Ashes.

Ineedabiggerboat · Senior Member

RE: Ashes.

Sarco Harris · Senior Member

I would have to admit that I thought that the players are professionals.

On that basis, it shouldn't matter what the pitch is like, they should be able to play it appropriately! Further, in my view, if the wicket favoured the batsmen and 100s of runs were scored, they would be crowing about how great a knock each batsman had. If you want to watch Big Bash, attend Big Bash.

20 wickets on day one, for me was a brilliant days cricket, and something rare, having not happened since 1901 at the G, and I think they said 1957 anywhere else.

Being present when it happened was icing on the cake.

Kebbin · Guru

Exactly, they are moaning about the millions in revenue. It seems that a no result would suit CA more then a 3 or 4 day test.

rmoor · Guru

"Where, in the rules of cricket, does it say the wicket grass may not be 10mm long?"

The rules of common sense.

I cut my backyard golf putting green to 3 to 5 mm and there is still a fair carpet of grass coverage.
It also plays true with a cricket ball in the odd game of backyard cricket.
10 mm is too much, the ball seams around too much and is obviously a minefield for batsmen day 1 and day 2.
Very rarely did I get to bat on well grassed tracks, but when you cop one they are very difficult to handle the new ball.

Sure "roads" can be boring and easy to bat on, there was no surprise David Warner could bat like a champion on a road, but put him on a seaming wicket in the U.K. and he was all at sea.
These two day tests lose a lot in the test arena, a day five deteriorating wicket with a quality spinner like Warne or Lyon puts a whole new complexion and level of interest into a test, the only first class matches that span into five days.

Personally I am happy to see a result on day 5, morning or middle session. I think if spectators want to see the loss of 20 wickets in a day, 20 overs each in the BBL caters for that.

Magnarc · Guru

Well said.

BBN2 · Veteran Member

rmoor wrote:
"Where, in the rules of cricket, does it say the wicket grass may not be 10mm long?"

The rules of common sense.

10 mm is too much

If you care to do a little Googling... you'll discover you are wrong.

rmoor · Guru

I don't need to google the length of grass on a wicket.

After over 50 years of cricket at varying levels and batting and bowling on 500+ turf wickets, I will leave my views to those based on experience.
My last dig in representative cricket was at age 63 on the deadpan wicket of Glenn McGrath's home town.
My first representative game was at the age of 13 in a representative under 23 side v a great player who eventually went on to captain country firsts a couple of times.

Turf wickets vary greatly and the type of wicket and how it plays is dependent on climate, different types of grasses and the quality of the black pug used in the wicket.
The fact the ICC hit the MCG with one demerit point probably indicates 10 mm on that track was not suitable.
They now have two demerit points, 3 more and they lose the Boxing day test.

No doubt there will be great discussion on 26/12/2026 about the state of the MCG wicket, we will see.

BBN2 · Veteran Member

Not even prepared to look then?

rmoor · Guru

Probably not.

A lot that is on google is not accurate I find, some is, some isn't.
I would trust my own judgement and experience first.

Also, does it tell you the result of matches or any detail of those wickets with long grass.
Taking into consideration which grass is on each wicket, Santa Anna may react completely differently to a wicket that is Tifdwarf etc.
Grasses have different qualities and some mat differently.
Most wickets have the grasses rolled into them and are generally good batting tracks.

I found wickets and grasses varied markedly in Melbourne, to country Victoria, ACT and Sydney compared to the bush of NSW.
Different grounds, different climates, different grasses.
Sydney wickets I batted on many years ago at Pratten Park, Rushcutters, Old Kings etc were rarely well grassed, most wickets aren't???

Ineedabiggerboat · Senior Member

In my youth, I never played on a turf wicket. They used to roll out a thick mat and peg it out over a cement slab. Some mats were great, some needed replacement badly. All good fun.

rmoor · Guru

I have always said, no-one has ever played cricket until they have played on coir matting.

My first experience on coir matting was at the town where Banjo Paterson based his "Man From Ironbark" on.
They were still made of Ironbark too, a battery of big tough hardened fast bowlers out to knock your head off!!!

The only other place I think I played on one was at Nyngan NSW.
Mats are a great experience, the ball kicks and bounces higher on them.
The worst part was when an errant delivery hit the wide leather straps in the guts, they would either end up a bouncer or a mullygrubber.

