Synthetic Grass Sporting Venues to Combat La Nina

The recent spate of wet weather throughout Queensland and New South Wales has put a damper on many of the east coast’s sporting teams and events. With their traditional grass ovals and sporting grounds currently unfit for use, the Brisbane Lions are just one team utilising the latest in synthetic grass technology to enable them to continue training.

Making use of St Lawrence’s College state of the art field located on the roof of the Mater Hospital car park, the Brisbane Lions have been able to prevent further interruption to their training schedule. The unique sporting ground was installed during 2010 and exceeds the FIFA two-star rating for football fields. Its padded underlay also minimises injury and allows water to disperse at much faster rate than natural turf, this has been a training saver for the Lions.

The company responsible for the planning and installation of the St Lawrence playing field, GroundAbility have installed synthetic surfaces for a variety of sports such as tennis, cricket,  golf, lawn bowls and for court sports such as basketball, netball and volleyball.

Warwick Beale of GroundAbility had this to say “The St Laurence’s sports field is proof of the viability of Australian-made synthetic sports grass. It has given an inner city school a vital outdoor activity area, extra ovals and running tracks. The value to the community is also evident when elite sports teams such as the Brisbane Lions can take advantage of this technology.“

With Australia’s varied and often extreme climates it would seem that synthetic grass surfaces could have an increasingly significant role in our country’s sporting future.

Image Courtesy of  GroundAbility

Warner Could Be Captaincy Material: Mickey Arthur

David Warner may soon be seen captaining Australia in the shortest format of the game, but Aussie head coach Mickey Arthur has stated that the young man has what it takes to lead Australia in any form of cricket.

Current skipper of the T20 side, Cameron White has had a torrid time in the ongoing Big Bash League in Australia while Warner has outlined his leadership credentials by leading the Sydney Thunder. Warner was also named skipper of the Chairman’s XI that faced India in the pre-series warm-up games at Canberra by the selectors – proof that they are not blind to his leadership qualities.

A smashing 180 in the third Test against India at Perth, which was also his maiden century in Test cricket, has made sure that his stock continues to rise where it matters. Arthur conceded that before taking over the reins as coach of Australia, he had the perception that Warner was a raw T20 cricketer, however, by his own admission that perception has changed after working closely with him.

“Davey has leadership potential. He has the ability to lead any Australian team in any form of the game at some stage. Whether that’s in the next couple of weeks or whether that’s in a year or five years time, I’m not sure.” remarked Arthur.

Arthur lauded Warner’s cricket brain and also pointed out that he led by example when the opportunity rose. The coach also applauded Warner for the kind of eagerness and energy that he displays during the training sessions.

Arthur also confirmed a couple of queries by the press today as he declared that Shane Watson was still some time away from being match fit and should be able to return to the team in the ODI series and not in Adelaide against India. Arthur also suggested that Nathan Lyon is in line to feature for Australia in that ultimate Test.

WACA, ACA in Conflict

Australian cricketers have now got involved in a multi-million dollar pay dispute following the Australian Cricketers Association (ACA) demanding a share of funds which is going to be generated by an apartment block that has been commissioned at the Western Australian Cricketing Association (WACA) ground at Perth.

The players claim that the apartment block that will be built at the WACA falls under the category of Australia cricket’s gross revenue – 26 percent of which are guaranteed to the players. Angry Western Australia cricket officials however, have strongly disagreed and have refused to entertain the prospect of paying the players any money from the project.

WACA officials have claimed that the project is being built on land which has been gifted to the WACA by the State Government and the players are not entitled to any share of the project. The WACA officials have so far stopped short of making any statement regarding this dispute to the media, however, it is thought that they feel that the project will be scrapped if they have to give in to the demands of the players.

Graeme Wood, Chief Exec of Western Australia said at WACA’s annual general meeting that the development will cease to occur if the ACA continue to stake their claim. He noted that a claim of 26 percent revenue is simply not feasible.

The deal was expected to be a major boost for the WACA as the State is one of the traditionally poor states in Australia and development has not occurred at a decent pace.

