CCA insists that all is well at Sunnybrook

© Jon Harris, canadacricket.com

A senior official of the Canadian Cricket Association has denied accusations that the pitch being prepared for the Intercontinental Cup tie between Canada and Bermuda at Sunnybrook, Toronto will in any way be substandard.

Several individuals contacted us in recent days to voice their concerns that the grass pitch at Sunnybrook will not be adequate for a first-class match, pointing out that preparations started too late on a ground where there have been no matches played on anything other than artificial surfaces since 2001.

But speaking to Dave Liverman of the canadacricket.com website, Ron Aldridge, a long time volunteer and supporter of Canadian cricket and chair of the successful ICC organising committee, explained that the situation was not as portrayed.

Aldridge denied that the move to Sunnybrook was made as late as last week, insisting that the original intention to play the game at the Toronto Cricket Skating and Curling Club (TCSCC) had been scrapped because of the financial demands of the TCSCC. He said that the TCSCC had been approached in April, although a source close to the club remained adamant that no formal approach had been made until the end of July.

Two other alternatives with decent grass pitches - King City and Ajax - were dismissed by the CCA as King City's wickets were said to be in a poor condition after a harsh winter, and Ajax had had little cricket played on grass and there was thought to be insufficient time to prepare a wicket.

As a result, Aldridge said that pitches had been prepared at Sunnybrook and Ross Lord (the latter as a back-up) but that he was confident that the playing surface would be ready for the game starting on August 13. He added that many of the criticisms levelled at the state of the pitch were incorrect. He also explained that there would be adequate facilities available on the ground. For the sake of Canadian cricket it has to be hoped that Aldridge is right, although this venture still appears to be a considerable gamble.

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