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4th test Manchester


Unless things are different now, when I went to OT for a concert the pitch was covered by hard plastic protection, would take ages to remove.
Fair enough. I assumed steak pie was aware of what they used. Looking at clips from the Who at CLS didn't seem like any protection on the outfield.

But begs the question why dont they have outfield covers as they do in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

Surely the cost of them outweighs the amount of refunds they will have to provide on a day like yesterday and today. Plus missed days cricket for county matches.

Might have had enough play in by now if they didn't have to spend 90 mins fixing the outfield.
 
Who do you think the groundsman and his staff work for? They advise the umpires when the pitch will be ready for inspection and play. From rain stopping to play commencing is between an jour and two hours depending on state of pitch and outfield, that's the way it is.

Wait for the umpires to stop play for light with Eng needing a wkt to win or a few runs, what you going to say then?
I'm fully aware who the groundstaff are employed by but can assure you the owner of Lancashire cricket club will have absolutely no say in when the mopping up starts etc. The lack of desire an hour ago when it stopped raining was absolutely embarrassing and gives the game a bad name. It's now raining again according to BBC TMS but at least everyone has had an early lunch
 
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Unless things are different now, when I went to OT for a concert the pitch was covered by hard plastic protection, would take ages to remove.
Yeah, they take hours to put down. But I have always wondered why you can't just get say 10 tarps that your pull across the ground, always feels odd that you only cover the square and run ups. I assume there's some reason that isn't done, maybe you'd get so much leakage at the seams it still makes the ground unplayable and takes as long for those spots to dry.
 
Someone explain how they they can state play to resume at 1?

It would suggest the surface and weather was ok and the only thing stopping play was lunch?

Because otherwise how can you give a definitive start time, whilst working on the pitch and outfield? Surely it would need fo be check again?
 
Someone explain how they they can state play to resume at 1?

It would suggest the surface and weather was ok and the only thing stopping play was lunch?

Because otherwise how can you give a definitive start time, whilst working on the pitch and outfield? Surely it would need fo be check again?
They will need to mop up which they weren't doing when it stopped raining well before any announcement. Shambles.
 
Fair enough. I assumed steak pie was aware of what they used. Looking at clips from the Who at CLS didn't seem like any protection on the outfield.

But begs the question why dont they have outfield covers as they do in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

Surely the cost of them outweighs the amount of refunds they will have to provide on a day like yesterday and today. Plus missed days cricket for county matches.

Might have had enough play in by now if they didn't have to spend 90 mins fixing the outfield.
Unfortunately it is what it is, we were just ready to leave Headingley after this type of performance, covers off, covers on, went for a piss on way out as they announced inspection at 4:15, decided to wait, play started, rain started (again) then stopped and rest is history. One of problems today is there is little wind to blow the rain through. Need retractable roof stadia, doubt if there is enough money in the game to justify it.
 
The fact we are desperate for play makes this feel so much worse. Delayed again. This afternoon's weather looks worse than this mornings. Head says we won't get a ball bowled today. Heart is still hopeful.
 
They will need to mop up which they weren't doing when it stopped raining well before any announcement. Shambles.

The inspection was at 12:15 but it stopped raining a good 30 mins before right? You’re saying no on made an effort to get out in that time and get things ready?

Test cricket really doesn’t help itself does it.

I’m no purist like but playing the elements is one thing, but rain cancelling play is archaic.
 
Yeah, they take hours to put down. But I have always wondered why you can't just get say 10 tarps that your pull across the ground, always feels odd that you only cover the square and run ups. I assume there's some reason that isn't done, maybe you'd get so much leakage at the seams it still makes the ground unplayable and takes as long for those spots to dry.
The outfield appears to be drying quite quickly, they have to remove a lot of water from covers before they can move them.
 
Cricket really needs to try and address this as it hurts the game so much all the way from broadcasting rights to match tickets. There will always be rain but we all knew this was coming last Tuesday.

Hours of play could have been extended when the weather was decent to compensate for when it isn't. Additionally would it really kill the schedules to have a reserve day? This whole series was superbly balanced if England could have won this match and the whole series has effectively been decided by rain.
 
Unless things are different now, when I went to OT for a concert the pitch was covered by hard plastic protection, would take ages to remove.
They have (or had) a massive black cover made of the stuff Post Office bags are made from, covers the entire pitch.

They might have upgraded (the last time I was there for a gig was Radiohead) but they definitely had one.

Point is these things exist, and it can't be beyond the wit and wisdom of a ground holding a test match to have one.
 
Same as yesterday. 45 mins delay to start after the inspection yet the ground staff did nowt after the inspection and the players were playing footy etc. If it's fit for the players to warm up, it's fit to play.
 
Cricket really needs to try and address this as it hurts the game so much all the way from broadcasting rights to match tickets. There will always be rain but we all knew this was coming last Tuesday.

Hours of play could have been extended when the weather was decent to compensate for when it isn't. Additionally would it really kill the schedules to have a reserve day? This whole series was superbly balanced if England could have won this match and the whole series has effectively been decided by rain.

Someone will come along and state it’s all part of the game
 
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