Australian Domestic Offseason 2011

[Jayzamann]

haha, 'interesting' article. Can tell you from speaking to Les a few weeks back, he's an absolute proponent of drop-ins. The feel/character guff is only toff members worried about their property values being dulled by the influx of bogans going to AFL games in the city. It's got nothing to do with preserving history for the majority.

Would say I wish I was a member but I don't think I could afford the mandatory full-frontal lobotomy.

I got the forms and paraphernalia a few weeks back, and will be voting yes by proxy. I like to think that all the naysayers will be 6 foot under within about 20 years so their objections are moot.

My dad got Les to speak at one of his conferences the other week and got some face time with him, but that didn't change his attitude and will be voting no (that really doesn't bode with the previous paragraph... bite my tongue). But he's of the impression that even though his vote may put the hex on the change of the constitution, the development is pretty much inevitable.

 

[Andre]

Drop-in wickets are a blight on the game. They've killed the MCG as an on-field venue for Test cricket. I'd hate to see the same thing happen to Adelaide.

 

[Spark]

How so? I'm not fan of drop-ins but at least they haven't produced the 500 plays 500 Tests that Adelaide throws up too often.

Mind you, I thought the pitch this year was OK. Flat flat flat then it started to turn, and boy did it turn.

 

[vcs]

When did the MCG start using drop-in pitches? It seems to have lost its character a bit since they started doing that. Remember the MCG in the '90s being a quick pitch with bounce and good assistance for the bowlers, it still helps pace bowlers but it seems kind of sluggish these days.

 

[Spark]

It's quite slow. This year was probably a bit slower than usual because of all the rain we've had but it's hardly a terrible cricket wicket. There's enough there for batsmen and bowler there but it's not a particularly memorable wicket (as in particularly unique as the other major Test grounds here are)

 

[Andre]

When did the MCG start using drop-in pitches? It seems to have lost its character a bit since they started doing that. Remember the MCG in the '90s being a quick pitch with bounce and good assistance for the bowlers, it still helps pace bowlers but it seems kind of sluggish these days.

Exactly right - it has lost a lot of pace since they started. Drop in pitches = dead grass = slow wickets. Wickets require live grass for them to have pace. Melbourne has lost its character since then.

I can see the arguements coming, but please bare in mind the difference between a green (seaming) wicket (of which there have been some post drop-in) and a fast one, not being mutually exclusive.

 

[Spark]

Bottom line is, anywhere else but Adelaide and I'd be deeply annoyed. But Adelaide... fine by me.

 

[vic_orthdox]

MCG has never been renowned for being a super pitch. It was never/rarely quick, it used to provide a bit to pace bowlers but that was mainly due to inconsistency. The drop ins have provided a bit of consistency but they are not very good pitches because they are slow and spongy. They are great for one day pitches because you can roll the living crap out of them.

 

[Howe_zat]

Don't think we can criticise the drop-in pitches on the evidence of the cricket we've seen on them. I for one thought the most recent Tests at Adelaide and Melbourne were among the best Tests I've ever seen.

 

[vic_orthdox]

Haha, Adelaide isn't a drop in pitch... yet.

 

[centurymaker]

Don't think we can criticise the drop-in pitches on the evidence of the cricket we've seen on them. I for one thought the most recent Tests at Adelaide and Melbourne were among the best Tests I've ever seen.

That doesn't have anything to do with England winning those games comprehensively.....

 

[brockley]

Only Youth Test: Australia Under-19s v West Indies Under-19s at Dubai (GCA), Apr 24-26, 2011 | Cricket Scorecard | ESPN Cricinfo
Windies win last game.
Did i tell you guys australia will host the world youth cup in 2012,will try and get to some of the games.

 

[Top_Cat]

Exactly right - it has lost a lot of pace since they started. Drop in pitches = dead grass = slow wickets. Wickets require live grass for them to have pace. Melbourne has lost its character since then.

Yeah but its character used to range from 'keeper killer to "You'll never make it out alive!" so you could forgive the MCC for being a bit ambivalent to cries that the deck is a bit flat.

Certainly, drop-ins do make the pitches a bit more generic (patient play wins the day) but, tbh, the climate here sorta suggests to me that whether locally-sourced or drop-in, the pitch will play largely the same. Get the feeling that the slowness of the MCG is more about the climate than the pitch (must be a nightmare being a groundsman over there).

Even the summer just gone, belting down for weeks before the match, the pitch was still good enough for England to get past 600 and a woefully out-of-form KP got his only significant score of the series, a big double no less. As beige as a drop-in can be, surely it can't be worse than that. Might even see some local players finally build a game for pitches other than ones where the number 4 isn't in his whites for the start of play.

 

[brockley]

New Oval to make the grade | Adelaide Now

 

[Top_Cat]

Yep, the new development is a fait accompli which means drop-in pitches are too. The members better gets used to the idea.

The ground looks schizophrenic right now with a magnificent multi-tiered stand on one side with single-tier (virtually) open-air constructions on the other. Will be an awesome stadium when done.

 

[Spikey]

only a matter of time before it becomes the QANTAS stadium or some ****

 

[Jayzamann]

only a matter of time before it becomes the QANTAS stadium or some ****

That is one thing I am sure the parochial grey order of Adelaide will make sure never happens.

Heck, I was one of the glut of younger members and I'd be against any sort of naming rights. I still call it Footy Park, after all.

 

[brockley]

AFL poses threat to Shield matches | Domestic Cricket | Fox Sports
Adelaide may lose some games.

 

[Top_Cat]

Planning on playing Shield matches at Glenelg Oval aren't they (Gliderol Stadium - ugh)?

Don't see the problem, every other Shield team has had to move out of the big grounds for at least some games of the year. Not as if SACA are putting up a decent case for staying.....

 

[Noble One]

Always prefer the domestic games played at the smaller venues.

When Victoria played at the Junction Oval, it almost felt like an actual crowd was watching the game rather than sitting alone in the vast space of the MCG.