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Play was abandoned in the Big Bash game at GMHBA Stadium, Geelong on Sunday night due to a dangerous pitch.<\/p>\n
Fox Cricket reported that water had got onto the pitch overnight following heavy, prolonged rain in Geelong on Saturday and after exhaustive work from the ground staff, the game was able to start between the Melbourne Renegades and Perth Scorchers.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Renegades players look at the pitch after play was called off on Sunday night.<\/span>Credit: <\/span>Getty Images<\/cite><\/p>\n But the ball started to show signs of dangerous \u201ctennis ball\u201d bounce with play suspended after 6.5 overs when Scorchers batsman Josh Inglis faced an over where the ball shot up dangerously during several deliveries.<\/p>\n \u201cThe wicket is absolutely drenched, so we wanted to roll out [a few balls] and see how it goes,\u201d Renegades captain Nic Maddinson told Fox Cricket after winning the toss and bowling.<\/p>\n The Scorchers were 2-30 when play was called off. The teams will share the points.<\/p>\n It\u2019s the first abandoned game in Big Bash history due to a dangerous pitch.<\/p>\n Straight after what turned out to be the final ball of the match \u2013 a tennis ball bounce-style delivery outside off-stump from Will Sutherland to Josh Inglis \u2013 former Australian captain Ricky Ponting said on the Seven commentary: \u201cI\u2019m going to say it – I think that\u2019s a bit ridiculous, to be honest. We started this game hoping that the wicket was going to play better than we thought and better than it looked \u2026 if this [ball] was straight, where is this going to go? Straight up under your grill [of the helmet].\u201d<\/p>\n Fans greeted the announcement of the abandoned game with boos.<\/p>\n Renegades bowler Will Sutherland inspects the pitch.<\/span>Credit: <\/span>Getty Images<\/cite><\/p>\n \u201cI get frustrated with cricket and the game has a habit of having these scenarios,\u201d Former England captain Michael Vaughan said while commentating for Fox Cricket.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sure they knew it was going to rain all day yesterday [Saturday] \u2013 can\u2019t you get more covers?<\/p>\n \u201cI saw it in a Test match in the UK at Old Trafford, I saw it at the SCG last year where there wasn\u2019t enough covering and too much time was taken out of the game.<\/p>\n \u201cI think we always say that is unfortunate, but seriously? You can\u2019t get enough covers to cover an area of turf so today\u2019s game goes ahead? I just find, in cricket, we make too many excuses for what I think shouldn\u2019t have happened.\u201d<\/p>\n On the Seven coverage, Australian white-ball star and Melbourne Stars captain Glenn Maxwell was even more straight-to-the-point, saying it was \u201cpretty clear to anyone who has played the game that that pitch was unsafe.\u201d<\/p>\n Umpires Simon Lightbody and Ben Treloar said the points would be shared like in any other game that was abandoned.<\/p>\n Treloar had hoped the game could be played out but the last over to Inglis made it clear it had to be called off.<\/p>\n \u201cWe wanted to give play every chance \u2013 it\u2019s why we started to play,\u201d Treloar told Fox Cricket.<\/p>\n \u201cAfter the first few overs, we were quite hopeful [of the game being completed] but that last ball to Inglis, that was enough for us.<\/p>\n \u201cThat was the one that put us in this position. The safety of the players is paramount.\u201d<\/p>\n News, results and expert analysis from the weekend of sport sent every Monday. <\/i><\/b>Sign up for our Sport newsletter<\/i><\/b>.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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