NEWS
OTHER SPORTS
DIARY
PEOPLE
MATCH REPORTS
SLIDE SHOW
ARCHIVES

Kiwis seek ICC backing for portable pitch

The International Cricket Council hopefully will approve the use of a portable pitch for international one-day games after a trial match in late November, New Zealand cricket officials today said.

The portable grass pitch -- which is set in an aluminium tray and transported by crane and truck -- will be used in a four-day match between England 'A' and a South Island selection team at Christchurch's Jade stadium, starting on November 21.

NZC chief executive Christopher Doig said a report on the pitch would be tabled at the next ICC management meeting, scheduled for June 2000.

''Hopefully it would be agreed unanimously that the portable pitch can be used for (international) one-day cricket.''

The pitches would be used at multi-purpose grounds where the cross-over with winter sporting codes made wicket preparation difficult.

New Zealand Cricket has tested the pitch, which is 23 metres (25 yards) long and 3.1 metres wide, for the past two seasons, but it failed to gain ICC support last season following criticism from players that the wicket was under-prepared and lacked pace and bounce.

Portable pitches are also being tested in Australia, including one at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Kerry Packer's rebel World Series Cricket pioneered the concept of portable pitches in Australia during the 1970's when it was denied access to major cricket grounds.

UNI