Henriques describes penalty as harsh

NSW cricket captain Moises Henriques feels Victoria getting maximum points for the abandoned Shield match at the SCG was harsh on the Blues.

NSW cricket captain Moises Henriques

Moises Henriques feels it's harsh that NSW lost points for their abandoned Sheffield Shield match. (AAP)

NSW cricket captain Moises Henriques says it's harsh for the Blues to lose six points to Victoria in last weekend's abandoned Sheffield Shield game at the SCG.

The match was called off on day three last Sunday after just 34.2 overs of play, when match referee Steve Bernard and umpires Simon Fry and Mike Graham-Smith deemed conditions unsafe around the in-field and wicket.

It follows the second day abandonment of a match between a Cricket Australia XI and New Zealand at Blacktown in Sydney's west the previous week.

The Blues' next Shield game against Tasmania starting on Saturday has now been moved to Sydney suburban ground Bankstown Oval.

The Bushrangers were on Monday awarded six points by Cricket Australia in accordance with its playing conditions which state in the event of a match being abandoned because of inadequate pitch and/or ground, the match will be awarded to the visiting team.

"It wasn't ideal and it wasn't horrible," Henriques said on Wednesday of the ground's condition last weekend.

"I personally thought there could still have been a game of cricket played, but the umpires and the match referee didn't deem it so and that's their job to do so."

Henriques felt the law which led to Victoria being awarded maximum points wasn't meant for the circumstances that eventuated at the SCG.

"I'd imagine that rule was created for games later on in the season," Henriques said.

"Maybe the home team purposely didn't bring up the wicket so that the team coming over who might have been behind on the ladder couldn't score points there, or something like that.

"I think the penalty might be a bit harsh at this time, the second game of the season.

"But I guess there has to be a line in the sand and the rules were there before the game, so you've got to adhere to those.

"I guess it's a kick into gear for the home association to make sure the ground is up to scratch and to make sure we're doing everything we can to make sure if there is rain, or whatever it might be, that the ground is still in good shape.

"So it just shows that if you just get a little bit complacent it can come back and bite you on the bum."

Asked about what he expected from Bankstown Oval, which has former Adelaide Oval curator Les Burdett overseeing it's preparation for this weekend, Henriques said: "Over the last couple of years it's basically been quite a slow sort of flat wicket, so I'd be surprised if it was anything different."


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Source: AAP



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