Steve McNamara, president of the Victorian Turf Cricket Association, is furious after a serious act of vandalism was committed against one of the clubs in his competition in the lead up to Saturday’s final round of matches.
Kingsville Baptists, who play out of Skinner Reserve in Braybrook, arrived at their home ground on Saturday morning to find the cricket pitch had been strategically dug up and oil poured on top of the surface to ensure the second day of its match with Sunshine Heights did not go ahead.
It has cast a dark cloud over the west A1 division finals as it denied Kingsville its rightful chance of reaching the final four.
Had Kingsville chased down the 187 target from a strong position of 1-46, they would have made the finals after results around the grounds went in their favour.
Kingsville missed out on fourth spot by just 2.37 points, which could easily have been surpassed if the day’s cricket went to the form guide.
“It’s the most heinous act I’ve seen in cricket in my 40 years of involvement,” McNamara told Star Weekly.
“Given the amount of vandalism, the wicket was dug up from popping crease to popping crease right down the middle, and there was oil poured into it, so you certainly wouldn’t suggest it was a local kid misbehaving.
“I’m presuming it’s someone in our association.
“It’s somebody obviously with cricket knowledge, knowing that it would certainly do the maximum damage to ensure the game wouldn’t proceed.”
$5000 reward
The VTCA will go to extraordinary lengths to weed out the culprit.
After a conference call between members of the executive, it has been decided that a $5000 reward would be put up for information leading to the exposure of the perpetrators.
“We hope putting up a $5000 reward will get somebody talking,” McNamara said.
“I’m sure there’s people out there that know exactly what happened.”
McNamara has been in contact with Cricket Victoria and Cricket Australia, who are “similarly upset”.
Sunshine Police will review CCTV footage from around the Skinner Reserve complex.
“From all aspects, we’re going to pursue this to the very end,” McNamara said.
“Ultimately, this isn’t how cricket is played, but it might be a reflection of how society is becoming.
“We play hard to win, but not this sort of way.”
If a club is found to have committed the damage to the pitch to seek an unfair advantage, there will be harsh consequences.
“If we find a club involved, needless to say, there will be implications,” McNamara said.
“I think you’d have to certainly expect they would be expelled from the VTCA, at the very least.”
The incident is likely to lead to rule changes in the off-season.
As it stands under current competition rules, there are no grounds for the second day’s play to be postponed or moved to another venue.
“There’s no provision in our rules to change the venue or the conditions of a game,” McNamara said.
“Unfortunately, in this instance, we can’t, but it’s certainly something we’re going to have a look at in relation to rule changes for the upcoming season.”
Players devastated
It has left the players and members of Kingsville Baptists devastated.
The club might have been denied an opportunity to play finals in the first season since their promotion to the west A1 division after winning the west B1 flag last summer.
The club posted on its Facebook page: ‘Words can’t describe how the club feels about turning up to a must-win game to play finals to this act of vandalism. We are denied the chance to play finals, I know we all want to win and play finals but not at all costs. I guess cricket isn’t a gentleman game anymore’.
The game will go on and finals will start this weekend, but McNamara and the members of the executive will not feel right when the first ball is bowled on Saturday.
“It’s been a gut wrenching weekend to be honest,” he said.
“We, as an association, are devastated for them.
“Having conversations with their president and their secretary over the course of the weekend, some legends of the club who have been around for a long time were in tears over the weekend with what has transpired because no one would have expected or anticipated something like this to happen.
“I’m flabbergasted and amazed that people of that nature are around.
“It’s just bewildered me.”
If you have any information about the Skinner Reserve vandalism, please contact Sunshine Police on 9313 3333.
