Australia v South Africa: NRMA sponsor pitch covers banished after embarrassing gaffe

SCG ground staff were left red-faced after sponsored wet weather covers sprung a leak after an attempt to capitalise on the Sydney Test’s rainy reputation backfired.

The NRMA insurance wet weather covers that caused an embarrassing leak at the SCG were immediately banished from the ground on Saturday after an attempt to capitalise on the Sydney Test’s rainy reputation backfired.

Groundstaff went back to using the blank set of SCG covers they normally apply to the wicket square in the event of rain, after News Corp revealed the bizarre edict for them to use a different set of advertised covers - ironically stamped with NRMA Insurance.

They were asked to use the new set of protective sheets which emblazoned the logo of Cricket Australia’s partner as prominent advertising during the extended rain delays.

But unfortunately the company that bailed out thousands of flood victims in northern NSW last year wasn’t able to keep Sydney’s big wet off the famous wicket square.

It was telling that after play, groundstaff switched back to the original SCG covers, with the NRMA sheets removed after the day four mishap.

The damage was far from disastrous and did not delay play, but it’s understood the seams around the logo had a split in them, causing water to seep in under the covers and make for extra work for groundstaff.

Frustrated staff had extra hair dryers out in the middle in a bid to dry out the run-ups and the wicket block surrounding the pitch, however, play eventually started at 1.45pm in the afternoon.

The NRMA covers that failed to repel Sydney’s big wet. Picture: David Gray/AFP

Cricket Australia and Venues NSW issued a joint-statement to explain the covers leak.

“Ground staff and the cricket operations team have confirmed there were no delays in play due to a small leak in the covers,” the statement read.

“The delay to play today was caused by a small section of sodden turf off the wicket square where water had accumulated overnight. The SCG had 56mm of rain overnight and this morning.

“NRMA Insurance had no involvement in the construction of the covers or the requirement for them to be used for this match and ground staff had no issue with the new set of covers.”

There was a period of time in the morning when there was a window to get back on the field, but there wasn’t enough time to get the pitch area prepared before another downfall arrived.

Given the amount of rain Sydney had copped over the previous 36 hours, it’s unknown how much the leak hurt groundstaff on top of the normal clean-up that would have had to take place in any case.

Sources say the leaking did not delay play.

However, there was frustration from the curating staff that they couldn’t just use their own covers, which they are familiar with.

During the final inspection which occurred around lunch time, some turf had to be shifted around to fix the run-ups.

Groundstaff were forced to replace patches of turf near the popping crease. Picture: David Gray/AFP

Commentators felt that the covers weren’t big enough to cover the wicket block in its entirety, and felt the incident should lead to a re-examination of protective equipment.

There was a similar issue at the MCG during the T20 World Cup earlier in the summer, when commentators led by England great Michael Vaughan questioned why the covers did not protect enough of the ground – making it impossible for staff to clean the outfield in time for a start in the abandoned England and Australia blockbuster.

In the UK, ground staff use raised overs they can wheel out onto the field and allow the pitch to breathe underneath during long periods of rainfall.

In Sri Lanka, ground staff cover the entire field with tarpaulins meaning the outfield is protected as well as the pitch.