SCG - a cricket ground

[KTigers]

It's a pity

[KTigers]

…. got distracted..... meant to say it's a pity we can't have our own stadium.

[barry]

Blood fever, you don't even live in Sydney.

You are overstating the problems of drop in pitches. With today's tech they are better than permanent pitches and produce the same spin friendly charcteristics the SCG always produced.... More consistently.

[Ralph Dawg]

Australian pitches are all roads these days. The idea that they have their own distinct characteristics is a myth. Even the famed SCG, is not the spinners paradise it once was. This is due to curators being instructed to prepare pitches with no lateral movement or zip until day 4 to maximise CA revenue. It's essentially either a bat fest by flat track bullies or batsmen getting themselves out, either by poor shot selection or getting bored out by line and length bowling. I much rather watch overseas tests, which are much more of a true contest between bat and ball. So bring on a drop in, won't change anything significantly anyway. Might actually give bowlers a better chance if prepared properly and at the same time, reduce the risk of injury to the footy players in winter.

[Blood Fever]

Blood fever, you don't even live in Sydney.

You are overstating the problems of drop in pitches. With today's tech they are better than permanent pitches and produce the same spin friendly charcteristics the SCG always produced.... More consistently.

So Barry, living in Sydney, you've never had an opinion about anything in Melbourne? Turn it up !

[Blood Fever]

Australian pitches are all roads these days. The idea that they have their own distinct characteristics is a myth. Even the famed SCG, is not the spinners paradise it once was. This is due to curators being instructed to prepare pitches with no lateral movement or zip until day 4 to maximise CA revenue. It's essentially either a bat fest by flat track bullies or batsmen getting themselves out, either by poor shot selection or getting bored out by line and length bowling. I much rather watch overseas tests, which are much more of a true contest between bat and ball. So bring on a drop in, won't change anything significantly anyway. Might actually give bowlers a better chance if prepared properly and at the same time, reduce the risk of injury to the footy players in winter.

If Cricket NSW and Cricket Australia want a drop in, fair enough. They don't and the AFL are minor players here much as they wouldn't like it.

[Ralph Dawg]

If Cricket NSW and Cricket Australia want a drop in, fair enough. They don't and the AFL are minor players here much as they wouldn't like it.

Who's decision is it? If it's CA then why are we even talking about it?

[barry]

NSW tax payers pay for the SCG.

[MattW]

Don't reckon it can.be retained. Despite my affinity with the Swans, a minor sport in Sydney shouldn't be making demands on a national and historically significant icon, in my opinion.

The point I was making is that drop-in pitch technology is improving such that there is a reasonable prospect the character of the pitch can be retained. I agree with Ralph Dawg that there's a bit of mythology attached to SCG pitch anyway. Did you read the article?

AFL isn't a minor sport in Sydney. Earlier posts suggest that more people attend Swans games than cricket.

[Blood Fever]

Who's decision is it? If it's CA then why are we even talking about it?

Apparently, it's the SCG Trust who control what happens on the ground.

[Ralph Dawg]

Apparently, it's the SCG Trust who control what happens on the ground.

So the members have final say? I suspect most would be "purists" and vote to keep the pitch. If that's the case, then only 2 real options - suck it up (especially you Clarkson) or move to ANZ (no thanks). As an aside, love watching footy at Spotless. If they could get funding to turn it into a cut down Optus, say around 40,000 capacity, would that be a possible solution?

[Blood Fever]

So the members have final say? I suspect most would be "purists" and vote to keep the pitch. If that's the case, then only 2 real options - suck it up (especially you Clarkson) or move to ANZ (no thanks). As an aside, love watching footy at Spotless. If they could get funding to turn it into a cut down Optus, say around 40,000 capacity, would that be a possible solution?

Not sure if the members have the final say, don't know the ins and outs. Contract to play footy at SCG is for a while but probably not to 2057 like MCG GF!

[barry]

So the members have final say? I suspect most would be "purists" and vote to keep the pitch. If that's the case, then only 2 real options - suck it up (especially you Clarkson) or move to ANZ (no thanks). As an aside, love watching footy at Spotless. If they could get funding to turn it into a cut down Optus, say around 40,000 capacity, would that be a possible solution?

The giants certainly have a better playing field due to the drop in wickets used for the big bash.
It will be a while before it gets bigger but can easily get to around 30,000 without major redevelopment.

Too far West for most swans supporters though.

[barry]

Not sure if the members have the final say, don't know the ins and outs. Contract to play footy at SCG is for a while but probably not to 2057 like MCG GF!

If drop in pitches are good enough for the MCG then they are good enough for the SCG. To be honest, the SCG is like a quaint English village ground compared to the MCG.
The SCG is looking dated already, and will be a very poor cousin to the new Allianz stadium next door.

[Blood Fever]

If drop in pitches are good enough for the MCG then they are good enough for the SCG. To be honest, the SCG is like a quaint English village ground compared to the MCG.
The SCG is looking dated already, and will be a very poor cousin to the new Allianz stadium next door.

Reason drop in wicket is at MCG is that all of Melbourne is in thrall to the mighty AFL. Not so in Sydney. SCG still a cricket ground.