Getting rid of the Gabba cricket pitch

[lion@hamilton]

The Indian Cricket Council has shown us that, with a bit of pressure in the right place, Cricket Australia can be reduced to an effete and grovelling mess.

Hopefully now is the time to lobby to get rid of that cricket pitch in the Gabba (the one that ruined Matt Primus' career).

As the Indians showed, who pays the piper calls the tune, and it is the Lions who pay the Gabba's bills not the cricket.

There are hardly any cricket matches at the Gabba where the "crowd" wouldn't fit comfortably into Alan Border Field and they could easily use a drop-in pitch for those few matches.

Just like the Indians, it is time the Lions used their greater market share to get what we want from the Gabba.

 

[Grimreepah]

it is time the Lions used their greater market share to get what we want from the Gabba.

what about what the cricketers want?

 

[Hollow Knight]

I'm conflicted on this issue.

Gabba pitches have historically been close to perfect, giving both batters and bowlers something to work with in equal share.

A drop in pitch would ruin this.

On the other hand, my love for the Lions is greater than my love for cricket and with our ruck stocks depleted, the pitch could be very problematic this year.

I'd hope the club is lobbying about this, but I can't see anything being done about it.

Would be interested in Warwick and John's thoughts on this... would be entering "drop in pitch... over my dead body!" territory I reckon.

 

[lionbear]

I think the technology in drop in pitches is not up to scratch. Cricket at the G had a bad summer because of these things. I would love to see the pictches gone for player safety but we have put up with them for 100 years, another 2 or 3 years while they hopefully get the technology right wont hurt(TOUCH WOOD).


Also in all honestly I think the Cricket side of things has alot of control over how the Gabba operates and I can't see them allowing drop in pitches in the near future.

 

[The Flying Belgian]

Would be interested in Warwick and John's thoughts on this... would be entering "drop in pitch... over my dead body!" territory I reckon.

Mark me down in the same camp too.

If the technology was up to scratch then sure, but you're losing a lot of character in a wicket by constantly shifting it as it stands now.

Interesting to note that IIRC there was one game where I heard the penetrometer reading they take before the game and one of the goal square was actually harder than the centre square.

 

[notting18]

As football fan I want it gone, but as a cricket fan I have to agree with the consensus that Drop-In Pitches just aren't up to scratch.

As a result I would expect the club would be doing everything in it's power to get drop in pitches introduced, but unfortunately until there the competition of a second stadium suitable for AFL in Brisbane I won't see them having much luck. The main reason I think the MCC fell for the almighty dollar and went with drop in pitches was that there was/is the possibility of teams, games, etc moving to the Telstra Dome down in Melbourne and leaving the MCG up a certain creek without a paddle.

 

[Kochie 16]

Once they perfect the drop pitch formula i'd have no problem with removing the proper pitch, but until then i'd have to say no.

 

[Homer Jnr]

For the time being, no, as we have seen what a benign lifeless drop in wicket does for cricket. As a cricket purist, I don't believe the technology will be upto scratch for 3-4 years at least. Maybe we as a team need to factor that into recruiting.

I know it is ideal to use every space on the list for players that will fill a role at all times, but maybe one space for another ruckman can't hurt.

Having said that, I don't know, its a quandry, and fingers crossed the technology comes along quickly and we can resolve it with no-one losing out.

 

[lookagoose]

The Indian Cricket Council has shown us that, with a bit of pressure in the right place, Cricket Australia can be reduced to an effete and grovelling mess.

Hopefully now is the time to lobby to get rid of that cricket pitch in the Gabba (the one that ruined Matt Primus' career).

As the Indians showed, who pays the piper calls the tune, and it is the Lions who pay the Gabba's bills not the cricket.

There are hardly any cricket matches at the Gabba where the "crowd" wouldn't fit comfortably into Alan Border Field and they could easily use a drop-in pitch for those few matches.

Just like the Indians, it is time the Lions used their greater market share to get what we want from the Gabba.

As much as I love my cricket it is only a matter of time before there are drop in pitches at the Gabba. We're unlucky not to have a designated cricket oval like Adelaide or Perth. The SCG has a similar wicket. Drop one in there and our "spinners" wickets are almost non-existant!

However, the amount of time, effort, money & emotion we have ALL put into making the Gabba a world class stadium would NEVER have happened had it stayed a greyhound track/cricket oval!!

