By: Aditya Ahuja
In an unusual turn of events during the 2023 Big Bash League (BBL), the clash between the Melbourne Renegades and Perth Scorchers was abandoned due to ‘dangerous’ pitch conditions at GMHBA Stadium in Perth, presenting a rare occurrence in the tournament’s history.
Cricket Australia in a statement said that it will conduct a “thorough review” into Sunday’s abandoned BBL match.
Heavy rain at the weekend had seeped under protective covers and left a wet patch at one end of the Kardinia Park wicket but officials cleared the match to go ahead after ground staff scrambled to rectify the situation.
Umpires then suspended play in the seventh over with Perth 30 for the loss of 2 wickets after Josh Inglis was subjected to three ridiculous bouncers from fast bowler Will Sutherland.
Inglis was struck in the groin, played an inside edge and then missed a delivery that ballooned off the pitch and left wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock bemused.
Boos rang out from the crowd of 6,601 when play was abandoned some 15 minutes later, the first time a match was called off due to an unsafe pitch in the BBL’s 12-year history.
“Cricket Australia (CA) will conduct a thorough review into the extremely frustrating circumstances that have resulted in the game being abandoned and a huge disappointment for fans and players,” the governing body said in a statement.
The teams will share the points if the match cannot be rescheduled, CA added.
Scorchers Head Coach Adam Voges said he had concerns about the wicket even before the first ball was bowled. “They (the batters) still copped a few in the stomach but yeah, just thankful that no one’s been seriously injured out of this,” he said.
“It’s disappointing for all the people who have come out to watch tonight, but ultimately, I think they made the right call”, he added.
“We came to win a game tonight and to split the points through no wrongdoing of our own is frustrating”, he said further.
Local media slammed venue officials over the pitch’s condition and said the episode could mean the port city near Melbourne misses out on hosting future events.
The incident has sparked criticism in local media, raising questions about Geelong’s future as a sporting event host city and the professionalism surrounding the abandoned match.
“At worst it is a black mark against Geelong on the national sporting stage”, Dan Batten, a senior Australian sports reporter said in a statement.
(Inputs from Reuters)
