DDCA 2024/25: Narre South docked six points after preparing ‘unsatisfactory’ pitch

An “unsatisfactory” wicket has seen a Dandenong District Cricket Association club docked points and at risk of relegation. More here.

Narre South has been docked six points by the DDCA.

Narre South has been docked six points by the DDCA after an “unsatisfactory” wicket was prepared for its Turf 1 clash against Dandenong West at Strathaird Reserve on Saturday.

The two-day fixture was abandoned without a ball being bowled as a result, and it is understood the two sides will return to the ground on Saturday to play a one-day match for competition points.

Dandenong West president Peter Lindsay was present at the ground on Saturday and said the wicket was “hardly prepared”.

“They marked lines on it and they might have put the roller on it but the length of some of the grass was 25, 30 millimetres long, our curator cuts it at six or seven,” Lindsay said.

“The umpires were certainly very unhappy about it as well.”

It is understood DDCA vice president Marcus Coutts attended the ground at the umpires’ request to assess the pitch.

The points deduction leaves Narre South last on the Turf 1 ladder and at risk of relegation, six points adrift from North Dandenong, Dandenong West and Beaconsfield.

The DDCA Turf 1 ladder as of Monday, February 17 after Narre South were deducted six points.

“It’s not fair to expect to turn up to a ground — understanding the forecast was ordinary — if you get rained out that’s one thing but it was probably the second worst wicket I’d seen in a long, long time,” Lindsay said.

“If we’d have played on Saturday it would have been at best a toss of the coin, but I believe both sides would have had a bat, it was just unsatisfactory.”

Players from both sides had been set to don green armbands to show support and spread awareness for men’s mental health during the match, and this was still carried out in the Turf 1 Reserves clash between the clubs at Greaves Reserve.

Narre South will then host Berwick in round 14, the final round of the season.

When contacted by this masthead to ask about the points deduction, Narre South president Nathan Tracy said he was unsure why the points had been deducted.

DDCA president Hilary Wijeratne has been contacted for comment.

Originally published as DDCA 2024/25: Narre South docked six points after preparing ‘unsatisfactory’ pitch