Magazine - Is MCG the Worst Wicket in the Country?

By Editor in Cricket on 1st May 2008 6:00

The most contentious strip of turf in Australia, the MCG pitch, has come under scathing attack from Cricket Victoria, which is in the midst of negotiations that could have international games moved from the game's traditional home.

State cricket's governing body also accused the Melbourne Cricket Club of a "born-to-rule mentality".

Cricket Victoria chairman Geoff Tamblyn has turned up the pressure on the famous ground's landlord, whose agreement to host international cricket expires after the coming summer.  He suggested the Bushrangers — who do not have a representative in the current Test squad — struggle to produce Australian players because they play on "the worst wicket in the country".

MCG pitches last season were criticised by Australian captain Ricky Ponting and state skippers. After the resignation of curator Richard Winter, the MCC in March hired Cam Hodgkins — credited with reviving Bellerive Oval — to review pitch preparation with arenas manager Tony Ware.

"(David) Hussey, he's about the only one that has really mastered the wickets there. All the captains have been highly critical. The captain of Australia was so critical, it was embarrassing," Tamblyn said. "I would have thought the first obligation they've got to someone that has a contract with them is to make sure those wickets are of pristine condition.  "They have also, during the tenure of this agreement, used the Junction Oval from time to time. Well they have let that slip to glory. They've got a drainage problem down there that they have been made aware of over the last nine years and they have done nothing about. That is a real concern to us also."

MCC chief executive Stephen Gough last night said the grass issues behind the pitch problems had been addressed. "It won't happen next year, we're very confident of that. We have done our pre-wicket preparation already before the wickets have gone back out to the nursery, so we believe everything will be fine," he said.

"We had a bad year this year. I refute that we have had nine years of trouble … MCC's commitment to cricket is shown in the redevelopment in the outstanding, world-class facilities not equalled anywhere else in this country."

The Age revealed last year international games could be put to tender if Cricket Victoria could not strike a more favourable commercial deal with the MCC. Telstra Dome boss Ian Collins voiced a desire to host "all or some" matches, raising the possibility of a split between Test and limited-overs cricket.

Source: www.theage.com.au/news/cricket

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