SCG considering investing in new technology after covers disaster

Venues NSW chairman Tony Shepherd says it was a manufacturing error with the covers that saw rain overnight seep into the pitch during the SCG Test.

Following day three’s washout, day four was delayed due to a soggy outfield. But rain was also found to have seeped into the pitch. SCG groundstaff needed to return to the blank covers after the new ones, emblazoned with NRMA Insurance – one of Cricket Australia’s sponsors – failed.

CA said play was not delayed due to the fault with the covers, despite day four not beginning to 1:45pm.

Shepherd suggested the covers were Cricket Australia’s responsibility, but he refused to criticise the organisation.

“It’s just one of those things, the tarp provided by Cricket Australia, I’m not criticising them for one second, they’re a great bunch of people and they work really hard to put this Test together and make it as good as it can be – but it seems to me it was just a mistake in manufacture and the seams weren’t properly sealed,” he said on Sportsday.

“We work through it, we got over it. The wicket was good (on day five), the pitch was great, the outfield was outstanding, it’s just one of those things, you learn from that.

“But I wouldn’t be too critical of Cricket Australia, I think they’re a really good bunch of people and we work with them very closely and it’s a great partnership.”

Fox Cricket commentator Isa Guha was among those to call for a better solution at the SCG, where rain has robbed more days of Test cricket than every other ground in Australia combined.

“You would think they could invest in some better covers,” Guha said at the time.

“You have the hover covers at Lord’s that come off really quickly and then at The Oval it literally covers the whole of the ground across the square for moments like this where bowlers are looking around at the pitch ends where it can be a bit dangerous.

“I’m pretty staggered that it’s not better equipped.”

The hover covers can completely cover the centre square within three minutes of rain beginning, glides across the turf and can speed up the drying process of the pitch.

Shepherd stated the technology was a consideration for the SCG, and added it should also be looked at by every venue in Australia.

“I’ve been pushing that for some time. It’s not a bad suggestion, and I think the whole of Australia should have a look at those covers,” he stated.

“I’ve seen them at Lord’s, I’ve seen them at the other ground in the UK and they work very quickly and very smoothly, certainly from an industrial safety point of view I think they’re better as well.

“That’s something we will be looking at.”

Hover covers are currently used at seven venues across the UK, India and Bangladesh, according to the manufacturer’s website.