CAUGHT BEHIND

DODGY GROUNDS LEAVE CRICKETERS ON STICKY WICKET

TASMANIA’S cricket stars vying for national selection are being forced to play on substandard pitches and lower grade games are being can- celled because grounds are not up to scratch a month into the new season.

Cricket officials are fuming that some venues are still unavailable after four rounds, which has badly affected the Tasmanian Tigers’ preparation for their first Sheffield Shield game that started yesterday.

Tigers coach Adam Griffith said a lack of adequate facilities could have longer term ramifications for recruiting players and the development of juniors and he fears players will be lost to other sports.

“We want to become a destination state which gives opportunity for players to come down and show what they can do,” said Griffith, right, yesterday.

“If we don’t have those good facilities, it is really hard to do that.”

Last weekend two Cricket Tasmania Premier League first grade matches featuring seven players in Tasmania’s Shield squad were relocated to Ferguson Park at Pontville on a slow, low pitch — vastly different conditions the state side will face against Western Australia at the traditionally bouncy WACA.

CTPL club South HobartSandy’s home ground Queenborough is still out of action and University Oval will be used for the first time tomorrow. The TCA ground on the Domain is unlikely to be ready until after Christmas because it is being resurfaced.

This has led to eight men’s and women’s first grade games being moved and a number of lower grades matches shifted or abandoned.

Hobart City Council manages the grounds and general manager Nick Heath said it did its best to balance the needs of all its sporting codes.

“It is always a challenge to maintain the quality of our grounds between the winter and summer seasons,’’ Mr Heath said.

“As ground providers, we are caught between the various codes and the ever increasing demand for quality playing surfaces. We will continue to deliver the best quality and safest surfaces that we can.”

This year, former Test great Michael Hussey conducted a three-month investigation into the sport in this state, making 33 recommendations — one of which was the requirement of improved facilities.

Former Australian quick Ben Hilfenhaus, who coaches University, said it was a tough lead-in for players such as Tim Paine, Jordan Silk and Jake Doran trying to get runs at Ferguson Park before playing on the WACA.

“It is hard for them to play on those sort of wickets and then go to the WACA, it is not ideal preparation,” he said.

Griffith, appointed coach after the Hussey review, said the game at Pontville was not an ideal preparation.

“I watched five of our players play on a low, slow wicket which was really hard to bat and bowl on,” he said.

“Not only [could it hamper] recruitment but also for development of our players at home.

“You want them playing on the best grounds as well, the battle for talent now is not only from state to state within cricket but also from sport to sport.

“If we are not producing good enough facilities for young players from Tasmania to show what they can do and get better ... we could lose them to other sports.”

Cricket Tasmania operations manager Chris Garrett said it was unusual the grounds were unavailable.

“The situation has implications for our international and national players, in addition to lower grade participants who simply want to play cricket,’’ he said.

“We recognise local government is a significant supporter of club cricket, however, discussions will be necessary to avoid a repeat in future.”