Cricket: Groundsman calls batsmen 'useless'

Groundsman Phil Stoyanoff at work preparing the McLean Park pitch yesterday. Photo / Hawkes Bay Today

The McLean Park pitch that will host the third cricket test between New Zealand and Pakistan produced some unexpected spin yesterday.

A throwaway comment from Napier groundsman Phil Stoyanoff aimed at the batsmen who are about to grace his well-grassed strip, pricked the antennae of the sports media more used to bland pronouncements.

When asked whether his unusually hirsute wicket would produce a result, Stoyanoff was unequivocal.

"Yes, because both sides have such bad batsmen," he blurted.

Sensing he had a receptive audience, Stoyanoff came in off his long run.

"That's my honest opinion, they're useless."

It should be noted that Stoyanoff was referring to both New Zealand and Pakistan's top orders and, from what can be ascertained, nobody present rebuked him for inaccuracy.

A short while later a less ebullient Stoyanoff was accompanied by New Zealand Cricket (NZC) public affairs manager Stephen Hill to the media room.

There he asked that his comments be disregarded or, failing that, used in the spirit they were intended (which, in the words of NZC, was "light-hearted and humorous").

"I spoke to some of the guys afterwards because I recognised it had the potential to be used out of context, a comment like that," Hill said.

"I talked to those members of the media who were around and said, ideally it would be nice if you didn't use it but I recognise that is not going to happen, so I hope you use it in context and use it with restraint."

Restraint, as it happened, might be the key ingredient for the under-fire batsmen tomorrow.