Cricket: Pitch under close scrutiny as Auckland win looks remote

By Chris Rattue

The state of New Zealand's first class cricket pitches is again under scrutiny after the first day of the Shell Trophy match between Central Districts and Auckland in Masterton.

Auckland have almost been batted out of contention after Mathew Sinclair and Glenn Sulzberger made a third wicket stand of 198, which has the home side on target for a 500-plus score.

Central finished on 264 for three, with Sulzberger out just before the close of play, and Sinclair a run short of a century.

And Auckland, who created some of their own misfortune through dropped chances, are on the ropes in more ways than one.

They went into the match with opening bowler Kerry Walmsley (side strain) not fully fit. And in the last half hour of play his fellow new ball bowler Kyle Mills - a handy batsman - left the field with a back strain, the legacy of an injury he suffered late last year which took a month to heal.

There is unfortunately more to this game already than the scoreboard and the fine batting of Sulzberger and Sinclair, who waited for the bad balls to dispatch on a rock hard outfield.

From early on the ball was "dying" on a wicket which raised so much dust you half expected John Wayne and Gary Cooper to emerge, six-shooters on their hips.

Auckland coach David Trist, who was fearful of having the call of sour grapes being made against him, said he had generally been disappointed with the state of wickets since returning to this country from a stint in Hong Kong.

There were some exceptions - he named the pitch at Alexandra - but said: "It is disappointing when the toss of the coin has far too much impact on the game.
You just have to question whether this pitch is suitable for first class cricket."

This type of wicket means if the side batting first plays the patience game, and attacks the bad balls, they can score an enormous total, then bowl on a pitch which is breaking up. By the time the opposition comes in, the pitch and their hopes are crumbling.

Sulzberger and Sinclair played that just about to perfection, although they played and missed at a few, and Bryan Young, twice, and Aaron Barnes put down chances early in the second session, and you can't blame a pitch for that. Leg spinner Brooke Walker in particular struggled to find the right length, which gave Sulzberger and Sinclair the scoring balls.

And Auckland, with an under-manned attack, are set for another full day in the field.