Cricket legends vehemently oppose AFL-led push for Sydney Cricket Ground drop-ins

A couple of Test greats have weighed into the debate over the push for a drop-in pitch at the Sydney Cricket Ground. And they’re not happy.

Former Test captain Allan Border says it would be a ‘real shame’ if a drop-in pitch was used at the SCG.

• SCG War: Cricket responds to ‘boring’ AFL plans
• How Maxwell woke up cricket’s sleeping force
• Real reason why Aussies left ODI gun at home

Australian cricket greats led by Adam Gilchrist and Allan Border have passionately rallied against an AFL-led push for the sacred SCG pitch to be removed.

As revealed by The Daily Telegraph, the Sydney Cricket Ground Trust has established a committee to officially consider drop-in pitches at the iconic venue which has hosted Test cricket for nearly 140 years.

Cricket NSW has already made a submission to the committee vehemently opposing the introduction of transferable wickets, arguing that such a move could kill the excitement of Test cricket in Sydney and let down SCG members.

Former Test captain Allan Border says it would be a ‘real shame’ if a drop-in pitch was used at the SCG.

The SCG Trust says the panel of Trustees and experts has been commissioned at the request of the AFL, who are determined for the ground to conform to a multi-purpose playing surface like in Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth, removing the slippery centre square and making conditions more suitable for Sydney Swans winter football.

The SCG will consider opinions from both sides of the divide before making a potentially landmark decision.

Venerated former Test captain and Fox Cricket expert Border says that losing the tradition and variations of the SCG wicket would be a travesty.

“It’s the Sydney Cricket Ground, is it not? I haven’t heard the Swans moaning until recently … maybe they have done in the past … but it would be a real shame,” Border told The Daily Telegraph at a Fox Cricket World Cup launch last month.

The AFL wants a drop-in pitch at the SCG. Picture: Brett Costello

“There are certain characteristics that are so similar in drop-ins and you’ve got to leave a lot of grass on them to get anything happening. As we’ve seen in Melbourne, you could play on that pitch for 20 days and it wouldn’t scar or do anything different.

“It takes something away from the SCG. You have always had to think about the side you play here. Is it going to spin?

“We have to have subtle variation on our pitches here in Australia to (produce) complete cricketers. It’d just be a shame to have all our pitches identical.”

Test legend Gilchrist, also speaking at the start of the World Cup, said cricket should get right of way over the Swans.

“I do (think it would be a massive blow). I hope it doesn’t happen. I hope there is a way we can keep the situation as is,” said the respected Fox Cricket commentator.

“It would be nice to have some heritage left in the game and maintained.

Adam Gilchrist takes a catch off the bowling of Shane Warne to dismiss South Africa’s Jacques Kallis at the SCG in 2002. Picture: Brett Costello

“I love footy. I enjoy watching and acknowledging the Swans’ success over the years and loved the way they operate. But I really hope (the pitch) stays.”

Australian great Mark Waugh, who forged his career in Sydney, wants the traditional SCG wicket to remain, but presents a view held by some at the Trust who believe drop-in wickets can be successful and are somewhat inevitable in modern Australian sport.

“It’s worked in other places,” Waugh said.

“I’d prefer to see it kept as it is but I know they’re all multipurpose grounds these days cricket grounds so I suppose you’ve got to move with the times. As long as you get the drop-in pitch of a similar soil and characteristics, I don’t really have a problem with it.”

Adam Gilchrist is another former Test star not in favour of a drop-in pitch at the SCG. Picture: Colin Murty The Australian

Fox analyst Andrew Symonds said the AFL were “fortunate” to be playing on the SCG, and should be treating the ground and its history with more “dignity.”

Fast bowling icon Brett Lee, Sydney born and bred, said a drop-in should be avoided at all costs by the SCG Trust.

“I could understand there are a lot of reasons behind it, but you have got to also keep the history of the game. It’s the Sydney Cricket Ground. It’s a cricket ground,” said Lee.

“I’m all for the Swans playing here, but … there’s no drop in pitch. Cricket is the first pick.”

Frustrated current NSW star Trent Copeland sarcastically tweeted, ‘welcome to the Sydney AFL Ground,’ as Cricket NSW warned the SCG Trust it would be failing its members by abandoning tradition.

“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,” said a NSW Cricket submission to the SCG committee signed by NSW CEO, Lee Germon.

Originally published as Cricket legends vehemently oppose AFL-led push for Sydney Cricket Ground drop-ins