I once played with a Sri Lankan team as an invitee in a tri interstate series.
The first match was a washout turf wicket and they had a choice of switching to synthetic or coir where none of them had ever played on mats.
I was insistent they take the coir matting option but they were way too cautious of mats and went the safe synthetic option.

A great shame, as I reckon every batsman has to experience that.
They probably play like a Melbourne 10mm grass wicket when the locals neglect or forget to sweep the cement before laying them.
The ball darts off and up everywhere, THAT is an experience in itself.

The other risk is the old engine pusher rods thingys they used to hammer the side tags in with to tension the mats were dangerous too.
They could career a wide delivery back to the stumps!!!!

Great fun, great memories.

rgren2 · Guru

They were engine valves. Either inlet or exhaust.

-- Edited by rgren2 on Thursday 1st of January 2026 10:09:40 PM

rmoor · Guru

That's them - thanks!!!

Couldn't put a proper tag on them.
Coir matting pegs in another world.

BBN2 · Veteran Member

rmoor wrote:
Probably not.

If only I were so confident and certain of my knowledge.

To always be right must be so much less of a burden.

rmoor · Guru

OK you win. I am wrong, wrong about everything. I know nothing.

So, in your great wisdom suggestion I did eventually google turf wickets.
Your reliable google told me wickets are also kikuyu and buffalo grasses.

Really?

So much for google, I have never seen a kikuyu or buffalo grass wicket, let alone bat on one.

There would need to be an ambulance on location......

Good 'ol google, good 'ol A.I. :

"What grass is used for cricket pitches?
AI Overview
Cricket pitches primarily use durable, sun-loving grasses like Couch (Bermuda), known for its hardness and quick recovery, and sometimes Zoysia for dense, low-maintenance surfaces, while Kikuyu and Buffalo are also used"

Thanks BBN2, you can stick with your google and open the batting on the kikuyu and buffalo tracks, I will be happy to take the new ball

rmoor · Guru

I know this sounds a bit rough, but I am happy to see Khawaja hang up the boots.

He has been a great player for Australia and has a first class record.

For fear of being one of those targeting his exit speech disappointments, I think he did bring a smattering of politics into the game.
Whereas I don't think the rest of us saw his beliefs, or his origins ever called into question.
I didn't, but I do have a firm belief sportspeople should probably put the cue in the rack sometimes when it comes to politics etc.
Sure, retire and THEN enter politics, but maybe stick to the game at hand when in the public eye.

Sad to see him go and I hope he does well from Sunday on (if it goes for more than two days!!!).
He may be the first of the end of an era, many in this side don't have age on their side and all are now multi-millionaires from the game.
One of my old team mates when he made it into the Australian test side was on about a 80 grand contract!!!

Just hope there is some talent coming through the ranks for half a dozen of our younger stars to step up to the standards we have been used to.
Not seeing it so far..........

TheHeaths · Guru

Its interesting to read.

Without entering the discussion of grass types on wickets, this thread is an example of the things alluded to in a different thread elsewhere on this forum.

From a personal perspective, the most lively wicket I batted on was one that a group of year 12s I mixed with had the school grounds man mow a strip straight out of the oval for us to use at lunchtime. That was exciting, and the only time I wore a ball in the face for 4 stitches above the eye! Them were the days! I was a compulsive hooker!

-- Edited by TheHeaths on Saturday 3rd of January 2026 02:03:37 PM

rmoor · Guru

"this thread is an example of the things alluded to in a different thread elsewhere on this forum."

Not wrong, some revert to personal attacks and relentless barbs in a "discussion".

"Happy New Jeer".

Yeah, gotcha!!! The old school back paddock with the strip mowed on a patch of Kikuyu.
Many an emergency dental visit for some there, also the vicious off cutter about groin height flattened a few too...
I recall one kid circumnavigating the grounds rolling around in pain for several minutes.
Remember the rest of us sitting on the hill in sympathy, but that was all we could do.
That was in the days of those cheap composite hard nasty cricket balls from the school sports store and no protection.
"......mad dogs and Englishmen"

It will be really interesting to watch the cricket today and listen to the on screen discussions with the 5 mm on the SCG pitch.
Have been to the supermarket to stock up on cherries, strawberries and apples for the start of play today.

