***Official*** Australia in New Zealand 2016

[Bahnz]

If anything that's looking decidedly less green than the Wellington surface did 2 days out. Not that I think it's going to matter much either way. The forecast for Saturday is sunny and 29 so any moisture in the surface is gonna get baked out pretty quick and we'll be left with another turbo-road.

 

[Compton]

Your views aren't being misrepresented. You say that South Africa only got home easily because the Australians were demoralised in the field. I'd point out part of the job of a captain is to bring them up to scratch and find ways to break through that, but then you'll argue that's not a tactics thing.

I think he was a middle of the road captain and your assertion that he didn't have good bowling or batting is just baseless. You're just a spoilt Australian who got used to having 11 superstars in the team at once. I wish we got spoilt liked that in NZ.

That's brilliant.

"You're wrong, that's not what you think"

 

[Zinzan]

Jeez you guys have some stamina, I was bored of this discussion 2 days ago.

I suppose we all have own specific hobby horses that we drag along the road further than some huh Bahnz.

 

[Zinzan]

If anything that's looking decidedly less green than the Wellington surface did 2 days out. Not that I think it's going to matter much either way. The forecast for Saturday is sunny and 29 so any moisture in the surface is gonna get baked out pretty quick and we'll be left with another turbo-road.

Yeah, looks like it won't be as green as Wellington come game day so will be interesting what Australia do when they win the toss.

 

[TheJediBrah]

Anyone else noticed that these days every time a pitch isn't either an unplayable greentop or a dustbowl it gets labeled "a road".

Seems to be very little middle ground in public perception of pitches

 

[Jord]

The prevalence of roads has been staggering though, An average of 50 in a season used to mean you were a great, now it just means you're doing a job.

 

[Prince EWS]

Anyone else noticed that these days every time a pitch isn't either an unplayable greentop or a dustbowl it gets labeled "a road".

Seems to be very little middle ground in public perception of pitches

muh roads

 

[Kippax]

If anything that's looking decidedly less green than the Wellington surface did 2 days out. Not that I think it's going to matter much either way. The forecast for Saturday is sunny and 29 so any moisture in the surface is gonna get baked out pretty quick and we'll be left with another turbo-road.

Ex-Black Caps captain Stephen Fleming weighs into Hagley pitch debate | Stuff.co.nz

New Zealand coach Mike Hesson's plea for a green seamer for the second test against Australia - and the subsequent rejection by Hagley Oval groundsman Rupert Bool - has reignited the debate over whether pitches should be tailored to suit the home team.

It's clear where former Black Caps captain Stephen Fleming lies on the issue.

In a series of tweets, Fleming said he saw no reason why groundsmen should not work with the home side after Bool said that "we're not here to serve up a pitch to suit New Zealand".

 

[SteveNZ]

Ex-Black Caps captain Stephen Fleming weighs into Hagley pitch debate | Stuff.co.nz

There should be absolutely no conversations between ground staff and the home side, as to how the pitch is going to be prepared. So if we'd won the first Test (stretch I know, but work with me) we produce an absolute dead horse for the second to maintain 1-0? Home conditions should already suit the local side enough without having to look over the groundsman's shoulder. Curators are not on the national body's books, are they?

 

[TheJediBrah]

There should be absolutely no conversations between ground staff and the home side, as to how the pitch is going to be prepared. So if we'd won the first Test (stretch I know, but work with me) we produce an absolute dead horse for the second to maintain 1-0? Home conditions should already suit the local side enough without having to look over the groundsman's shoulder. Curators are not on the national body's books, are they?

New Zealand have been good with this too, never really doctored pitches to suit their team. Definitely don't want to seem them start now.

 

[Athlai]

There should be absolutely no conversations between ground staff and the home side, as to how the pitch is going to be prepared. So if we'd won the first Test (stretch I know, but work with me) we produce an absolute dead horse for the second to maintain 1-0? Home conditions should already suit the local side enough without having to look over the groundsman's shoulder. Curators are not on the national body's books, are they?

Assuming that the "conversation" was Hesson saying to media, "I'd like something green". I don't think theres any issue.

Not like we've really relied on pitches for our recent home success anyway.

 

[TheJediBrah]

Assuming that the "conversation" was Hesson saying to media, "I'd like something green". I don't think theres any issue.

Not like we've really relied on pitches for our recent home success anyway.

He's responding to Fleming saying that there should be more direct collaboration. Not saying that there was any significant communication between coach/team and the groundsman.

 

[Athlai]

He's responding to Fleming saying that there should be more direct collaboration. Not saying that there was any significant communication between coach/team and the groundsman.

Yeah and I think when the groundsman hears that the NZ coach making a statement to the media that NZ want something green, that they should do so.

 

[TheJediBrah]

fair enough

better than the flat tracks Aus have been dishing up at least

 

[Jord]

If you take the moral high ground that sides shouldn't work with groundsmen to get wickets prepared that favor them, you're unfairly penalising yourself against rival countries who do prepare their wickets in conjunction with their boards. The advantage I guess if you don't do that is maybe you get better overseas because you're not just playing on wickets that are tailor suited to you.

 

[TheJediBrah]

If you take the moral high ground that sides shouldn't work with groundsmen to get wickets prepared that favor them, you're unfairly penalising yourself against rival countries who do prepare their wickets in conjunction with their boards. The advantage I guess if you don't do that is maybe you get better overseas because you're not just playing on wickets that are tailor suited to you.

meh I don't really care tbh. I wouldn't be impressed if next year Sri Lanka toured and we prepared 3x more bouncy pitches than usual just so we can win by an innings and 400 runs instead of an innings and 200 runs.

Even if the touring side is considered stronger I just feel it's unsportsmanlike, so other countries can do it as much as they want, I still don't want us to do it. That's just my personal opinion though.

 

[Hurricane]

so will be interesting what Australia do when they win the toss.

Haha

 

[jcas0167]

New Zealand have been good with this too, never really doctored pitches to suit their team. Definitely don't want to seem them start now.

Main exception I can think of is when India toured in 2002/2003 and everything, test & ODI wickets, seemed to be a green top.

 

[Jord]

Basically what we need is a climate machine and multiple batches of balls we're allowed to test in the morning of a game before deciding which one we'd take. Our team at present aren't a team that benefits from tricky seam conditions and I'd say Hazelwood will enjoy them more than anyone in our team.

 

[Bahnz]

Main exception I can think of is when India toured in 2002/2003 and everything, test & ODI wickets, seemed to be a green top.

That was a horrible wet summer though. I was actually doing a summer job helping out the Basin Reserve curators with odds and ends that year (cleaning out the scoreboard, painting seats, carrying the covers around - which was by far the best part as I got to drive the little buggy they have). Everyday in the week leading up to that test was pooring rain. They set up a tent around the wicket block to stop it from getting too waterlogged, but there wasn't a whole lot the groundsmen could do to dry it out and harden up the surface.