Mark Richardson: Poor players are not tolerated, so why are poor pitches?

The removal of scheduled cricket from Hamilton this summer is finally a step in the right direction when it comes to taking a hard line on substandard playing conditions.

If a player is out of form, under-performs or is simply not good enough they are dropped, so why should it be any different for umpires, venues and administrators?

Recently a 'ground warrant of fitness' was introduced at first class level, where the captains fill out an assessment of the venue after the game and submit it to New Zealand Cricket.

This includes factors like player facilities, outfield and pitch conditions. If a venue fails its warrant of fitness, it will come under scrutiny. If it continues to fail, it will be removed from the schedule of venues until deemed fit again. This initiative went in the 'too hard' basket very early on. Grounds that continue to be seen as substandard by the players continue to get State cricket matches. A similar system is in place for umpiring.

If venuesx and umpires continue to get poor grades from the captains and the players see nothing being done, it breeds apathy. With apathy comes an acceptance of substandard performance.

We simply cannot continue to play on poor surfaces. It is doing nothing for the spectacle of the game in New Zealand and, worse, nothing for the development of our cricketers.

We have been poor in test matches over the last couple of years because we are not producing the right style of cricketer. Military medium pacers who don't swing the ball are having too much success in our game and bowlers of test potential are not playing a large enough role in our domestic competitions.

Our batsmen have become 'gun-shy', play negatively and do not develop batting that will pressure quality international bowling.

Poor surfaces encourage poor cricket. Batsmen lose trust in the bounce of the ball and lose surety in their footwork, leading to poor shot selection and execution. If the surface is not consistent you cannot trust your instincts at a level where the game is played at its best.

Bowlers get away with poor balls and lack of technique by batsmen often leads to poor balls getting wickets. The Hamilton pitch has been substandard for some time and it should not have taken so long to do something about it.

It is time to take a hard line on under-performing venues. We are intolerant of poor player performance and yet tolerate poor venues and umpiring.

It must stop now.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY