SCG "unavailable" for New South Wales after Roosters ruin square during NRL Grand Final training

The Sheffield Shield match against Tasmania scheduled to begin on October 18 is set to be moved to Drummoyne Oval after the pitch was damaged

The Sydney Cricket Ground has been deemed unfit to host New South Wales' upcoming Sheffield Shield clash with Tasmania.

After the Sydney Roosters trained at the venue a fortnight ago ahead of the NRL Grand Final, the square has been deemed unplayable ahead of the four-day game scheduled to start on Friday.

There is also doubt over the One-Day Cup match against Tasmania on October 23.

Drummoyne Oval has been pencilled in to host the red-ball fixture. NSW have only once before played a first-class game at the venue, back in March 2019 against Victoria.

“We were unaware there was a problem until this morning,” NSW chief executive Lee Germon said.

“Our cricketers love playing at the SCG, which is the traditional home of NSW cricket.

“It is a great disappointment to our players and everyone at Cricket NSW that we can no longer play there over the next week.

“Our male players were looking forward to playing four of their five home Shield matches and a one-day match at the SCG this season, something that has rarely happened over the past decade or so.

“Our off-season training and planning was based squarely around the fact that most of our matches would be at the SCG this season, creating an extra buzz of excitement.

“It is important that our current and future international cricketers have the opportunity to play as much cricket as possible on the SCG.

^{The Roosters trained on the outfield ahead of the Grand Final}

“This is particularly so early in the season when many of our senior players are available for the Marsh Sheffield Shield ahead of the international season.

“I would like to thank the Sydney Cricket Club and the City of Canada Bay for their cooperation around Drummoyne Oval at such short notice.”

As well as a selection of NSW's home fixtures, the SCG is due to host the second T20I against Pakistan in November, the third Test with New Zealand in January and the semi-finals of the Women's World T20 at the beginning of March, during the rest of the Australian summer.

The episode is the latest embarrassing chapter in the SCG's recent history. In 2015, a Shield game against Victoria was abandoned two days before the start of play due to an unfit playing surface.

In 2017, it was voted the worst first-class venue in Australia and was even criticised by the PFA (Professional Footballers Australia) after Melbourne Victory player Terry Antonis suffered a serious knee injury after falling near the edge of the square during an A-League match.

Those issues may be exacerbated in 2020 when the SCG is scheduled to host the NRL Grand Final, which typically takes place in early October, for the first time in 21 years.

The showpiece has been played at the ANZ Stadium for the past five years but will be moved as the stadium undergoes a three-year renovation.

The latest development will accentuate calls for a drop-in pitch to be deployed at the SCG, replacing the traditional cricket wicket.

The SCG Trust committee have been considering the change, however, there are concerns over whether a square could physically be brought into the ground.