The WACA ground at Perth, which is renowned for the classic encounters that have occurred here, remains a favorite for most cricketers for its history. However, the ground in itself is not up to the mark when you consider the venues in the rest of Australia. It will certainly be sad for cricket if the project does not go through smoothly.

Graeme Wood Talks Up WACA Pace and Bounce

Former Australia opener Graeme Wood, who is now CEO of WACA, has forecasted a grim future for the Indian batting lineup at the dreaded pitch at the WACA in Perth as he felt that Australia are about to go into the match with four speedsters.

Wood said that the Australians will be thinking about going into this match with an all pace attack and that he will not be surprised if the Aussies go the extra mile. Australia will be able to seal the series and reclaim the Border-Gavaskar trophy that has been with the Indians for a while now.

He was reminiscent of the West Indies pace attack of old which would thrive at the dreaded pitch at the WACA. There were four of them and while two of them bowled at the fearful batters, the other two would be waiting on the wings to unleash terror when called upon by the skipper.

It is common knowledge that the pace and bounce that is on offer at this pitch is non-existent elsewhere and that it is a dream track to bowl on for any fast bowler. It is going to be hard work for the top three-four batsmen to negotiate the bowling for as long as the ball is hard and new.

The curator said on being asked that the pitch which will be used for the game against India is the same that was used against England in the 2010 Ashes series. While there are many who say that the WACA is not what it used to be 30 years ago, that particular Test match was a reminder to all the doubters that it is still as fearsome as it used to be.

In the meanwhile, Australia will have to make to without the services of James Pattinson, who has been ruled out for the remainder of the series to a foot injury. Peter Siddle, Ben Hilfenhaus, Ryan Harris, and Mitchell Starc will be in contention for the Australian bowling berths for the upcoming Test match.

Australia’s Next Best Pace Bowler, James Pattinson

If former Australian speedsters Geoff Lawson and Damien Fleming have their way, James Pattinson will become Australian cricket’s most destructive pacemen.

The SCG – which will be hosting its 100th Test match on Tuesday – is usually known to be a pitch that normally assists the spinners. However, if the first Test was anything to go by, the state of the Indian batting lineup is not great at the present time. One can rest assured that Australia’s red hot pace bowlers will test them with their speed and bounce on a new strip at the SCG.

James Pattinson has been the man of the match in two of the three Test matches that he has featured in for Australia – a period in which he has claimed 20 wickets. The 21 year old has established himself as the chief enforcer in new skipper Michael Clarke’s new look bowling lineup.

Damien Fleming termed Pattinson as Australia’s chief asset with his pace and bounce. The former Australia great also mentioned that at a height of 191 cm, Pattinson gets some extra help from the pitch which is extremely difficult to handle as far as the batters are concerned.

He compared the young fast bowler to the likes of Dennis Lillee and Glenn McGrath who spearheaded the Australian attack under Gregg Chappell and Steve Waugh respectively.

“He has found another gear, has even got up to that scary 150 kmph mark at times. It is important for him to realize that he can be more than a stock bowler for Australia and I think he has realized that,” remarked Geoff Lawson, who until recently was the Pakistan coach.

Pattinson’s entrance into Test cricket has been dramatic as well as impressive taking into account his history of back stress fractures. Now though, it seems like a blessing in disguise as Pattinson boasts of a core strength which is far more than his fellow 21 year old players as well as some of his older counterparts.

This Victorian rookie has been a revelation and is clearly one of the guys to watch out for this year. One can only imagine the amount of damage that he can do with Pat Cummins for company. These are exciting times for the Australian cricket fans.

Sourav Ganguly Lambasts Chappell Again, Says Dravid Had No Guts

Sourav Ganguly and Greg Chappell have never had a good relationship after they fell out during Chappell’s stint at coach of India. However, the former Indian skipper has made matters worse after calling the Aussie “mad”.

