The Sheffield Shield match at the MCG between Victoria and WA has been abandoned after attempts by ground staff to make the pitch playable for day two on Sunday failed.
A day of drama unfolded on Saturday when play was called off midway through the second session because of fears for the players’ safety.
WA batsmen Shaun Marsh and Marcus Stoinis both required concussion tests after being hit by deliveries from Victorian quick Peter Siddle that reared unexpectedly.
Stoinis also took a nasty blow to the ribs after misjudging a delivery from Andrew Fekete.
Marsh and Stoinis were cleared of concussion.
Too much moisture in the drop-in wicket led to divots, which hardened under the sun, creating uneven bounce and danger for the batsmen.
Curator Matt Page and his ground staff attempted to even out the deck and make it playable after the embarrassing situation unfolded.
However, match officials determined on Sunday that the pitch was still too dangerous.
It was another blow for the maligned MCG pitch, which has been criticised as being too docile in recent years and received unfavourable ICC ratings.
MCC CEO Stuart Fox defended his ground staff in a statement released on Saturday night.
“Over the last twelve months, our curators, supported by key stakeholders including Cricket Australia, have made a concerted effort in making improvements to the standard of the MCG wickets to ensure there’s enough in them for both bat and ball,” Fox said.
“While it’s unfortunate that play was suspended today, the previous two Sheffield Shield matches held at the ‘G this summer have been held without incident and have seen a result in the first match and a draw in the second with significant rain delays contributing to that outcome.
“Our broader plan is to continually make improvements to the wickets to allow for pace, bounce and lateral movement and we’re confident about our preparations leading into the upcoming Boxing Day Test.”
The strip being used in the Shield match is not the one being prepared for Australia’s Test against New Zealand.
WA had reached 3-89 before play was called off, with left-handed opener Jake Carder (44) carving out a solid innings in difficult batting conditions.
Carder fell victim to Siddle (3-21), who was Victoria’s most damaging bowler.
Johnno
Roar Rookie
My comments aren’t suppose to be about Victoria....it is about the MCG. And it isn’t about conspiracy theories. Vic cricket have responsibility. There is no penalty on Vic cricket, they know they won’t lose the Boxing Day test because of the money. CA must make them tow the line, behind closed doors & out in public view. I hope that we get a good pitch for the test, for the sake of Australian cricket.
Jim Prideaux
Roar Rookie
Please state a precedent for this, because all I’m getting is a conspiracy theory. Yup, was a bad pitch, as plenty of grounds around the world and in Australia have put up. But don’t let that ‘I’m not from that state’ thing get in the way of a good whinge.
Johnno
Roar Rookie
What I am suggesting Jim is that Vic cricket have had a lot of time to get this right, and they have failed. No one else would get that leniency. If the new Optus oval in Perth turned that out they would get everything thrown at them, except the next test match. And the absolute farcical nature of this is that Vic cricket get no penalty, the bias is obvious.
Paul
Roar Guru
exactly right. If the pitch plays as it should,surely that's just the curator doing what he's paid to do?
Cadfael
Roar Guru
The pitch wasn't good but with the development of player safety equipment maybe players have become a bit blase about facing bowling that does something besides swing in England and NZ.
hayboy
Roar Rookie
"Overall things are actually looking promising" Concussion tests aside, that's one way to put a spin on the story! :laughing:
hayboy
Roar Rookie
"the previous two Sheffield Shield matches held at the ‘G this summer have been held without incident" What does that have to do with this match being abandoned because of the pitch? Absolutely nothing. The attempted deflection just makes them seem more inept. Focus on the problem at hand instead of matches where it all ran smoothly without incident.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
I suspect Page will be erring on the side of not over-watering, which will likely produce a pretty flat MCG wicket.
Paul
Roar Guru
The MCG can put what ever spin on this they like, but the reality is, there are no positives. There are lots of guys from both teams who are trying to show selectors they could make the Test team if required and badly needed this game to help their causes. For most, this will be the last red ball cricket they play till February, so missing a game hurts a lot, as does the points situation for each team in chase for the Shield. It also throws the Boxing Day Test into the realms of the unknown. Players from both sides must be wondering what the pitch will do,more so than the other Test pitches around the country.It obviously throws huge pressure on the curators to get it right for Boxing Day.... and what if they don't?
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Need someone to take a hit over the heart, Bert Oldfield-style. That'll sort the men out from the boys :thumbup: :thumbup:
AREH
Roar Guru
Placid for some time and now seemingly dangerous. A bit of a farcical situation all round.
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
Ah, they’re too soft these days. Back in the 1936 Ashes before pitches were covered Australia were rolled for 58 in Brisbane and 80 in Sydney after the rain, and then England declared on 9/76 to get Australia in, Bradman reversed the batting order and then put on 300 plus for the 6th wicket with Fingleton as the wicket improved. No helmets either. Both those were a different kind of sticky, more pudding like apparently, rather than a few hardened wet patches creating dangerous bounce as yesterday at the MCG.
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
Not sure why WA are dealt with same as Vic. Was there home match. Do we fine the grounds man? Got to be Vic cricket that gets it in the neck for a stuff up of this magnitude. Imagine they abandon the Boxing Day year in 3 weeks?
Jim Prideaux
Roar Rookie
Are you suggesting that any other international ground wouldn’t survive putting up a dangerous pitch? The Wanderers, The WACA, Manguang, Sabina Park would disagree. It was a bad pitch, they’ll learn from it.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Points split and both teams awarded bonus points based on the average of BPs awarded from the other two Shield games.
Johnno
Roar Rookie
Sorry Simon....not good enough, no good news story, nothing promising at all. If this was any other ground people would be going berserk. They will survive because it’s the MCG. Vic cricket have had enough time to do something about this. What happens to the points from the game?
Simon
Guest
Look... Not good. But in the previous couple of matches at the G this year the pitch has been much better balanced between bat and ball. So overall things are actually looking promising, just hope they don't play it so safe come boxing day that it's another highway. Speaking of, I wonder if we'd put the dukes ball on the highways of the last few years how it would've gone