The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Shire in race to stage Scotland matches
Cricket: Scandal of vandalised Mannofield
Groundsman Ken Mccurdie is running out of time in his bid to to ensure Aberdeenshire’s Mannofield is fit for international cricket this summer.
Mannofield has been selected to host the four-day Intercontinental Cup match between Scotland and Canada in July, but vandalism of the square has placed the tie in doubt.
Mccurdie believes vandals poured powerful weedkiller, which prevents grass from growing, over large sections of the square and suspects the damage may have been caused as long ago as last July. there’s not much growing at the moment.”
Cricket Scotland has placed no deadline on a decision being taken, but McCurdie will know by the end of the month whether it is possible for his ground to host the game.
He said: “Cricket Scotland have been great with us, but I know if the shoe was on the other foot and I was facing the prospect of being asked to prepare the ground for international cricket I would want five or six weeks’ notice.
“By theendof this month it will be a straightforward yes or no for me.
“It’s only fair we’re sensible about this so another groundsman can do his job properly.
“Under normal circumstances I would be confident it will go ahead here, but it’s freezing in Aberdeen just now and I’m working with four or five layers on. It’s been freakish weather all year with amild winter following by a cold spring and we’re not out of the woods yet.”
Cricket Scotland chief executive Roddy Smith is backing Mccurdie to pull out all the stops to ensure the international game goes ahead.
Smith said: “We want to play the game in Aberdeen and we’re committed to hosting the game there, but it will be Ken’s call. We want to give him as long as possible to get the ground ready and I know he is doing everything he can.
“If anyone can make happen it’s him.”
In addition to the Intercontinental Cup match from July 4 to 7, the Scots are also due to face Canada in two one-day internationals – on July 9 and 11.
it Matt Prior is adamant there will be no room for complacency as England set out to restate their credentials as Test cricket’s number one team against West Indies at Lord’s.
A tougher examination of England’s claim on top spot appears to lie in wait later this summer in the shape of South Africa – currently their closest pursuers in the International Cricket Council tables.
West Indies languish down at seventh in the rankings and are perceived to be a team with a useful attack but much to prove with the bat – world number one Shivnarine Chanderpaul apart.
After England’s tough winter in the Middle East and Sri Lanka, however, wicketkeeper Prior warned England must be on their game from the outset of a three-match series which will get under way tomorrow.
“This is a very tough series in its own right,” he said. “I think if yougetcomplacent or take things easy
“If you get complacent or take things easy you get bitten pretty quickly”
in Test cricket you get bitten pretty quickly. There’s no room for that in our dressing-room.”
Prior himself is returning to the scene, and against the same opponents, of his own century on Test debut five years ago.
“It’s fantastic to be back at Lord’s. It’s always a magical place to come,” he added. “This first series of the summer will be a tough prospect.
“We had a tricky winter. But we came out on top in Colombo against Sri Lanka which was a fantastic effort andwe’re back in ourhome conditions now. The challenges we faced in the winter are less likely here.
“It was obviously a tough winter. But that win to level the series in Sri Lanka was crucial, to come out with the win just set us off onthe right road going into the summer, and gave us a lot of confidence.
“We are a good team, but we do still have some huge improvements to make. It’s very important welook forward. We’ve performed very well over the last couple of years with bat and ball, and I see no reason why we shouldn’t continue that.”