The integrity of the Sheffield Shield is being undermined by green top pitches and Australia’s Test team is suffering as a result, South Australian coach Darren Berry says.
He believes medium-fast bowlers are being flattered by Shield pitches geared to secure results, which make it difficult to prepare batsmen and spinners for Test cricket.
Berry said on Monday state coaches were raising the issue with Cricket Australia hierarchy following a week when all Shield games in the just-completed round finished within three days.
Berry was adamant the fast bowler-friendly pitches were a factor in Australia’s current dearth of spin bowlers and batsmen pushing for Test honours and also damaged the Shield competition.
“States are looking to play on wickets that will get outright results,” Berry said.
“And it’s no coincidence last year that Queensland and Tasmania played off in the Shield final – have a look at how many games on their pitch finished in an outright, all of them.
“It’s a fact that outright results are always happening in Brisbane, Hobart and Perth … they were the top three sides (last season).
“Sure, they have got to back themselves to win in those conditions and sometimes the toss can affect the outright result.
“But I feel that states are perhaps looking to short term gain rather than long term gain.”
Berry at the weekend oversaw SA’s first Shield win in almost two years against Tasmania on a green-top Hobart pitch he said provided ridiculous preparation for Test players ahead of the series against South Africa starting on Friday.
Test spinner Nathan Lyon bowled just four overs for the game on the seaming pitch while Ed Cowan and Ricky Ponting, until withdrawn from the game with a hamstring twinge, struggled for runs.
Berry said he was not alone among domestic coaches in his concerns, which states would raise with CA during a regular phone hook-up.
“It’s not anything to do with just us (states), it’s Australian cricket … they do need to look into the state of first class wickets across the country,” Berry said.
“Wickets all around the country are very, very bowler friendly.
“I feel the medium-fast bowlers are getting figures that are perhaps are not reflective of their true ability.
“And I think it’s really difficult for any batsman or for spin bowlers to play in those conditions to prepare them for Test cricket.
“It is not just a flippant, throw away comment.
“It’s based on facts over the last few years where cricket is finishing regularly on day three … that can’t be good for preparing the players for the next level.”