Paine unloads on SCG's 'disgraceful wicket'

Former Australian captain Tim Paine has ripped SCG curators over the wicket produced for New South Wales' Sheffield Shield clash with Tasmania.

A total of 610 runs were scored in the match with NSW winning by 74 runs after bowling out Tasmania for 68 in the final innings.

Only three half-centuries were scored throughout the match with Chris Tremain taking 6-31 in Tasmania's chase.

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Having watched the game over its three days, Paine was filthy with how it turned out. 

"That wicket was an absolute disgrace. It's a disgrace," he said on SEN.

"This is a Test venue in the strongest state in the country and they rolled that up. It's embarrassing. The ball was seaming sideways, it was going up and down, it wasn't fit for first class cricket.

"That was a disgraceful wicket. 24 wickets in a day's play… you don't even see that in club cricket anymore.

"What's going on in Cricket NSW and the SCG? That was such a bad wicket to play cricket on. Whether we won or lost, whatever. I could have bowled on that and taken wickets. It's not good enough.

"How that can happen at one of the premier Test venues around the world is a disgrace. That wouldn't happen at Uni Cricket Cub, that wouldn't happen at North Hobart Cricket Club.

"That was below standard for grade cricket and this is meant to be the premier first class cricket competition in the world and that is meant to be one of the most iconic cricket venues of the last 100 years and that's what we're getting served up.

"Not good enough."

Tasmania captain Jordan Silk won the toss and elected to field on a rain affected first day with New South Wales bowled out for 224 on the second day. Lawrence Neil-Smith took 7-58 while Ollie Davies (81*) and Moises Henriques (54) hit runs.

The away side struggled with the bat to hit 200 in reply with Mitchell Owen scoring 70.

Conditions continued to get worse for batting, and NSW were all out for 118 but Tremain and Jackson Bird (4-22) managed to finish off Tasmania a day early.

Despite the scores, Tremain defended curators over the pitch.

"I'm definitely going to go into bat for the groundsman," he told ESPNcricinfo.

"Ask the batsmen, they'll tell you something different. They were at the mercy of the weather leading into the game so don't think the pitch was underprepared. Over the first two innings it created quite a few divots as it was a little soft on top with that good grass cover.

https://twitter.com/andymcg_cricket/status/1730109880512741484?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

"When those divots harden up they get a little bit sporting. The crack played a lot of a part in things this afternoon, but don't think that wicket was poorly prepared. In the balance of bat versus ball obviously ball was the winner, but I wouldn't be too quick to hang the groundsman out to dry."

Silk saw it differently, stating: "I've played quite a lot Shield cricket and can't say I've played on a wicket quite like that where the ball was nipping around a lot, there were cracks on lines and it was snaky.

"You had not just the sideways movement but you had a few balls climbing up then some climbing down.

"I think you can cop a bit of wear and tear over the course of a game, but when there's been 40 wickets in 160 overs of cricket you probably think it's a bit too heavily weighted towards the bowlers. And that's coming from someone who is really keen on having some sporting wickets, but it was slightly too far towards the bowling side."

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