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Despite doubts about a Showground wicket that Ricky
Ponting called “substandard,” Sydney Thunder is still dedicated to
their western Sydney home.
A slow, spinning track that yields the lowest scoring
rates in the Big Bash League was a major factor in Thunder’s seven-wicket loss
to Perth Scorchers on Monday.
The Sydney Showground wicket has been targeted
previously, as Scorchers skipper Ashton Turner called it
“disappointing” in the beginning of 2019.
Of all the regular grounds, the Showground has the
lowest run-rate (7.76) since the BBL’s debut, with spinners and off-pace
deliveries being the norm.
That begs the question of whether the location, which
is in one of the densest neighbourhoods of Sydney, can help the BBL serve as a
point of entry for new fans into the game.
In a Monday night commentary for Seven, former
Australia captain Ponting even questioned if Thunder should relocate
permanently to Canberra because he was worried that the Showground’s surface
would make it difficult for them to draw and retain talent.
Manuka Oval in Canberra is the home field for two of
Thunder’s summer games.
Thunder captain Chris Green rejected any suggestion
the club should pick up and leave the Showground for the national capital.
“We’re the Sydney Thunder, this is where we like
to play. This is our home ground. This is where we’re from, the west of
Sydney,” Green said.
“I’d hate to see us move down [to Canberra]
permanently. I like staying at home, playing at home, having my family come and
watch me play. This is our home base.”
“This is better than a lot of wickets in the
country. It’s just about adapting to those conditions better,” Green said
on Monday. “We had a 200-game here last year [in the finals] and the rain
ruined it. The Sixers game this year was a sellout, and the rain ruined it.
“If we scored 10 more runs or about five less
wides tonight, it’s probably going down to the last ball which is an
entertaining fixture. So I disagree with those comments.
“We can’t just roll out a belter of a wicket and
have 220 plays 220, because that tests one side of skill – but this is another
side of skill.”