It’s impossible to believe the iconic SCG would ever be ruled unfit for play, but that’s what happened at the weekend after just 34.2 overs with NSW 1-88 against Victoria in their Sheffield Shield clash.
The Vics couldn’t care less, they were awarded the full six points.
As one who has been privileged to play on the SCG many times, it has always been in pristine condition. On the weekend there were far too many danger areas in both the infield and outfield. In total, 11 Victorian fieldsmen took tumbles.
Tom Parker has been the SCG curator for 18 years, but he was on sick leave in the weeks leading up to the seasons Shield opener.
Surely his highly qualified staff must have realised the SCG surface wasn’t up to standard and should have warned Cricket NSW of the shortcomings?
But they didn’t, and the SCG has not only suffered the humiliation of having the game abandoned, but being stripped of the next NSW Shield game that has been switched to Bankstown.
In the washup, there must be some doubt about the New Years Day Test against the West Indies, which would be a tragedy for SCG members who get precious little cricket under normal circumstances.
The SCG farce is hard on the Blacktown abandonment of the Cricket Australia X1 against the Kiwis with the wicket disintegrating.
It was described by Kiwi coach Mike Hesson as a jigsaw puzzle with half the pieces missing.
But the SCG and Blacktown aren’t the only grounds under a cloud.
The Gabba’s in danger of losing Tests status thanks to increasingly poor crowds, magnified at the just completed first Test between Australia and New Zealand.
By the way, the SCG and Gabba are the only two Australian Test venues that refuse point blank to install drop-in pitches.
This week the second Test will be at the WACA, where in three years time all international cricket and the BBL will be transferred to the new Burswood Stadium in the process of being built and will be ready by 2018.
Australian and Western Australian fast bowling legend Dennis Lillee was so disgusted at the decision he’s resigned as president of the WACA.
“I can’t stand by and watch what is happening to the WACA – I do not wish to be a part of it any longer”.
But the future of the Gabba and WACA, as well as the condition of the SCG, aren’t cricket’s only worries.
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