I still have fond memories of my late father convincing the greenkeeper at the SCG on the day before a West Indies v Australia test in the 68/69 series to allow the two of us to wander out alone and inspect the old Bulli SCG wicket.
My memories of it were fairly bare, grey and flat, played well all throughout though, a bit low maybe.
It didn't help Kanhai, Lloyd and Sobers much but I do recall Basil Butcher's 101 as a fond memory so many years ago.
I also recall two massive roars from the crowd that virtually shook the place when two players boot hit the grass.
Wes Hall and K.D. Walters.

That pitch inspection so many years ago remains one of the special moments spent with my late father.

rmoor · Guru

BBN2 "you have no supporting evidence except your opinion and then you complain when your opinion is questioned."

I would have thought the rare imposition of 1 demerit point for the MCG wicket imposed by the I.C.C. might be pretty strong supportive evidence???

Magnarc · Guru

Memo to Mr Root.

Anything you can do, Travball does better.

A great day's cricket on a properly prepared pitch. Can't help but feel a bit sorry for Stokes, he tried hard but his bowlers let him down again!

Looking forward to today.

rmoor · Guru

Just noted today is a 10.30 start.

Still a good two days of cricket left.
The wicket has been good, first 3 days giving a bit to the bowlers when the ball is new.
Of course, if they fail to put it in the right spot then no nicks.

I love Head's attitude, all round, also some friendly banter.
At a bit of a loss why they didn't pick a spinner?
Don't mind Murphy, but he is a bit of a dart bowler, I prefer the Swepson leg spin option.
Green may have done his dash, Webster winning on points so far, can bowl medium and tall offies.

Green might find himself back to squad inclusion only.
Shame, because he is a very good player just not living up to his huge potential, maybe in time.
Green needs some of the determination Stokes has in him. I am not a Stokes fan, a la Labuschagne cuddle.

This test is far from over yet, Bethell seemed to move to no 1 spinner, Jacks is ordinary but was getting a lot of turn, day 5 batting late might be no picnic.
If the poms swapped tapping a soccer ball around for catching practice, they may have got closer in this series.

rgren2 · Guru

Interesting photo at the cricket.

rmoor · Guru

That pretty much sums up the Pom's season.

Although they did cop a fair old razzing with the DRS reviews throughout.
Just hope the 150 year anniversary test in Melbourne sees a decent wicket for a change!!!
Amazing how much difference a properly prepared pitch makes, maybe they should switch that test to Sydney?

Magnarc · Guru

rmoor wrote:
That pretty much sums up the Pom's season.

Although they did cop a fair old razzing with the DRS reviews throughout.
Just hope the 150 year anniversary test in Melbourne sees a decent wicket for a change!!!
Amazing how much difference a properly prepared pitch makes, maybe they should switch that test to Sydney?

Sacrilege Mr Moor, sacrilege!!!!!

rmoor · Guru

I thought the Sydney v Melbourne dig might get a bite ha ha (-:

Although in the BBL last night in Melbourne they only had 4 mm of grass on the wicket and it seamed around a lot and caused a bit of havoc.
Looks like still a lot of work to be done there to get things right?

I am happy for Weatherald to go, he has had his chance and missed.
He has a major technique problem and needs to go away and work on that.
Also I know I'm going to cop it for this one, but those earrings he wears makes him look really wussy.
I am not big on earrings on male sportspeople, I will cop a razz for that comment, but so be it, we all have our own standards and beliefs.

Webster has earned the number 5 spot, Green improved a little but is still on thin ice with selectors.
One gets the impression Green could be dominant when he is much older and mature.
He is a better player going hard at the ball, he has a very good technique but has never been assertive at the wicket, maybe that will come in time?

We, and England in particular both need to produce or unearth another Scott Boland.
His metronome action is simple, but brilliant in execution.
Another former new ball mate and myself with years of experience with the new pill both reckon it is not that hard to put the ball on the spot.
We have both been perplexed over the years how some first class bowlers can't hit the same spot consistently??

Oh well, cricket summary, the series is over now and 4 - 1 was great for us Aussies.
The other good thing is don't have to listen to "fabulous", "love", "brilliant" Mr Langer anymore on TV.