A “complete disgrace,” according to former Australia Test captain Tim Paine, the SCG pitch was created for the Sheffield Shield match between Tasmania and New South Wales.
On the third day, Tasmania lost 24 wickets in all and were bowled out for a pitiful 68.
In merely 63 overs, 24 wickets were lost. The irregular bounce of the pitch combined with the seam proved to be difficult for the batter to handle.
“That wicket was a complete embarrassment. They played up the fact that this test site is located in the most powerful state in the union. It is awkward to say that. The ball was unfit for first-class cricket; it was seaming sideways and moving up and down. What a horrible wicket that was. I haven’t talked to anyone about it, but it was visible on the screen; it had those little gaps where grass appeared to be covering it. According to ESPNcricinfo, Paine said to SEN Tassie, “You don’t even see that in club cricket.”
Paine continued by asking how a surface could be created at a location that is regarded as one of the main Test cricket venues.
He even said that the Sheffield Shield competition was compromised by the pitch’s quality.
“What’s happening with the SCG or Cricket New South Wales? It was a terrible wicket on which to play cricket. I could have bowled on that and took wickets regardless of whether we won or lost. It’s insufficient,” Paine remarked.
It is shameful how something like that can occur in one of the best test locations in the world. This is supposed to be the world’s greatest first-class cricket league, and that’s supposed to be one of the classic Test match grounds… and that’s what we are getting served up,” Paine continued. “That was below quality for grade cricket.”
SCG is the pitch that Australia will use in what is expected to be the last Test match of the series against Pakistan.
Participating player Nathan Lyon expressed his expectation that the pitch would be completely different from that of the Pakistan game