The more I look at it, the Lions are the BEST thing that has ever happened to this ground and it would never be the 40 odd thousand seat stadium that it is now if Australian Rules Football had not ventured into Wooloongabba!!!

So the Cricketers Club and some commentators,(ie, Healy-I loved him but he speaks some biased shit and has the worst "commentators curse" I've ever witnessed) is dead against it BUT:

We all put our hard earned cash into the Lions. The Cricket club will fight tooth and nail for their pitch and I can sympathize, but everything evolves!

I'm sure the opinion of our boards cricket fans would differ if Luey did a career ending injury on a shithouse Centre Circle on our UNIQUE pitch and ended possibly one of the most promising careers on record!!(Touching all wood possible!!)

 

[amortiser]

A cricket wicket is a highly compacted piece of ground using soil particular for the purpose.

The last game at the Gabba should be scheduled for late January at the latest then the area should be torn up, loosened and returfed in time for the footy.

The Test match is played in November and the last footy fixture at the Gabba is the second last week in September if the Lions have a home preliminary final.

This gives the groundsmen about 6-7 weeks to prepare the wicket for the test match.

I think what needs to happen is the groundsmen develop a process of intense work to recompact the area.

There would obviously be a cost involved in doing this but mitigating injury is also a necessary consideration.

The games for the domestic competition can be held at Alan Border Field as has happened in the past while the Gabba is being prepared.

 

[LIONOFZION]

Couldn't really give two hoots about the cricket - has lacked excitement since the Windies stopped wearing pink, but WH&S is a massive issue these days and if a potential superstar like Leuey injured himself because his employers weren't taking due care to ensure the workplace was as safe as possible then the Lions, QCC and whatever the Government calls their Sports Body these days could be in for a big lawsuit, as mentioned above. However, it just so happens I know a few blokes who would gladly (for a just slab or two) be able to come in under the cover of darkness and tear it up
Weigh it up - Leuey's or Charmo's knees Vs. a slightly below par cricket pitch (of which only the true cricket aficionados would actually note any difference).

 

[John]

Would be interested in Warwick and John's thoughts on this... would be entering "drop in pitch... over my dead body!" territory I reckon.

You know me well brother. The Gabba is a cricket ground. Always was.

But yes things do change so I do have to take that into consideration. If the ultimate tragedy happened, test cricket died a mortal death and that abomination 20/20 became the only game in town, then it should happen.
Also take into account that the Lions also have a lease that in theory may not be renewed.

 

[Warwick]

The 'Gabba can get rid of the famous square over my dead body.

It aint going anywhere. It's the best centre wicket in the world at the moment and offers something for everyone. As we have seen with the miserable MCG wickets, it will be a sad day indeed to see the end of the ball whistling past the batsman's nose just short of a length on a perfect Brisbane Line.

Although I love the Lions, i'm with John - the 'Gabba is a cricket ground.

 

[John]

Couldn't really give two hoots about the cricket - has lacked excitement since the Windies stopped wearing pink, but WH&S is a massive issue these days and if a potential superstar like Leuey injured himself because his employers weren't taking due care to ensure the workplace was as safe as possible then the Lions, QCC and whatever the Government calls their Sports Body these days could be in for a big lawsuit, as mentioned above. However, it just so happens I know a few blokes who would gladly (for a just slab or two) be able to come in under the cover of darkness and tear it up
Weigh it up - Leuey's or Charmo's knees Vs. a slightly below par cricket pitch (of which only the true cricket aficionados would actually note any difference).

I do not think that you have thought about this post one bit. I will not even bother talking to you about cricket but there will be no big law suits if a player injures himself in the centre square. Injuries happen in all parts of any ground. Think of Bradshaw as a recent example. In fact how about you tell me who the players are who have been injured in the centre square at the Gabba.

As to idiots digging digging up the pitch for a few beers well I think I just might contribute to the hit squad.

 

[POBT]

Never. I feel so fortunate to be able to go to the first test every summer and see a genuine contest. I would hate to get to the low, slow wickets that are dropped in elsewhere, where runs are hard to come by and wickets even harder.

As someone who is a lover of both sports, I would prefer to see the use of the Gabba become much smarter. It might mean "quarantining" the centre square for 6 or 8 weeks at both the begining and end of summer by requesting fixture assistance from both the AFL and Cricket Australia. I also don't believe that the Bulls need to play every single home match at the Gabba when the facility at Albion is perfect for their crowds - I would go to more first class fixtures if they were played at AB Oval because it is lovely to watch cricket there.

