S Africans Wary Of Dangers Within Patched-up Pitch

Sydney Morning Herald

Tuesday January 25, 1994

PHIL WILKINS

Australia will be firm favourites for today's $48,000 World Series competition after rejection of South Africa's request for a new pitch to be cut for the third final at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Rather than use a nearby half-prepared pitch, curator Peter Leroy decided to refurnish last Sunday's barren strip on which Australia thrashed South Africa by 69 runs in the second final, a decision which will cause delight among Australia's spinners, Shane Warne, Tim May and Allan Border.

NSW Cricket Association executive director Robert Radford received a phone call from South African team manager Robbie Muzzell after the game on Sunday night seeking another pitch for today's competition-deciding final.

But, as has been the case for more than a century, the NSWCA, as SCG hirer, could only refer the request to the ground authority, the SCG Trust, which in turn is guided by curator Leroy.

No concern was expressed about the pitch by either Border or his rival captain, Hansie Cronje, on Sunday night, but it was significant that South African coach Mike Procter walked to the wicket square and examined the strip after the final in which Australia, batting first, made 6-247 and then dismissed South Africa for 178.

The South African team management made no comment about the second-hand pitch yesterday but, to coin a phrase, was "not amused".

By yesterday afternoon, Leroy had watered and rolled the strip again, applied first aid to the bowling follow-throughs and masked the pitch temporarily with clippings.

Australian coach Bob Simpson was satisfied with the decision, as well he might with three top-notch spinners in his team, declaring the question of which pitch was used was "none of our business".

With the best-of-three final series locked at one-all, the tourists held an optional net practice at the SCG yesterday morning and then fielding practice from five o'clock.

The width of spin on the SCG on Sunday and the fact that mutton has been dressed as lamb for the pitch today makes the choice of both off-spinners, Dave Rundle and Pat Symcox, appealing although South Africa's preferred policy has been the use of four pacemen and one spinner.

Test spinner Symcox's performances have declined lately and Rundle could be recalled along with Test opening batsman Andrew Hudson for Daryll Cullinan, who dropped century-maker Mark Waugh at 42 and then made just three runs on Sunday.

All-rounder Brian McMillan failed to train because of a stomach complaint and if he withdraws, Dave Callaghan is expected to rejoin the team.

Regardless of whether Border wins or loses the toss, Australia have the batting strength and versatility of bowling, especially in spin, to win today's final.

Probable teams are:

AUSTRALIA: David Boon, Matthew Hayden, Dean Jones, Mark Waugh, Steve Waugh, Allan Border (c), Ian Healy, Paul Reiffel, Shane Warne, Craig McDermott, Tim May, Mark Taylor (12th man).

SOUTH AFRICA: Peter Kirsten, Gary Kirsten, Hansie Cronje (c), Jonty Rhodes, Andrew Hudson, Brian McMillan, Richard Snell, Dave Richardson, Dave Rundle, Fanie de Villiers, Allan Donald, Craig Matthews (12th man).

Umpires: Steve Randell (Tas), Darrell Hair (NSW), Ian Thomas (NSW).

* A crowd of almost 40,000 was predicted last night for today's match.

NSWCA chief Radford described the 22,287 tickets sold between 9 am and 4 pm yesterday as "probably a world record in cricket sales in one day".

"Depending on box-holders and SCG members, it will be virtually a sell-out," he said.

At Border's testimonial dinner at the Regent last night, NSWCA and ACB officials discussed the possibility of the final being telecast live in Sydney but Radford considered it "very doubtful".