Invercargill warrant in doubt over drainage
CRICKET
INVERCARGILL’S Queens Park could lose its New Zealand Cricket warrant of fitness unless improvements are made to the drainage.
Questions about the venue’s suitability were raised when a firstclass game between Otago and Auckland in March was ruined due to a combination of wet weather and poor drainage.
As a result, the venue’s warrant of fitness is under review and that process is being led by New Zealand Cricket (NZC) head of cricket operations Richard Brewer.
He will meet representatives from Otago and Southland cricket later this month to get a ‘‘thorough breakdown’’ of the issues.
‘‘But at that duck pond end of the ground there are a few challenges with drainage and shading, so the next step is to have a meeting in a couple of week’s time to talk through what the challenges are and what the possible solutions are,’’ he said.
The drainage was upgraded in 2015 but there is no coverage in a patch at the duck pond end.
The damp spot caused significant disruptions to play. The teams initially found a workaround by bringing the boundary rope in. But the game was eventually called off, due to further weather delays.
‘‘We need to understand what the remedy is,’’ Brewer said.
‘‘If it was a case of would we be able to play there tomorrow without anything being done, then I think probably that would be a risk we wouldn’t be able to take.
‘‘We have an obligation to make sure that firstclass cricket is being played at venues where, in the right circumstances, teams can get into a position where there can be a result.’’
It is expensive to staged firstclass games and more so in Invercargill, where both teams have to be accommodated instead of just the visitors.
That is not the main concern for NZC, however.
‘‘The bigger cost is not having our professional players playing, which is why we need to make sure we are doing everything we can.’’
Brewer said the ground staff at Queens Park did an excellent job preparing a good pitch, so the problems were limited to the drainage.
The University of Otago Oval has also had drainage issues in the past before further improvements were made last year.
Alexandra’s Molyneux Park lost its warrant of fitness following the 200809 season and it was withdrawn again in 2011. Both times it was because the pitch was not up to standard and wicket drew criticism again a few seasons back.
‘‘[Molyneux Park] is another case in point, of working through a collaborative process because they had their challenges but have probably produced some of the best T20 wickets in the country off the back of the work they were able to do,’’ Brewer said.
NEW DELHI: The Indian Premier League has been indefinitely suspended due to the Covid19 crisis in the country, the IPL said last night.
The organising Indian cricket board (BCCI) and the IPL governing council took the decision at an emergency meeting.
‘‘These are difficult times, especially in India, and while we have tried to bring in some positivity and cheer, however, it is imperative that the tournament is now suspended and everyone goes back to their families and loved ones in these trying times,’’ the IPL said in a statement.
‘‘The BCCI will do everything in its powers to arrange for the secure and safe passage of all the participants in IPL 2021.’’
The eightteam IPL, with an estimated brand value of $US6.8 billion ($NZ9.5 billion), is the richest twenty20 league and attracts many of the best players from around the world.
Monday’s match in Ahmedabad had to be rescheduled after two Kolkata Knight Riders players tested positive for Covid19 and two nonplaying members of the Chennai Super Kings franchise contracted the virus in Delhi.
India’s tally of coronavirus infections surged past 20 million yesterday, following 357,229 new cases over the previous 24 hours, as the country battles a second wave of the disease.
Although the tournament was being played in a biosecure bubble without spectators, the league faced fierce social media criticism for continuing in the midst of the pandemic.
Australian players Andrew Tye, Adam Zampa and Kane Richardson cut short their IPL stints to return home last week.
Australia has since banned all arrivals from India until May 15 and the country’s cricket board declined to comment when asked for its plans to bring back its players.
Meanwhile, Black Caps veteran batsman Ross Taylor hopes the right decisions are made surrounding the IPL.
The virusimpacted Knight Riders are coached by former Black Cap Brendon McCullum and includes current New Zealand internationals Tim Seifert and Lockie Ferguson. Players and staff have been placed in isolation, and have entered a daily testing routine.
Speaking at the Black Caps training base in Lincoln before the league was suspended, Taylor noted the dire situation in India, and said he felt for their people.
‘‘You see all the footage on TV and things have escalated very quickly,’’ he said.
‘‘I’ve been there many a time before. They’re lovely people and they love their cricket, but this cricket is a sideshow and hopefully they can get on top of this coronavirus ASAP and get back to living a normal life. It’s pretty disappointing to be watching and wish them all the best.
‘‘New Zealand Cricket and the Players Association are in regular contact with the players over there. I’m sure they’re all in slightly different boats in terms of where they fit in and how they feel, but I’m sure whatever happens over the coming days and weeks, the right decisions will be made.’’
Taylor said he had kept in contact with players and coaches over in India.
‘‘They’re all in different bubbles and each team’s slightly different.’’
NZ Cricket said it was working with the IPL and monitoring the situation closely.
‘‘We are continuing to work with our members playing in the IPL in what is a fluid situation,’’ a NZ Cricket spokesman said.
‘‘Clearly the circumstances they find themselves in have changed a bit yesterday with some local players and support staff getting Covid in the bubble.
‘‘None have requested they come home yet but we’re continuing to monitor developments.’’ Taylor said he had been fully vaccinated before their two tests away to England and World Test Championship final against India in Southampton next month. He said their trip could yet be affected with the virus well and truly prevalent around the world.
‘‘It’s an evolving beast. It changes all the time and the UK could change while we’re over there . . . We’re pretty comfortable that the players are getting looked after overseas as much as possible and New Zealand Cricket and the Players Association have our best interests at heart.’’
After an MRI scan yesterday, it has been confirmed Taylor has a grade one muscle strain in his left calf.
Taylor sustained the injury during the first day of camp yesterday in Lincoln, and will remain with the team to rehabilitate the knock over the coming days.
‘‘A lot of important cricket coming up, best to actually get to the bottom of what it really is. Glad I got the MRI yesterday,’’ he said.
‘‘I got a bit of acupuncture which actually probably made it sorer than it was before, but I feel comfortable.’’