of the Twenty20 Indian Premier League Lalit Modi, Marylebone Cricket Club chief executive Keith Bradshaw and Hampshire chief executive Stuart Robinson. Mr Bradshaw's support is significant because using the stadium would take business away from his club, which owns Lord's.

An ECB spokesman said: "It's a hypothetical situation which hasn't been presented to us."

The government has reiterated its commitment to cutting the capacity of the stadium from 85,000 to 25,000 seats after the Games. It will then continue as an athletics venue.