Gabba drop-in wicket solution has backing of Sports Minister Mick de Brenni
THE idea of the Gabba getting a drop-in wicket to help avoid future clashes between AFL and cricket has the backing of Sports Minister Mick de Brenni.
Cricket
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THE GABBA could get a drop-in wicket after Sports Minister Mick de Brenni backed the idea as a way of avoiding future clashes between AFL and cricket.
The centre square of Brisbane’s iconic ground will undergo a rigorous independent assessment this week to determine if it is fit to host the inaugural AFLW grand final next Saturday without affecting the traditionally bouncy wicket for the first Ashes Test match in November.
Cricketing officials claimed last week’s Adele concert nearly ruined the wicket square.
Mr de Brenni said Queensland had the technology and skill needed to curate a drop-in wicket, similar to the MCG and other Australian grounds.
“We’ve got the best technological advice, the best ground skills, we’ve got the best stadium management, we’ve got the best facilities in the nation, so there’s no reason why we can’t have the most up-to-date, cutting-edge innovations like the type of drop-in pitches we are seeing,” he said.
Chief curator Kevin Mitchell Jr said the wicket square needed six weeks without any traffic over it for the replanted area to take root, which would rule out an AFLW grand final along with the first two Brisbane Lions home games of the 2017 premiership season.
The Lions are desperate to play at the Gabba for their first home game in Round 2 against Essendon.
However, Mr de Brenni played down the damage to the centre wicket, saying the ground was in great shape due to weeks of prior preparation to ensure The Gabba wicket would be fit for play in time for the AFLW grand final on Saturday.
A leading Brisbane curator supported Mr Mitchell’s claims, saying any regrassed wicket square required six to eight weeks rest before any traffic was to go over it.
Despite the first Ashes Test being eight months away, curators say it is vital for pitches that are going to be used during the summer to be rested and have the correct top dressing applied over the winter period.
A Stadium Queensland spokeswoman said: “I can confirm that we do not currently have the infrastructure to install and maintain a drop-in wicket, and there are no current plans to install one.”
Queensland Cricket last night said they would not be commenting on the issue.
CA AWAITS REPORT ON STATE OF GABBA TURF
CRICKET Australia says it will await in good faith a report on the grass growth at the Gabba to be commissioned by Stadiums Queensland later this week.
This is despite State Sports Minister Mick De Brenni’s assertion that the turf was “on track” to stage the AFL women’s grand final on Saturday week at the Gabba and then two AFL men’s matches next month.
The State Government said it had commissioned its own report from another specialist who would inspect the turf on Friday.
A CA spokesman said that a meeting with SQ executives had been productive and it awaited the independent report.
The AFL received a positive report about the state of the grass from its own turf expert, who examined the surface on Wednesday and said the AFLW grand final could be played at the Gabba.
State Minister for Communities, Women and Youth Shannon Fentiman last week said that the Lions women’s team should be allowed to play their grand final there.
Brisbane Lions CEO Greg Swann said the Gabba curators had done an outstanding job on work on the turf since the Adele concerts and the ground would be in good condition for the Saturday week grand final featuring the Lions women’s team.
“There’s 253 days until the Ashes Test at the Gabba in November — I’m certain that’s plenty of time to get the grass right by then,” Swann said.
— Paul Malone
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