While Australians were celebrating the start of the New Year, there was a sudden shift in attention from the festivities to what was happening on the cricket field at the Sydney Cricket Grounds. The nearing end of the final test of The Ashes series was coupled with the surprisingly green ground at the SCG, leaving everyone worried.
New Year Reception Turns into Pitch Talk
January 1 evenings are normally relaxed affairs for Australian cricketers, but there was something different about the Prime Minister’s reception at Kirribilli House this year. The temperature was chilly, the winds were blowing hard, and cricket pitches featured surprisingly prominently in speeches, almost threatening to provoke talk of the Ashes itself.
Even Anthony Albanese spoke about the conditions, and Ben Stokes joked about the possibility of bald speeches, just like the quick Test matches played in Perth and Melbourne. Calls, both jests and appeals, for a “flat pitch” amid SCG started to reflect a growing concern about a potential quick Test.
A Green Top That Raises Eyebrows
A person who was at the SCG the day before would realize the appreciable level of concern on the pitch. Only three days out from the test match, it was remarkably green to the point that it blended in well in the outfield. This was particularly surprising because the level of grass coverage was bound to decrease by the match day.
This is further complicated by the carry-over effect of the situation during the Boxing Day Test match held at the MCG, where the matched grass length resulted in the match ending within just two days, and it has become an immensely delicate issue for Australian Cricket during the summer season.
Curator Under Pressure After Recent History
SCG head curator Adam Lewis finds himself in the firing line already. Over the summer, a grass wicket resulted in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test being over in just two-and-a-half days. Lewis was spotted conferring with the top brass, including the head of Venues NSW, David Gallop, on Thursday.
With the Ashes series at stake, there is growing urgency to produce a wicket on which bat will fairly match ball, and hopefully, a contest that will last long enough to do justice to the occasion.
Recent Matches Offer Warning Signs
In recent first-class matches held at the SCG, there is a ominous trend creeping in. Low scores, one-sided bowling performances, and a substantial advantage to the team that gets to toss first are the signs seen in the matches.
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Right from the India Test series where no team scored over 185 in an innings to the matches that saw collapses in the Shields series, it is very apparent that the conditions were decidedly in favor of the bowlers. Unless there is a significant occurrence before Saturday morning, the fifth test of the Ashes series could see a similar pattern emerge.
Weather, Grass, and the Final Cut
Adding to the complications is the weather pattern of Sydney. It is expected that it will become cooler, along with rain anticipated as the Test begins, making it risky for the removal of grass.
It has been suggested that cutting too much grass may not always be the solution and might pose some complications as well. Not even fringe players such as Todd Murphy have been spared questioning regarding the pitch before they have been selected.
All Eyes on the SCG
With the countdown escalating, every blade of grass at the SCG is under scrutiny. The curators, administrators, and players, as well as fans and even the Prime Minister, will be watching very closely when the final wicket unfurls. With the climax to the Ashes series scheduled to occur on this stage, the SCG wicket has become very much a part of the action itself.
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