Cricket: Row over pitch may have one-day matches moved

Hamilton's Westpac Park was starting to look like the scene of a crime investigation yesterday as the fallout continued over Wednesday's farcical one-dayer.

The venue for the deciding match between New Zealand and the World XI, the Westpac Park pitch came under heavy fire after the contest was ruined by a variable surface, lasting a total of just 36.5 overs.

The debacle has drawn a swift response from New Zealand Cricket, who yesterday transferred Northern Districts' next two State Shield matches to Gisborne so a more thorough "scene" examination could take place.

Northern will now play at the Harry Barker Reserve tomorrow against Canterbury and again on Sunday against Otago.

However, the biggest concern for Hamiltonians is that the transfers might be the forerunner for a far bigger setback, the prospect of losing the fourth one-day international against Australia on March 2.

The ODI appears to be in the balance given the ultimatum served to the ground authorities last year, when NZC made it clear that future internationals would not be scheduled for Hamilton unless the pitch surface was improved.

However, World XI skipper Shane Warne was unequivocal about his view of the pitch, saying the fourth ODI should be played somewhere else, as Westpac Park was simply not up to scratch.

"I think the authorities will probably move the game knowing the way the pitch played," he said after the game.

"I wouldn't be surprised if it gets moved, I think it was sub-standard."

NZC staff were expected to arrive today to assess the pitch block, which was relaid last year following the highly embarrassing (and almost abandoned) "crater" test against South Africa.

According to turf culture insiders, Wednesday's problems were symptomatic of a pitch that had developed a hardened top crust over a less compacted base, leading to dramatic variations in bounce and pace.

Built from the shrinking and swelling Waikari clay, the Westpac Park pitch apparently requires higher moisture levels throughout its entire depth if the layering problem is to be addressed.

The experts say that only then will the base of the pitch be able to be compacted to the necessary degree and provide a stable platform for the playing surface.

The difficultly now facing Hamilton ground staff is to find a way to saturate the base, given the hardened top crust tends to act as a shield and prevent the moisture from draining.