Corbin MiddlemasUpdated January 13, 2012 16:34:43
Amid all the palaver in the lead-up to the Perth Test, one man who has seemingly been fielding as many questions as the two camps is WACA curator Cam Sutherland.
Thirteen months ago, Sutherland received widespread accolades after producing a splendid Test strip for the Ashes series.
As was so long desired, Sutherland produced a hard, fast and bouncy wicket, to rekindle the characteristics synonymous with the ground that had seemed lost.
As soon as the focus shifted from Sydney to Perth, so too did the interest circulate around the curator out west, hopeful he could reproduce a similar wicket to that of last summer.
Sutherland spent the week prior to the Perth Test answering questions from journalists at press conferences and making in-studio radio appearances discussing his prized number five strip on the WACA square.
This pitch has been used just once since the third Ashes Test. That occasion was the Warriors opening domestic match of the summer, a one-day fixture against Tasmania.
In the truest indication that there was still life in the wicket, Ben Hilfenhaus delivered a short pitched, rising delivery that ballooned over the wicketkeeper's head, and down to the boundary.
With preparation near complete, Sutherland and co found themselves at the epicentre of a media storm on the eve of the Test.
Members of the WACA Ground staff and admin gathered on the pitch to share a celebratory beverage and toast the week ahead, a tradition before the Test in these parts.
Vision captured by Indian television networks sent the visiting media into a frenzy.
"A picture can speak a thousand words is the old saying and that's probably the case here," Sutherland told ABC Perth's 702 morning program.
He went on to explain the sequence of events that unfolded as the sun set on the west coast.
"I was the one who removed the covers, I was one out doing the work initially and then a couple of my staff came out and joined me," he said.
"We were the ones that were lying on the pitch and that seems to be the heart of the issue.
"Yes, we were working on it. There were a couple of little blemishes that we could just tie off on that night that would give everything time to settle."
In relation to those few wandering around on the wicket, stubby in hand, some of whom shadow batting: "We thought there would be no one there and our hard working staff behind the scenes in the offices are mostly females and don't get out to the wicket and probably don't understand the Test wicket.
"But they just love the night before, to be able to go out and say, 'Well done boys, this looks great' or whatever."
"Some of them walked across, which you saw, which was a bit unfortunate but ten minutes later they were gone. We were still out there an hour later doing our thing."
Under ICC regulations, the WACA Ground staff can continue to work on the wicket until the morning of the opening day's play.
"We've been made to look unprofessional and we were doing a professional thing," Sutherland added.
"We were trying to get it as best as possible for both sides today, and it's been turned a bit on its head."
Sutherland joined the WACA as chief curator prior to the 2005-06 season.
As the founder and principal of a sports turf company, Sutherland's reputation for having a wealth of knowledge of local conditions preceded him.
The picturesque Richardson Park, home of the South Perth Cricket Club, with views of the Swan River across the freeway and boarded by the Perth Zoo, was one of the grounds under Sutherland's care.
Since taking over as curator, the ground's pitch rating substantially improved to be ranked inside the top five decks in the competition.
Tags: cricket, sport, perth-6000, wa, australia First posted January 13, 2012 16:19:49
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