Take cover in cricket pitch miss
Have wet pitches cost Queens and Surfers Paradise finals berths?
Queens sit fifth in premier first grade and Surfers Paradise hold the same spot in premier second grade.
But both teams had the opportunity to jump back into the top four if they had won their respective games.
Instead, they arrived at their grounds, with both pitches soaked in various areas.
Cricket Gold Coast secretary Michael Guy said the association will be looking into both games.
“Once we have looked at them both, spoken to all captains and officials, we will make a comment about mid week,” Guy said.
Palm Beach hosted the clash against Queens, who before the end of round 16, were sitting second, now third due to the match being abandoned and the clubs agreeing to a draw.
Queens player-coach Harry Winton said it now leaves finals chances out of their hands.
“It is very disappointing indeed to not get on and to play because it was such a big game for both clubs,” Winton said.
“They had the hessian on and the covers when we arrived, so they followed the right protocols.
“But when they pulled the covers back, it was evident that rain had got through.
“The deck was a bit greener than last week as well, but that does happen.
“But it did look really muddy from one end.”
The covers were pulled back around 12.30pm due to rain continuing to fall on Saturday morning.
The junior division one game was abandoned, which allowed the covers to stay on all morning.
The same happened at Burleigh in the second grade clash between Burleigh and Surfers Paradise.
No junior cricket was played in the morning but when players arrived, the pitch looked like it was pure mud.
As the covers were pulled back, it was clear water had leaked through the covers on to the pitch.
The question was raised by both Surfers Paradise players and Queens players – should more be done beyond current rules and protocols to make sure pitches are weatherproof throughout the week?
“We had a couple of situations this year where we didn’t get the covers on in time but still managed to get some game play in,” Winton said.
“Gold Coast Cricket is putting a lot of trust in clubs to make sure the pitches are prepared right, they are covered.
“I do think what is happening now is fine but you can get situations like this where water could have leaked under or something could have happened.”
Despite heavy wet patches, Surfers Paradise and Burleigh managed 11.2 overs on Saturday.
Both teams appeared surprised by the official ruling when the pitch was checked upon his arrival at 11:30 – ‘let’s start at 12:15.’
Louis Dean, who was not out from last week, faced up at the muddiest end of the pitch, copping blows to his ribs, elbow and a ball that bounced about a metre over his head from a good length.
You could see his confusion as he looked at the pitch and then the umpire but he wasn’t the only one to have issues.
Opening bowler Kris Vincent, at times looked confused himself as to how they were even allowed to play on such a pitch as he rolled his arm over.
Burleigh second grade players arrived early on Saturday and did their best to dry the pitch out, using blowers and sawdust to pull the moisture to the surface before rolling it again.
President Lachlan Pegler said that it was credit to his second grade side to even get on to play. “We got there early Saturday morning and saw how bad the pitch was and called off the junior game,” Pegler said.
“Then we handed it over to the second grade boys who tried to get a game on.
“Full credit to them, they were out there from about 7.30 in the morning trying to get that pitch right.
“Unfortunately they couldn’t get a full game in but I understand they got some cricket in which was a great effort by them.”
The Gold Coast Bulletin does not suggest protocols were not followed by Burleigh.
Palm Beach comment. were contacted for