NSW forced to move Sheffield Shield game away from SCG
NSW have been forced to move their first home match of the Sheffield Shield season away from the SCG after the NRL season left the surface unprepared.
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Cricket NSW is blaming the Sydney Roosters’ grand final run for forcing them to move Friday’s Sheffield Shield match away from the SCG.
The Blues will now have to play host to Tasmania at Drummoyne Oval after the centre square was deemed unfit to host a first-class match.
The pitch that would have been used is fine, but the surrounding wickets on the square are underprepared.
The SCG says it was not a specific Roosters training session but simply the fact they made it all the way to the grand final, and the ground has had constant traffic until a fortnight ago, which has left seven of the eight pitches immature.
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Unlike drop-in pitches which can be turned around quickly, transferring grounds from football to traditional squares takes weeks – time which was eroded by how deep the Roosters went in the NRL.
Running over the immature wickets for the duration of a four-day match could compromise the surface during the summer, and a decision was made this morning to shift the match – featuring Test stars Steve Smith, David Warner and Mitchell Starc as well as Tasmania’s Tim Paine and Matthew Wade – away from the SCG.
Cricket NSW didn’t hide their disappointment at the 11th hour venue change and put out a statement citing a Roosters training session ahead of the grand final as the reason why the ground is unsuitable.
“We were unaware there was a problem until this morning,” said NSW chief executive, Lee Germon.
“Our cricketers love playing at the SCG, which is the traditional home of NSW cricket.
“It is a great disappointment to our players and everyone at Cricket NSW that we can no longer play there over the next week.
“Our male players were looking forward to playing four of their five home Shield matches and a one-day match at the SCG this season, something that has rarely happened over the past decade or so.
“Our off-season training and planning was based squarely around the fact that most of our matches would be at the SCG this season, creating an extra buzz of excitement.
“It is important that our current and future international cricketers have the opportunity to play as much cricket as possible on the SCG.
“This is particularly so early in the season when many of our senior players are available for the Marsh Sheffield Shield ahead of the international season.”
The SCG also put a statement out confirming the setback.
“Unfortunately, the SCG’s pitch block is maturing and would be unable to host elite-level cricket this week without placing future fixtures at risk,” said the statement.
“Grounds staff had prepared pitch number one, closest to the Bill O’Reilly Stand, for the Sheffield Shield fixture.
“While the pitch itself is ready, the remainder of the wicket table needs more time for the summer grass to stabilise and grow-in. Any wear sustained by the normal traffic of a four-day cricket match could jeopardise the integrity of the SCG’s other eight pitches.
“Drummoyne Oval is the home of the Sydney Cricket Club and has hosted a number of first-class men’s and women’s cricket in recent years. The SCG grounds team will provide curatorial support to Drummoyne Oval throughout the match.
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“The Marsh Cup match, scheduled for October 23, may also need to be relocated.”
A decision will be made in the coming 24-48 hours on next Tuesday’s one-day match and if that needs to be shifted to an alternate venue.
It’s not the first time Tasmania has been shifted from the SCG to an alternate venue due to issues with the surface.
Next year the SCG is scheduled to host two one-day internationals against New Zealand after round one of the NRL has kicked off.
Originally published as NSW forced to move Sheffield Shield game away from SCG
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