 

[POBT]

has lacked excitement since the Windies stopped wearing pink

I know a couple of blokes that would agree with you. They loved Viv Richards in those tight pink uniforms.

 

[LIONOFZION]

I know a couple of blokes that would agree with you. They loved Viv Richards in those tight pink uniforms.

STEADY ON

I loved watching Viv in action - but not because of a tight pink uniform.

Viv was so smooth he even looked cool getting out.

Those were the days. I miss Desmond, Gordon, (Viv), Larry, Clive, Jeffrey, Malcolm, Joel, Michael, Andy, Colin,, even little Derek when he was back keeping
They had that aura about them that would demoralise other sides before the game even started. You could almost smell the fear from your TV. A bit like the Lions of 01-04.
Sounds like an old fart I know but it's just not the same game anymore - so let's dig it up - A water-tight OHSMS is more important than a QMS

 

[Chasing the Dream]

I would go to more first class fixtures if they were played at AB Oval because it is lovely to watch cricket there.

Very enjoyable place to watch cricket.

 

[acuguy]

The Gabba deck is the best in Australia because it isn't a drop in wicket. A drop in wicket isn't an option as far as i am concerned and it is up to the powers that be to get the ground in a suitable condition for AFL football after the cricket season.

 

[mung]

It's called the Brisbane Cricket Ground for a good reason.

Whilst AB Oval is a great venue, you'll find Queensland Cricket have a lengthy contract with the Gabba, so the Bulls won't be moving any time soon. It's a situation not all that dissimilar to the west tigers having to move their season opener from the SCG because NSW are hosting the final.

 

[Super Goalie]

Sorry to barge in, a very interesting discussion going on here.

I do not think that you have thought about this post one bit. I will not even bother talking to you about cricket but there will be no big law suits if a player injures himself in the centre square. Injuries happen in all parts of any ground.

Lawsuits have occured previously relating to an injury at an AFL Ground. Shaun Rehn did his knee on the bounce-plate at the (then) Football Park back in the 1999 Ansett Cup vs Port Adelaide IIRC, which resulted in a lawsuit against the AFC

 

[John]

Sorry to barge in, a very interesting discussion going on here.



Lawsuits have occured previously relating to an injury at an AFL Ground. Shaun Rehn did his knee on the bounce-plate at the (then) Football Park back in the 1999 Ansett Cup vs Port Adelaide IIRC, which resulted in a lawsuit against the AFC

There is no hard disc placed under the ground at the Gabba to help the umpires with a centre bounce though. I still do not believe that there will be a law suit if a player injures himself. The Gabba is a cricket ground first and foremost. It always has been. It is up to the footy club to except that.

I still ask though.........what players have injured themselves on the square at the gabba?

 

[POBT]

Sorry to barge in, a very interesting discussion going on here.



Lawsuits have occured previously relating to an injury at an AFL Ground. Shaun Rehn did his knee on the bounce-plate at the (then) Football Park back in the 1999 Ansett Cup vs Port Adelaide IIRC, which resulted in a lawsuit against the AFC

It did result in a lawsuit against the AFC but the matter was settled out of court. Therefore, there was no indication from the court as to whether there was any liability on the part of the club, the ground proprietor, the AFL....

While, as an employer, you are required to ensure a safe place of work for your employees, there is a reasonableness test in all of this. I understand that the work is done to ensure that the centre square is in a playable condition - I even think they measure ground hardness to ensure that it is not unsafe. While it may not be optimal, a player is only entitled to a safe place of work, not a place which is totally without all risk. And as John has said, unless the centre square can be directly attributed to long term or career ending injuries or if it is identified as legitimately unsafe, then there's no reason why the two sports can't co-exist.

 

[Lady Lawrence]

would the centre square of the Gabba be any harder than the surface at the dome which is reported to be very hard. The players reportedly pull up particulalrly sore after playing there? Wasn't there some debeate on the amount of sand used on the said surface as well whixch was causing a fair bit of slippages underfoot thus putting more stress on knees.

I cannot imagine any sort of law suit standing up for an injury sustained whilst playing a contact sport unless it was an out and out illegsl hit or if the ground had a spike sticking out of it etc.

 

[lionbear]

The surface at the Dome is very hard it is basically because you are running around on the top of the carpark when you are playing on it. The pitch can be quiet hard at the Gabba but they do put water on it to soften it. Is the Gabba any harder then the Dome? I am not sure on that one, nearly need to ask a player directly.