Ground staff pull off minor miracle at SCG

SYDNEY Cricket Ground officials have declared the playing surface will be cherryripe and sand-free for the New Year’s Test.

Ground staff have been lauded for the minor miracle they have performed in entirely returfing the famous field after last month’s U2 concerts, with experts tipping the outfield to be in immaculate condition for the final Test against New Zealand in early January.

The sight of sand flicking up in the outfield was a talking point after Wednesday night’s Sydney Sixers BBL opener, but the extra top dressing was necessary in executing the epic transformation of replacing every square inch of grass with ready-play turf in the middle of the cricket season.

The match referee rated the surface “good” and players reported no issues.

Curator Adam Lewis heads up a 12-strong team of ground staff, while the ready-play transplant was performed by 60 staff from suppliers Evergreen Turf, working through the night.

Lewis said the midsummer returf was unavoidable given the reality of Allianz Stadium being knocked down and the almost impossible juggling act curators have been left with to manage big events on the SCG.

NSW and Queensland players praised the pitch used in the most recent Sheffield Shield game for recapturing the spinning essence of the quintessential SCG wicket, and Lewis is confident the outfield will also deliver a “Beautiful Day” just five weeks after the U2 concert.

“We are all positive and confident, without pumping ourselves up too much. This is what we’re looking forward to,” Lewis said.

“We were really confident going into [the Sixers’ first game]. Everyone was really happy with the surface. They know the process we’re going through to provide a surface for all our users.

“We have received a lot of positive feedback from the players themselves saying they couldn’t believe we turned it around so quickly.

“It’ll be an even better surface come Sunday [the Sixers’ next game]. With Allianz Stadium being knocked down, we are catering for all our partners. We pre-planned this [returfing exercise].

“In conjunction with Graeme Colless and his team at Evergreen, we grow approximately 25,000 square metres on this farm out at Pitt Town, so we are ready to go for situations like this.”