Upon learning of reports that claimed the Chappell will try and demystify Sachin Tendulkar for the Australian bowlers, Ganguly said that this was particularly good news for the Indian team.

Sourav pointed out that Chappell had been a selector for Australia and has also headed their academy in the past, however, Chappell had been fired from both posts. Ganguly added that when Guru Greg came to take on the India coaching assignment, many said that his Aussie mindset will not work here, however, it never worked back in Australia as well.

The former Indian captain said that Greg Chappell is a proven failure as far as any coaching related assignment is concerned.

“The people should realize that the problem lies with him, he is the one making mistakes. A person can be wrong once, but if he commits the same mistake again and loses his job for that, then that man to me is mad. So, I am glad that he is getting attached to the Australian team, it is good news for the Indian team. I am not surprised.” remarked Ganguly.

When probed further about Chappell’s reign with the Indian team, Ganguly went on to add that the Australian was used to dominate the Indian dressing room and that then Indian captain Rahul Dravid, being the person he is, preferred to keep the environment healthy rather than cross swords with Chappell.

Ganguly was instrumental in getting Greg Chappell selected as the national coach after the Australian’s presentation to the BCCI during his interview proved inconclusive and the likes of Ravi Shastri and Sunil Gavaskar were not keen on appointing Chappell either.

Dravid Backs Ponting

While most of the cricketing world and nearly all of Australia’s former cricketers raised their voices in unison in calling former Australia captain Ricky Ponting to retire from the game, the Tasmanian, who has been a part of more than a hundred Test wins for the Australian cricket team, has found support in Rahul Dravid.

Rahul Dravid has been through a lean phase himself in the 2007 and 2008 seasons when ‘The Wall’ was under immense pressure himself. However, in this calendar year, Dravid has answered his critics by scoring nearly thirteen hundred runs with five centuries to his name as he became the second highest run getter in Test Cricket overtaking Ponting – and all this after becoming 38 years old.

Dravid, who has departed for Australia along with some of the other Test specialists said, “In some ways, having gone through it myself, I found myself cheering for him, wishing for him to do well in South Africa this time. I have been through all that myself, and can easily relate to him. I was watching those Test matches and was in some way hoping that he would score runs. I hoped he would score runs in his next Test match and then take a break against us.”

It is interesting to note that when Dravid was going through a lean phase himself and calls for his head was increasing with every passing day, he found support in Ricky Ponting, who was touring India with his Australian team.

At the time Ponting remarked that he saw some techniques in his batting that showed that Dravid was still a really good player. In fact, before the Test series had begun, Ponting had asked Dravid to stand his ground with these words – ‘don’t let the wear you down, don’t let them get you down.’

Patrick Cummins Not Sure of IPL

Pat Cummins, the new Australian fast bowling sensation has stated that he will pull out of the Indian Premier League (IPL) if he thinks that it could have a negative impact on his international duties with the Kangaroos.

The fast bowler who was an instant hit with the Australian cricket team is rehabilitating from injury at the moment – a stress related injury on his left heel – that will keep him out of action for the entirety of Australia’s Test summer.

However, the fast bowler chose to nominate himself for the IPL auctions that are stated to take place sometime in mid-January next year. It is expected that the 18-year old will command a fee around the million dollar mark.

Cummins told the media that he does not know whether he will be able to play in the IPL 2012 as his fitness is a concern and the IPL schedule also clashes with Australia’s tour of the West Indies. The IPL will take off from April 4th and ends on the 27th of May while Australia’s tour will take place during the period of March 16th–April 27th.

“I’ve been talking to some of the other guys. It’s a worthwhile opportunity going over there. But to get in there you have to nominate right now. You can always pull out later. I think it would be great to play, but we’ll look at it again closer to the date. If it’s going to affect any other cricket over here..I definitely don’t want it to be affected.” said Cummins.

Pat Cummins is very hopeful of making a return to action from his injury for the Sidney Sixers in the Big Bash League. He is of the opinion that the lighter strain on the body during Twenty20 games and lesser training requirements is an ideal way to make a comeback.