India and Australia go head-to-head in the 3rd test match at the WACA ground in Perth in just over an hour.
But it's on-pitch goings-on on of a very different nature that are making tongues wag today; the Western Australian reports:
Indian cricket officials have called for an investigation after vision emerged of WACA cricket staff drinking alcohol and sitting on the pitch to be used for the Third Test starting today.
India media has showed vision of the pitch party, which occured last night.
The Hindustan Times reported that vision showed three or four ground-staff sitting on the wicket.
Senior Indian cricket official Rajiv Shukla said Cricket Australia must look into the issue.
"It is a serious matter and the Australian cricket board should look into it," he said.
"It is the responsibility of the host cricket board to maintain the wicket," Shukla said.
Asked if they have talked to Cricket Australia about it, he said, "It's up to the team management to look into it."
Fox Sports reported that about 10 people, believed to be employees of the ground, traditionally have a party under the scoreboard the night before the Test.
Last night they went on to the ground and took off the pitch covers.
Some sat on the pitch and drank beer for about seven minutes before the covers were replaced.
The incident was filmed by several Indian television stations who were at the WACA Ground.
The media reports said the staff walked along the pitch with some pretending to play cricket shots.
Naturally enough, the Australians are brushing off the seriousness of a bit of laddish behaviour; read on:
WACA chief executive Graeme Wood this morning dismissed the criticism.
He said no damage was done to the pitch and it would be seen to be an outstanding test match wicket.
WACA ground staff had worked hard to prepare a good wicket.
It's one of the more bizarre cricketing stories we've heard for a while. We just hope that none of the grounds staff or their female companions were caught short at around a good length!
6 comments:
Shame if the start was delayed due to wet spots on the pitch or runups.
just heard on the news that it's a tradition????
Apparently, the grounds staff have an annual "do" under the scoreboard on the eve of the Perth test match. This year they went elsewhere!
I think if anything else that this is an indication of the fact that serupticious (sp?) cameras are ubiquitous. I bet this has occurred in past seasons plenty of times.
This incident serves to further undermine the gracious stature of test cricket. The pitch ought be guarded day/night immediately before and during a test.
Have you noticed that "fieldsmen" are now "fielders" as in a game of rounders? The administrators of cricket are blighting their own product and replacing it with the pointless tornados of 20/20.
Happy New Year IV2!
Cadwallader
These people have spent much of their last few days, if not weeks, walking over and around the pitch - that's what they do
Must have been a really slow news day.
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