Adelaide Oval curator Damian Hough says the U2 concert won’t affect day-night Test pitch
Adelaide Oval curator Damian Hough reveals the impact U2 concert will have on preparing next week’s day-night Test pitch
Cricket
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Premier curator Damian Hough is confidently running the gauntlet between U2’s Tuesday night show and preparing a top shelf Adelaide day-night Test surface next week.
Rock concerts before marquee international matches are a perennial complication for Hough’s staff. He is comforted by the relative luxury of a nine-day lead-in to the second Test between Australia and Pakistan.
Hough was forced to replace 800 square metres of turf in the five days between ACDC’s 2015 concert and the inaugural day-night Test at Adelaide Oval between Australia and New Zealand.
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“We had nine days this time and five days for ACDC then a New Zealand day-nighter. We are not expecting any issues. We are comfortable,” Hough told The Advertiser.
“The business needs it so you do it.”
Hough’s closest shave was a three day turnaround between Guns N Roses and an Australia v Sri Lanka Twenty20 clash in February 2017.
Most damage to the Oval surface is sustained at the northern end where stages are mounted but Hough won’t be ‘pulling the floor up’ with apprehension.
Hough will determine the extent of restoration work this morning but has learnt to ‘just roll with it’.
“It depends what each one throws at you, there are curve balls,” he said.
“This one has been really good, as long as it presents up well and most importantly safe and the play-ability side of things. We have a bit of time.
“All the steps are in place so there are no issues.”
Hough will place the pitch to be used in the second Test starting November 29 between Tim Paine’s Australians and Pakistan this Thursday.
“Everything bar the stage is off overnight and we will be straight into it. We execute the plans, give them a few hours in case the weather stings them.
“For us it will be get the pitch exposed as soon as possible and get some water into it when we can.”