Teams trade shots in the dark
Brendon McCullum has taken the long handle to the Sydney Thunder and their ex-Black Caps boss over claims they should be given a win for Thursday night’s ‘‘blackout’’ match.
The Brisbane Heat cricket star described a request from Sydney boss Lee Germon that the Thunder be awarded a win for the abandoned Big Bash League game as ‘‘ridiculous’’.
‘‘So @ThunderBBL you want points awarded based on ground standards?’’ McCullum asked on Twitter. ‘‘Where was the responsibility to provide a roof at Spotless Stadium when it pissed with rain a week ago? Also, are you sure you were winning that game?’’
The incident had already seen two former Black Caps stars voice opposing views, with respective coaches Shane Bond and Daniel Vettori disagreeing on the outcome.
Germon, the former New Zealand captain, has demanded Cricket Australia award his team two points after the embarrassing scenes at the Gabba.
Germon called Big Bash boss Kim McConnie less than an hour after play was abandoned after lights went out at the Stanley St end of the ground in Brisbane on Thursday night.
The Thunder and Brisbane Heat were awarded one point each even though the Heat were 2-10 and had next to no chance of getting the 187 set for victory.
The Heat were happy to reject a Thunder proposal to bowl only their spinners.
The shared spoils meant the Thunder were robbed of a chance to move into outright second on the ladder behind Hobart, and also to improve the all-important net run rate. Germon has demanded a review.
‘‘My view is that we should get the points, that’s my view,’’ Germon said.
‘‘That’s based on the fact the venue has a responsibility to present the stadium for play.
‘‘This is different from pouring down with rain . . . This is about a fit-for-purpose stadium needing to be provided, and it wasn’t, obviously, because the lights went out.
‘‘There should be a back-up system that enables play to carry on.
‘‘In my view, this is similar to a situation where matches have been abandoned due to the pitch not playing a way umpires think it should be played, and in those previous situations points have been given to the away team.’’
The BBL ladder is very close, and the Brisbane kerfuffle could ultimately cost the Thunder a chance to host a semifinal.
A few years ago, Victoria were awarded six points for a Sheffield Shield game and NSW none because the SCG surface was unplayable. It remains to be seen if Cricket Australia can and will award the Thunder an extra point.
Shane Watson, who belted his first century in the Big Bash, was still seething on Friday.
Under the game’s rules, umpires have the final say when it comes to play and sufficient light.
Coach Shane Bond could not understand why the officials asked the Heat for their thoughts before making a decision on safety.
The debacle has left Gabba officials red-faced just a week out from Australia’s day-night test against Sri Lanka.
‘‘I think we did everything we could to try and get a game on here but I understand Brisbane Heat’s position and I couldn’t say if we were in the same position that we wouldn’t do the same,’’ Germon said.
‘‘The most disappointing element for me is the inconsistency around the application of safety in terms of players and the fact there was no back-up or auxiliary power system that was able to kick in, which in my understanding is a prerequisite of a top-class stadium.
‘‘If this was to happen in the day-night test, which is next week, or a World T20 semi-final, there’s going to be problems.
‘‘Cricket needs to pull itself into this day and age . . . there are 26,000 people here wanting to see a game. I was amongst the crowd and I know the disappointment from them.’’
Mark Waugh, who works as a Thunder ambassador, took to social media and spoke for most fans when he said: ‘‘Pardon the pun after the farce at the Gabba tonite but cricket has got to come out of the dark ages. Sometimes the light is not perfect or the outfield might have a damp patch but unless it’s dangerous we’ve got to change the mindset and just play. Get on with it."