Ground staff try to dry the wicket area at McLean Park. Photos / Photosport
Ground staff try to dry the wicket area at McLean Park. Photos / Photosport
Farcical scenes pervaded McLean Park as the crowd was prevented from seeing the second Chappell-Hadlee match due to the appalling outfield drainage.
Gumboots should have been de rigueur.
It made a grim Hawke's Bay day for fans, ratepayers or both, as the match was called off at 6.46pm.
Failing to host a game after the rain stopped at 1.45pm means questions must be asked about the ground's ability to earn future international fixtures.
Alternatively, an expensive re-lay of turf looks required as a catalyst for change.
Areas of recidivist squelch let down the park, particularly in front of the main stands.
The Napier City Council owns the venue. Chief executive Wayne Jack said he was keen for an independent review to start as soon as possible.
"We are classing the review as urgent, and will be speaking with New Zealand Cricket first thing [today]. Together we will agree on the person we want to use and it will be a joint effort."
Three of the last eight ODIs at McLean Park have been abandoned, dating back to December 2013. No significant drainage has been done since the abandonment of the New Zealand-Pakistan game on January 28, 2016.
NZC chief operating officer Anthony Crummy said that the match officials needed a certain amount of time to work out if the ground was suitable for play.
"We communicated that to the crowd and that's all we can do. All general admission ticket holders will get a 100 per cent refund."
The priority now is to get the ground ready for the ODI against South Africa on March 1.
A tractor roved the outfield sloshing water into the super sopper across the afternoon.
Disgruntlement built steadily among patrons to a point which could not be appeased by beer, hot dogs, or pottles of chips.
The corresponding fixture last year required five umpire inspections before getting abandoned at 6.22pm.
New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson had plenty of time for a cup of tea yesterday. Photo / Photosport
Fans are becoming accustomed to matches being disrupted in the region and the local proverb "if you want to be break a drought, schedule a cricket match" gained further traction.
The meticulous efforts from groundsman Phil Stoyanoff to get the pitch into mint condition were let down by puggy soil.
New Zealand coach Mike Hesson said it was "blatantly obvious" the ground was unfit for play.
"We are annoyed and frustrated. The pitch looked exceptional," said Hesson. "The umpires are the sole judges ... but both players and management were fully supportive of the decision."
Hesson said the main problems occurred during the warm-ups.
"As we warmed up, you'd throw balls and the water would spray. Then more water came to the surface, so it got worse rather than better, which was unexpected.
"We were training on Nelson Park 100m away and the ground was bone dry four hours ago [from 7pm], and the outfield here is not."
Australian captain Aaron Finch said key fielding positions for lateral movement were the worst affected.
"Backward point, cover, square leg; particularly in and around the ring, it was soggy and slippery.
