“How that can happen… is a disgrace”: Former Aussie captain’s stinging criticism for SCG Shield wicket
The Sydney Cricket Ground pitch that saw 24 wickets fall on day three of New South Wales’ win over Tasmania has been subject to a stinging spray from a former Australian captain.
A little over from a month out from the SCG hosting the third Test of the Australian summer, NSW stunned a previously undefeated Tasmanian side to win inside three days.
But Tim Paine insists: “You can be as good as you want or as bad as you want. That game comes down to luck.”
Tasmania resumed Day 3 at 6-166 before being bowled out for 200. The two states then combined for just 186 second-innings runs on pitch that was a bowler’s paradise.
Paine, a proud Tasmanian, described the wicket as “not suitable for grade cricket”.
“I watched that game closely over the three days. That wicket was an absolute disgrace. It’s a disgrace,” he began on SEN Tassie.
“This is a Test venue in the strongest (cricket) state in the country and they rolled that up. It’s embarrassing. The ball was seaming sideways, it was going up and down, it wasn't fit for First Class cricket.
“That was a disgraceful wicket. 24 wickets in a day’s play… you don’t even see that in club cricket anymore.
“What’s going on in Cricket NSW and the SCG? That was such a bad wicket to play cricket on. Whether we won or lost, whatever. (But) I could have bowled on that and taken wickets. It’s not good enough.
“How that can happen at one of the premier Test venues around the world is a disgrace. That wouldn’t happen at Uni Cricket Cub, that wouldn’t happen at North Hobart Cricket Club.
“That was below standard for grade cricket and this is meant to be the premiere First Class cricket competition in the world and that is meant to be one of the most iconic cricket venues of the 100 years and that’s what we’re getting served up.
“Not good enough.”
The SCG wicket, a green-top with visible cracks even on Day 3, was the second time a Sheffield Shield match has been played at that venue this season.
The first, earlier in November, saw Western Australia unable to post a total larger than 146 as NSW romped to a 10-wicket win.
“Players don’t mind if it's staying low or it's seaming or there’s a bit more bounce, but when you’ve got a combination of all three every over, it’s just ridiculous and I cannot get my head around how that could possibly happen at a venue like the SCG,” Paine continued.
NSW’s win over Tasmania is the last time the SCG will host a red-ball game before January 3 when Australia hosts Pakistan in what could be David Warner’s last game.
The Sheffield Shield will resume in February.