Drop-in pitches could soon be seen at one of the most famous cricket grounds in the world, following news that the Sydney Cricket Ground Trust has established a committee to consider moving away from the stadium’s permanent wicket.
A report in the Daily Telegraph revealed the SCG Trust formed the committee “At the request of the AFL”, a move which has drawn the anger of the ground’s cricket tenants.
Cricket NSW released a statement on Tuesday morning reiterating their opposition to the potential change, quoting a recent submission the organisation made to the SCG Trust on the matter.
“The move to a drop-in wicket with lifeless uniformity will create the risk of boring cricket that becomes unattractive to SCG members and attendees and the loss of the premier status of the SCG among Australian cricket grounds.”
“We speak not just for cricketers in the state of NSW but for the game more broadly when we strongly advise the SCG Trust to heed the lessons from other capitals.”
Of the main Test cricket venues in Australia, only the SCG and Gabba still have traditional pitches. The MCG has used a drop-in pitch for decades, while the Adelaide Oval made the switch more recently and Optus Stadium has had a drop-in since opening in early 2018.
The MCG drop-in has regularly served up some of the most dour surfaces in recent years, but the pitches in Perth and Adelaide have been far better.
Adelaide’s case has been helped by hosting day-night Tests, which require extra grass in order to better preserve the pink ball – although the surface in the opening Border-Gavaskar Test last year, a daytime match, was criticised as being too slow.
Last year’s Optus Stadium Test between Australia and India was played on a fast, lively wicket which only produced one innings score of over 300.
The SCG’s surface has drawn much criticism this year as it struggled to cope with a busier schedule than usual, with football, rugby league and rugby union all playing multiple fixtures at the ground, in addition to the regular AFL and cricket matches. The ground has also been named as the venue for the 2020 NRL grand final.
However, much of that extra workload is due to the temporary closure of Allianz Stadium as the rectangular venue undergoes reconstruction works, which are due to be completed by early 2022.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
But that is expected because NRL lives in Sydney. Or put another way the Storm get 10-5% of what 3 AFL games would get in Melbourne. And similar for TV in Melbourne. ---- NRL: #2 in it's biggest country.
Brendon
Roar Rookie
And 1 NRL game would get 3 times the TV ratings on AFL games in Sydney.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Actually, I may have made a mistake there. I don't think the Gabba has drop in wickets yet. There is a lot of talk about that happening, but perhaps not just yet.
La grandeur d'Athéna
Roar Rookie
OMG!! You are talking about Brisbane Gabba?Did it use drop in pitch in the new Zealand series 2015? That was one of the most boring match i have ever seen. 500-600 runs were scored. Crazy! If that is what drop in pitch does, i sure do not want any of those in our stadium.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Yes that's true. Some of the concern is that because they sit on a metal base, that perhaps they the water doesn't drain away in the same way, or the soil becomes too compressed/hard. The Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) was the first to use this method/technology and the drop in wickets have been producing very "flat" wickets. So that is why there is a lot of discussion. They now also use "drop ins" at the Gabba (Brisbane), the Adelaide Oval and Perth Stadium (which has replaced the old WACA ground as an international cricket venue in Perth). Now this is being proposed for the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG). You are right though, you would not think it would make a difference, however there has certainly been evidence that the "drop ins" perform very differently to the old wickets which had always remained in place in the grounds. The Adelaide Oval "drop ins" however seem OK and Perth Stadium also looks OK so far, though the "drop ins" at Perth Stadium have only been in use for two cricket seasons.
La grandeur d'Athéna
Roar Rookie
I am little confused. We use soil to make pitches. You are saying they are stored else where. But still they are made from same elements, right? It is not like that they are made of bricks.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Ah ok. So in recent years, the stadiums/grounds in Australia at which cricket matches are played at in summer (October-March) are used for Australian Rules football (oval ball game) in winter (April-September). The middle part of the stadium/ground is used a lot in football, however the cricket wicket is also in the centre of the grounds - and these are very hard. Because Australian Rules football involves players jumping high in to the air, then coming down and landing hard on their feet (and therefore putting significant pressure on their knees, which can lead to serious injuries), many stadium/grounds now "dig out" the cricket wickets (usually 5 or 7 separate wickets within the "wickets square") at the end of the summer cricket season and store them in another location until the end of the winter football season. They then "drop" the wickets (which are actually supported inside a base, or tray) by using a crane, back into the ground before the cricket season. So this is why they are called "drop in" wickets. They are actually "dropped" back into the ground before the summer cricket season. The area of the stadium/ground where the wickets would normally be in summer, is replanted with softer grass for the football season. The concern, is that these "drop in" wickets can be very flat, and not have the characteristics of the "traditional" wickets that used to be in the ground - this could hardness and bounce, or spin. Does that make sense?
La grandeur d'Athéna
Roar Rookie
I am going to be honest. I actually have no idea what it is. Every was saying this is bad so i said same :-p
Jeff
Roar Rookie
The question is whether the Perth Stadium (it's not "Optus" for CA events - let's keep it that way!) drop in square has actually settled yet. It's certainly made from the same clay source south of Perth, but may still be maturing. It will be interesting to observe its characteristics in 2 to 3 seasons from now.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Are there any drop in wicket squares in India?
Jeff
Roar Rookie
I wonder also litigation from players re my below reply post to Paul
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Perhaps the threat of (or assumption of future) player litigation (and presumption of such litigation becoming increasingly successful), is becoming an issue for AFL/SCG corporates? I don't have any facts or figures to back this up, only my perception of observing the increasing player attention to their rights for a "safe workplace" and an increasing acknowledgement of an employer's (or landlords?) obligation re duty of care. Not just AFL though, indeed not just sport, but across the board.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
And the Swans get more to a game than 3 NRL games.
Alicesprings
Guest
‘Soccer, Rugby league and Union all get over 30,000 to most of their games’..might just let that one go through to the keeper. Might need to read the SCG’s annual report mate.
Stevo
Guest
You have, in Sydney it's footy (rugby league) in the winter and sailing in the summer.
Steve Franklin
Roar Rookie
Cricket would get on a bad day over 30,000 if the Aussie's were playing a good team, Soccer, Rugby League, Rugby Union all get over 30,000 to most of the games AFL in Sydney to watch the Swans are lucky to get 20,000 if they are getting beaten on a regular bases and GWS which stands for (Greater Waste of Space) lol are lucky to get 10,000 to any home game, you could fire a gun and wouldn't hit anyone so why back down to pressure from the AFL is madness.
Goalsonly
Roar Rookie
Bless You
Peter Warrington
Guest
they could bake them up at Crown St in those big tins the kurtosh people use
Timmypig
Roar Rookie
Hi Mick, we had a tour of Eden Park in 2016 with their official historian (I was a parent on an U10/U11 club rugby tour). Had a close up look at the no 2 ground and the drop in pitches and associated machinery. Very interesting. I take your point about the usage rates.
Peter Warrington
Guest
this sounds like another great reason to upgrade Henson. saw a NEAFL game there Friday night. could be great!