The Sydney Cricket Group Trust and Sheffield Shield match officials "pointed the finger at one another" after NSW and Victoria's four-day match at the SCG was abandoned in "farcical circumstances" a day and half early on Sunday because the playing surface "was deemed to be unfit for play," according to Tom Decent of the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD. It comes just a week after the New Zealand tour match against a Cricket Australia XI was abandoned at Blacktown Int'l Sports Park after four sessions as a result of the pitch -- Black Caps Coach Mike Hesson described the pitch as a "jigsaw with half the pieces missing." Match referee Steve Bernard said that umpires Simon Fry and Mike Graham-Smith "did not think the playing surface was fit for play." Bernard said, "I hope I'm never in this position again where I've got to be involved with a game being abandoned." Meanwhile, the SCG Trust has criticized match officials, saying it was "disappointed" the game was called off so early. SCG Curator Tom Parker said, "Before play this morning [Sunday], the ground was in the best condition that it had been all match. Given that there was no rain overnight, it was absolutely ready to host a match today" (SMH, 11/8). In Sydney, Peter Lalor reported Cricket Australia Head of Cricket Operations Sean Cary is flying from Melbourne to Sydney to "get an update on the situation." If it is deemed that the match was abandoned because of rain, "both sides will receive one point." But if the preparation is deemed at fault, Victoria "will be awarded six points." If that occurs, as looks likely, "it will further infuriate NSW Cricket." Bushrangers Coach David Saker "blasted the conditions at the ground." Saker: "The surrounds and the outfield are just not acceptable for first-class cricket" (THE AUSTRALIAN, 11/9).
