In a farcical non-finish on the SCG last night, the Sri Lankans were probably deprived of pocketing the five match series 3-1.
It was the fourth match in the series and a likely win by the tourists would have made the fifth and final ODI in Hobart on Wednesday meaningless. Now there is chance that Australia may win in Hobart and tie the series 2-all.
I was at the SCG match yesterday and thought the match abandonment was a joke. There was only about 90 minutes of drizzle and the covers were laid on the pitch promptly.
With the rain stopping and drying procedure going on, I thought it would be a 25 over game with Duckworth Lewis formula deciding the winner.
A surprised Sri Lankan skipper Mahela Jayawardene said at the press conference that he was disappointed with the ruling that the match be abandoned. He cited recent instances in a match against New Zealand as also in Sri Lanka when a match had continued after heavier rains.
He strongly queried the match abandonment and said that he would take up the matter with match referee Javagal Srinath.
According to Jayawardene, Srinath’s call to call off the ODI robbed his team of a possible chance to finish the series off, having bowled accurately to restrict Australia to 9 for 222.
He expressed surprise that a ground as rich in history and facilities as the SCG could not get the game re-started.
“We played New Zealand three months ago and the interpretation we got in that series was quite different to what we got today,” Jayawardene said.
“We played in Pallekele in Sri Lanka with a lot of rain during the World Cup as well. I think we need to find a bit more consistency, so that’s something we’ll probably write and put across to them [the ICC] and see how we can go about it.
“At the SCG, I would assume that a ground of this magnitude you should be able to get a game in. Maybe they should do what we do back home and cover the entire ground.
“I think we can write to the match referee because the interpretation we got three months ago in the New Zealand series was something totally different”, he added.
“It was deemed that we’d only stop play if it was dangerous, not unfair, but today the interpretation was different. I accept that, it comes from the match referee and the umpires so I’m happy to take that on board, but it was two interpretations we got within a three-month period.”
I remember many years ago in a match on the SCG, a helicopter was used to dry the pitch after a heavier downpour. I cannot remember the year and the opponent. Are any Roarers able to supply this information?
Yesterday’s match should have been continued for a few overs at least. If the playing conditions were all that bad, then the match could have been aborted. In my opinion, not to attempt a restart was wrong.
Stag
Guest
As mentioned below, the lightness of the rain along with a lack of wind meant the moisture stayed on the surface instead of sinking in further, making it much more dangerous than it would really appear. Also, if you add the shocking umpire decisions with the fact that Sri Lanka would have needed a little over 100 with 10 wickets, than it was almost a guaranteed win for Sri Lanka. Thus your comment on keeping the series allive by not just giving the game to Sri Lanka might be right. I also find it slightly ironic that Sri Lanka are complaining when they were the ones who wanted to leave the field in the first place.
ANON69
Guest
Total BS to shutter the entire match. The only reason I see that Umpires messed up Aussie innings with wrong LBW decisions and wanted escape route so that they can save their face. Aussie press would have been all over the umpires if Sri Lanka won. I think the umpires should be suspended for match fixing. This happens only in Australia, if it was another country, they would have been in real trouble with ICC. What is the punishment for Warner for calling the umpire fuck mate? If it was a Sri Lankan, player will be suspended.
sheek
Roar Guru
AD, Chappell & Lillee retired after the Sydney test in early 1984. Marsh continued playing the one-dayers. Marsh still had some ambition left. He wantred to tour the West Indies & also harboured a thought that he might be offered as an alternative captain to Hughes. In the end the selectors told Marsh he was no longer required, so he retired at the end of the season also. Marsh had no reason to complain as his batting had detiorated considerably, while his keeping had also dropped below par. He was 36. The 1983/84 Sheffield Shield final (just the second to be played) featured Marsh & Lillee playing for WA & Chappell & Thomson playing for Queensland. Interestingly, the two champion fast bolwers were captain & WA won.
sheek
Roar Guru
Brett, I for one appreciate the thoughts of one based on practical experience. It should still count for something! Thanks for sharing.....
Brett McKay
Expert
Guru, more than 20 overs had been played in the day though, that's the mark for rain refunds...
Brett McKay
Expert
Thanks for the info, Maggie..
