Officials deny leaky covers caused rain delay at Australia v South Africa SCG cricket Test

Officials have denied that leaky wet-weather covers were to blame for delays at the rain-affected Sydney cricket ground Test between Australia and South Africa, but a major English cricketer has criticized the excuse.

SCG staff went back to using a set of blank covers on day four after the NRMA insurance advertising stamped set apparently caused an embarrassing leak in the wicket square.

Cricket Australia had asked maintenance staff to use the new covers, which were ironically emblazoned with the insurance company’s slogan “HELP”.

Officials have denied that leaky wet-weather covers were to blame for delays in the rain-affected Sydney cricket ground test between Australia and South Africa, but a major English cricketer has criticized the excuse.

SCG maintenance staff went back to using a set of blank SCG covers on day four after the NRMA insurance advertising stamped set apparently caused an embarrassing leak in the wicket square

The damage to the plaza was not too severe, but it is understood that water got in around the logos and caused additional work for the maintenance staff.

Cricket Australia and Venues NSW released a joint statement to explain what exactly happened to the sponsored covers.

The damage to the plaza was not too severe, but it is understood that water got in around the logos and caused additional work for the maintenance staff.

“The ground crew and cricket operations team have confirmed that there were no delays to the game due to a small leak in the decks,” the statement read.

‘The delay to play today was caused by a small section of sodden grass from the wicket square where water had collected overnight. The SCG had 56mm of rain overnight and this morning.

“NRMA Insurance was not involved in the construction of the covers or the requirement that they be used for this game and the field crew had no problem with the new set of covers.”

Former England player Isa Guha criticized the state of the covers used in Australia compared to England.

Former England player Isa Guha (pictured) criticized the state of the tires used in Australia compared to England

‘For a field of the magnitude of the MCG and as iconic as the SCG…you think of all the history and lore, I am truly amazed by the level of coverage on the field. You’d think they could invest in better covers,” Guha said on Fox Cricket’s broadcast of the game.

“You have the floating covers at Lord’s that come off very quickly and then at the Oval they literally cover the whole ground across the square at times like this where the bowlers look around towards the ends of the pitch where it can be a Little dangerous. I’m quite surprised it’s not better equipped.

Meanwhile, SCG Trust Chairman Tony Shepherd is adamant that the Sydney test must remain in its New Year’s time slot, despite having been interrupted by rain for six of the past seven years.

Shepherd said the SCG would not give up its New Year’s time slot, despite acknowledging that the La Niña weather pattern of the past two years had highlighted the bad weather.

SCG Trust chairman Tony Shepherd insists the Sydney event must remain on its New Year schedule, despite having been interrupted by rain for six of the past seven years.

This is the tradition. We just have to live with the weather,’ Shepherd said on SEN on Saturday.

“Here it rains a bit and sometimes it interrupts the game, but we have to overcome that.”

“It’s going to be a good season next year because I think we’re going to have El Niño (weather pattern) next year, which means we’re going to be in the middle of a drought.”