Shell Cup: Trist fires first salvo (28 January 1999)

28 January 1999

Shell Cup: Trist fires first salvo

Kevin Tutty

Auckland coach David Trist ignited the psychological battle before Saturday's Shell Cup semi-final by suggesting the Jade Stadium pitch might not be up to standard.

In a radio interview yesterday morning, Trist said pitches that had recently been used for more than one cup game had not been up to standard.

The pitch for the game will be used for the fourth time, but Canterbury Cricket Association chief executive Tony Murdoch and Jade Stadium manager Campbell Prentice were quick to defend it.

They are confident it will yield plenty of runs. It is the same pitch that was used for Monday night's match against Central Districts, the one-day international against India, and an earlier Shell Cup match against Auckland, won by Auckland. The three games have produced 1516 runs.

"We've got full confidence in the pitch and we want to assure patrons that they can expect a quality pitch," said Murdoch.

Canterbury coach Garry MacDonald said the pitch is a magnificent batting strip. "We got 298 on it on Monday and Central Districts were going at over five an over comfortably, before they lost their tail. All David's doing is giving the groundsman (Chris Lewis) a hard time, and I don't think he deserves it. He's prepared some excellent tracks."

Trist cited the Eden Park pitch used for Monday's game against Northern Districts where both teams scored less than 150 and pitches used for recent games at Carisbrook and Blake Park, Mt Maunganui, which produced low scores.

"There's always the worry that pitches that have staged two or more games will slow up and die a little, but what I've been hearing from Christchurch is this is a better one for lasting," Trist said.

"The worry for me is that we don't want to produce uninspiring one-day cricket. I'm not casting aspersions at Jade Stadium because I think that is the best pitch we've played on all summer. If it's as good as it was when we played earlier in the month, it will be the ideal pitch for a semi-final," said Trist.

The semi-final is a day-night match, starting at 2.30pm.

Source :: The Christchurch Press (https://www.press.co.nz/)