Cricket to fight AFL push for drop-in wickets at SCG
The Sydney Swans are push for drop-in wickets at the SCG but cricket chiefs are expected to dig in for the fight as the AFL found no issues with the controversial surface.
Cricket NSW chief Lee Germon met with SCG Trust boss Kerrie Mather on Monday as the AFL amplified its push for a drop-in pitch at the Sydney icon.
Sydney Swans coach John Longmire claimed the centre-wicket area is “slippery and hard” for his footballers and insisted a serious conversation must be had over whether the SCG should follow the lead of the MCG and Adelaide Oval and prioritise multi-purpose quality over cricket history.
Longmire said his understanding of discussions the Swans have had with the Trust is that the SCG recognises the importance of giving the turf “the best opportunity to shine” as a 12-months a year venue.
For that reason, there is a prevailing feeling the hot and emotional debate will almost inevitably come to a head at some stage in the future and as much as it would raise the ire of the ghosts of Bradman and O’Reilly, cricket faces an arduous fight to hold back the AFL tide.
The catch-up between Germon and Mather was a monthly meeting which was not scheduled in reaction to the Swans going public with their push for drop-ins – however it’s understood the topic was discussed.
The Daily Telegraph understands that the controversial concept of drop-in pitches replacing the natural square at the SCG has been discussed by the Trust, but no plans exist.
There appears no immediate hurry to confront the issue either given the obvious tensions that would explode.
So profound would any decision be to fundamentally change the historic ground’s characteristics, that it’s likely the NSW Government would be called upon to have the final say in what would be, another political sporting firestorm to trump the fallout from the Allianz Stadium rebuild.
As it stands right now, implementing a drop-in wicket at the SCG is almost logistically impossible, given there is not enough space to drive the machinery required into the ground, and there is no land on-site for a nursery where the Trust could grow the wickets.
Australian cricketers are already furious that the country is now dominated by flat, characterless drop-in wickets, and Cricket NSW are determined to fight for history.
“Cricket NSW understands the situation that the SCG Trust is currently in hosting a significant number of matches from the various football codes,” said Germon in a statement.
“However our position hasn’t changed. We believe that for the benefit of the fans and players natural turf pitches must remain at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
“The characteristics of a natural pitch change over the five days of a Test, highlighting the players’ full range of skills.”
Logistically, a drop-in wicket at the SCG may not be fully considered until the ageing Brewongle and Churchill Stands are replaced and a tunnel is built that allows the machinery to enter.
Given the financial investment and controversial fallout from Allianz, that could be a decade away.
The Sydney Swans have had issues over the years where players have slipped on the centre-square during training drills, but are loathed to criticise the SCG Trust who work closely with them on maintaining the ground.
Longmire backed up Swans chief Tom Harley by insisting an SCG drop-in must be put on the table.
“The centre-wicket area has always been a challenge (for football) that’s why the MCG have done what they’ve done and obviously Adelaide Oval have done what they’ve done as well,” said Longmire.
“It’s something (drop-ins) that’s absolutely topical and needs to be discussed.
“We’ve been speaking to the SCG Trust and the AFL for a number of years in regards to that and hopefully it’s a consideration going forward.
“The SCG try and mitigate those challenges (slipperiness and hardness) as much as they can but ultimately the cricket wicket is still there. I understand the discussion about drop-ins and cricket wickets in the summer, but it’s a 12 month a year venue and we want to give the turf out there the best opportunity to shine.
“From my understanding and discussions with the SCG, that’s what they’re trying to do.”
Past statistics have shown that the SCG has less AFL injuries than other venues and there have been at least four ACL knee injuries suffered by female and male AFL players this season at Adelaide Oval, which has a drop-in pitch.
AFL gives green light to SCG surface
An independent ground inspector from the AFL has examined the SCG surface and found no issues with the area where Melbourne Victory star Terry Antonis injured his knee.
The AFL’s agronomist conducted a thorough ground check yesterday ahead of the Sydney Swans’ clash against the Melbourne Demons on Thursday night and is expected to provide a full report to the SCG before the match.
However, a specific examination has been done on the area where Antonis went down, an incident which sparked outrage from the Victory and the Football Players Association.
The AFL has given its approval, finding no problem with that area of turf.
“There were no issues with the surface observed in the area where the player fell during Saturday night’s game,” the AFL agronomist said in a statement.
An independent AFL inspector completed two surface checks before the Swans’ first match of the season and gave the surface a tick of approval.
The AFL marks the SCG’s appropriateness based on factors including turf coverage, surface levels, surface hardness, traction and stability and the wicket table.
For turf coverage, traction and stability the ground was given full marks as “ideal”, the wicket table which has so concerned the Sydney Swans was adjudged “acceptable” and in regards to surface hardness in the outfield, the finding was “needs attention”.
The hardness of the ground was in the high-normal range, meaning there were recommendations for more work to be done in certain areas.
However, the ground was given an overwhelming pass mark with the AFL finding all areas of the field were acceptable.
Swans coach John Longmire described the centre wicket area as being hard and slippery but the AFL investigator found no issue with traction.
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