SCG drop-in a dead-end debate: Cricket NSW

Cricket NSW chief executive Lee Germon says ODIs at the SCG in March make sense and 'knee-jerk' calls for a drop-in pitch do not.

SCG

Cricket NSW boss Lee Germon is against a drop-in wicket being used at the multi-code sporting venue. (AAP)

As the SCG drop-in pitch debate resurfaces amid a schedule stoush, Cricket NSW boss Lee Germon has cautioned against "knee-jerk" reactions and defended the staging of two ODIs in March.

Cricket Australia has confirmed trans-Tasman ODIs will be played at the SCG on March 13 and 15.

The latest finish to Australia's international cricket season - outside of World Cups - since 1979 has not gone down well with other tenants at the Test venue.

The one-dayers will leave SCG groundstaff, already working overtime given the unprecedented demands placed on the venue because of Allianz Stadium's reconstruction, with just days to get it ready for NRL and AFL seasons.

The turnaround will scupper the Sydney Swans' hopes of better access to the SCG for training prior to round one while also likely affecting their fixture requests.

The frustrated Swans are also continuing to push for the SCG to adopt a drop-in pitch, an issue that coach John Longmire raised publicly last month as the ground struggled to cope with the traffic of four football codes.

The SCG Trust doesn't currently have the capacity to grow or transport drop-in pitches onto its field but arguments - internal and external - about the divisive issue continue to bubble away.

"Our view is the drop-in pitch is a dead-end conversation. It's been had before. It's raised periodically," CNSW chief executive Germon told AAP.

"In between times, the SCG's natural cricket wicket doesn't seem to contain any problems for the Swans.

"I'm totally against it because it will really affect the make-up of what is a very special cricket venue.

"It would be very much a knee-jerk reaction."

No sporting organisation is feeling the literal effect of Allianz renovations like CNSW, whose rattling headquarters will remain a stone's throw from the construction work for a further four weeks.

Germon hopes the challenges created by the Moore Park venue crunch are not raised in drop-in discussions.

Any move to drop-in pitches would take years, not months, and it's unlikely such a change would have a substantial effect on the turnaround between cricket and football seasons.

Regarding the mid-March matches, Germon and Cricket Australia officials both predicted they will be well supported.

"I've got no problems with the AFL or NRL playing on the SCG during their respective part of the year, so they should not have any problem with us playing there in our respective part of the year," he said.

"Every code is fighting for its piece of territory but cricket is an international sport, the most followed sport and March is very much part of cricket season.

"The codes can work together and sort this out but the SCG is obviously very keen to host the one-dayers."


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Source: AAP



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