Brett McKay
Expert
And what are Channel 9 going to do, send Mother Nature an invoice for the lost ratings? The info from the ground staff was what CA provided today: “There was no wind or sun to dry the surface despite ground staff using wide ranging measures..." What are Nine going to complain about there exactly?
Brett McKay
Expert
Davey, there's already playing conditions that allow for extra drinks breaks in hot weather, and no umpire would be game to refuse a player extra hydration on days like that. That said, if the umpires also decided that extreme heat was making it dangerous for the players, I can't imagine there's be too many arguments if they called a halt in play. Let me be clear hear again, though, because responses to my posts are largely being misinterpreted as me defending the decision last night. The fact is that none of us know what the condition of the outfield was, and I'm fairly confident that none of us are one of the umpires or ground staff. The point is that the umpires made the decision based on the info that the ground staff gave them, that being, that the conditions at the time were not aiding the drying or removal of the surface water. Based on that info, the umpires decided that the field was not fit for play, and abandoned the game. In all my posts today, I am merely saying I understand that decision. If the conditions are not conducive to drying an outfield, then there really isn't a lot that can be done to ensure anything even remotely close to a fair contest for both sides.
Kersi Meher-Homji
Guest
Thank you, The_Wookie, for this info on helicopter-drying technique.
Blaze
Guest
Yes, I ment players playing for their country... -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download it now [http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/the-roar/id327174726?mt=8].
Blaze
Guest
I can't believe ppl are comparing conditions for park cricketers to cricketers playing for Australia.... I'm pretty sure if kulesakera(?), blew his knee out because of the wet grass somehow, and could never play again, the pressure on the umps about why they were let on the field would have been massive, however it probably already happened in park cricket and no one cares.... Not saying its right, but its glaringly obvious in difference. -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download it now [http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/the-roar/id327174726?mt=8].
Atawhai Drive
Guest
Davey, if they had played last Friday, the Scrotometer readings would have been off the scale. Right now I have Heineken Cup rugby on TV, Leicester v Toulouse, played in a snow blizzard. Scrotometer readings probably in the negative. Eventually all venues hosting professional sport will be covered i.e. will have a roof. Until then, we have an unpredictable element to contend with. It's called weather.
Atawhai Drive
Guest
Good to hear from someone who was actually at the ground and not relying on Nein's distorted pictures.
Mark Richmond
Roar Guru
Actually, as there was no game ie Sri Lanka hadn't batted the requisite number of overs, and CA probably had rain insurance to cover such an eventuality, I would suggest there is a case for a full refund.
Maggie
Guest
After the rain stopped last night I watched the Australian players through my binoculars as they started to warm up in front of where I was sitting. It was obvious they were very surprised by how wet the grass was. In particular I lip read the expletive of one of the fast bowlers after he ran his hand over the ground. It was also clear that the balls they were using were getting very wet. Like everyone else there I was disappointed when the game was abandoned but I was not surprised. I believe there would have been a quite high risk of injury had they played. -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download it now [http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/the-roar/id327174726?mt=8].
The_Wookie
Roar Guru
Perhaps 1992 during the world cup. India v Sri Lanka game in McKay, Play still ended up being washed out.
Davey
Guest
Brett, just out of curiosity. Do you think that if they played in Sydney last friday when it was 44+ that it would be dangerous? Would you like to see them stop the game because that can be a dangerous situation! cheers
The_Wookie
Roar Guru
remarkably this doesnt seem to be as rare an occurence as you'd think, particularly in Australia where it was also used during the 1992 World Cup to dry a pitch in McKay (India v Stri Lanka), its been done for Sydney Grade Cricket at the Uni oval no.2 last March. A domestic one day game at the Gabba used a helicopter in 1981 during a WA v QLD game that featured Hughes, Marsh, Lillee and Alderman. Its been done overseas as well on a few occasions.
MadMonk
Guest
Brett Yes they do. And groundsmen provide advice to umpires. And I reckon there might have been a phone hookup between Channel 9 and CA this morning about what advice the umpires got and what decision the umpires made.
Matt
Guest
I don't disagree. There is no good answer. You need only 11 runs per wicket vs 22 per wicket though, a much easier task.