Covers are no longer allowed on Victorian Premier Cricket pitches, including Casey Fields. 24187 Picture: Meagan Rogers.By Marc McGowan
CRICKET Victoria’s pennant committee members last week banned the use of covers for the rest of the Victorian Premier Cricket season to preserve the competition’s pitches.
Curators will only be able to use covers after 12pm on the day before a match if pennant committee members give them permission.
Umpires will still be able to order their use on game days.
Victorian Premier Cricket manager Peter Binns said Cricket Victoria’s committee members would “happily wear” the odd wash-out if it meant getting through the season.
“The pennant committee thought that it was a bit nonsensical not to let every available drop of rain fall on our wicket tables,” he said.
“We’re asking for a bit of cooperation from the clubs in that regard, and hopefully they’ll see the logic behind it.”
Victorian Water Minister Tim Holding will announce on 30 November whether Melbourne will move onto stage four water restrictions.
Binns said the situation was “a massive concern”.
“We’re approaching that date with a bit of trepidation,” he said.
“Water restrictions don’t affect them out at Casey Fields (which uses recycled water), but a lot of our grounds are already suffering.
“We could go to stage four at the end of November and then two months later go to stage five. Who knows?”
Binns said the worst-case scenario would see the third and fourth XI’s seasons cut short.
“I don’t think there will be any major dramas with the firsts and seconds – you have to look at it with a glass-half-full attitude,” he said.
Casey-South Melbourne players Tim Dale and Daniel Streker, and administration manager Laurie Walker, are temporarily looking after the pitches at Casey Fields.
“When Cricket Victoria makes a decision, it has to be across the board,” Walker said.
“There are quite a number of pitches around the suburban areas that are not getting water to them.
“I don’t see any other alternative than complying with it.”
