Cost of groundsmen and pitch preparation. It is more efficient to keep the costs down - an international venue's groundsmen team can certainly prepare a first class standard pitch. Plus - even if empty - it prepares the batsmen for their home test grounds.

It looks horrid for viewing, but it is efficient.

Oh the shame of it. Sangha falls to part time part timer Wade. 
Notches his maiden FC ton. Even more meritorious is the fact that he was facing 4 down for under 50 when he came to the cease.

First time in 25 years that two teens have both scored centuries in the same match. Who can name the last pair?

You always have the answer Paddles.

Plenty of players hitting tons this round. Me thinks these decks are definitely in favor of the batsman. They also appear to have been prepared to take turn.. at least the Brissie and Sydney decks have.

The liveliest deck I have witnessed this week was at the spanking new Perth Stadium.

Because it rains so much in England - and because they have so much money - they are easily the world's leader in rain protection of pitches.

Their hovercrafts that send out those sideways covers are unique and brilliant! Noone else has them. I wish everyone did.

Their pitch drainage is also evolutionary - but 

1 they have the money
2 they had the need because it rains so much there

Their hovercrafts that send out those sideways covers are unique and brilliant! Noone else has them. I wish everyone did.

Hit nail firmly on head mate.  Imagine the time saved also using this unique covering. It was the Poms that invented hovercraft technology if not mistaken. A Channel ferry back in the mid 60s? Give em credit where due.

Blues declare 9/442. If not mistaken the first time they have passed 300 this season and final few games of the last.

Labuchagne has forgotten how to score runs. Little chance of being in the India series squad now..

Tasmania are in trouble.

You had a man crush on him in the UAE, Baggers!

Yes I did DC. He did get starts over there. More than some of our other top six did. He also chipped in with vital wickets. But when all is said and done he is chosen as a batsman first.
I can not even see him on the Shield batting chart for this season.

Is there a more efficient cricket platform than Cricinfo?
They actually have a players up to date stats as his innings is in progress..not once it finishes.  Extraordinary.

It has been very humid in Sydney last two days. No fun playing cricket I bet.

Para bailar Labuchagne
Para bailar Labucahnge
Se necessita una poca de gracia
Una poca de gracia
Para mi, para ti, ay arriba, ay arriba
Ay, arriba arriba
Por ti sere, por ti sere, por ti sereYo no soy marinero
Yo no soy marinero, soy capitan
Soy capitan, soy capitan
Bamba, bamba
Bamba, bamba
Bamba, bamba, bam

Love Richie Valens (and Weird Al Yankovic)

Anyone from Holland or Safrica offended by this post - look to social media - I did not once refer to him as "Lasagne":

The Warriors v  Bulls match ended in a predictable draw. 

Will Bosisto MOM.

Tasmania 3 - 108 at stumps.

NSW on top with 449 on the scoreboard.

London has lower average rainfall than most Aussie capital cities, apart from Adelaide.

Bit misleading to use the annual average as a comparison when London snows so much in the winter instead of simply raining? Compare the summer months alone and it may well be a very different story? And even then, when the East Coast of Australia gets a storm, it gets done proper. England test cricket is continually interrupted by 10 minute passing showers. Who do you see running on to lay down the covers more often, those in England or those in Australia? English cricket is very stop start imo. 

London is the southern most intl ground England has with the Oval and Lords barring Southhampton. The further north one goes, the more it rains. Durham (Newcastle) is double London for annual average. 

I am sure that the EWCB (or whoever owns the grounds and applies for matches) has these hovercrafts at many, if not all intl, venues (even for domestic t20 I've seen them used).

All true.

I was amazed to find out London has less annual rainfall than Hobart, but not Hobart Airport about 12 kilometres east of the city centre.

I've lived in England and travelled all over it. Most of it is very wet.

Sangha and Edwards with beautiful knocks. Sangha getting out to Wade though

Bit misleading to use the annual average as a comparison when London snows so much in the winter instead of simply raining?

If not mistaken that also is a touch misleading.
 Does it snow in London? When I travelled there several decades ago and was based with a group of Aussies in southern London I recall  asking a local if there was any chance of a White Christmas. Replied we rarely get snow in London. Has that changed since the 80s?

Nopes. The snow is in January  and February.

The chances of a white christmas are rare, but they have happened. 1 in 6 years is apparently the rule of thumb. But the last white christmas in England was 2010. 

As for London in particular- their met office reports that London gets about 10 days of snow a year, England overall gets 15.6 days with snow on the ground. But it typically is not the pretty white snow in London neither settled on the ground and looking like a fairy tale, it is sleet and slush and melts on the ground. That is why your local replied as he did I would say. Sounds ghastly.

Blues v Tassie match only one to be decided.

Rain delay will work in favor of the visitors

Copeland again the only bowler the Blues have to eke out wickets on flat decks.

Bailey has declared overnite 327 behind.

Neville declares 1/22 after only 4 overs. Is this giving the Tigers a sniff with 350 to win in 90ish overs?

Blues unable to make a breakthru in 14 overs. 

Can see this playing out to a tame draw

If you are looking for two spinners to win you a game dont pick SOK or even Lyon. You need an attacking wristie preferably. The Blues have one in Jason Sangha.

Between them Lyon and SOK have now gone wicketless from 40 overs.

Baffled why Sangha has not bowled as yet.  He was the most effective spinner in the last match..

 Blues are far too defensive if looking to win this game.. Poor show Nevill. 

Doolan looks in total control. Blues need an enforcer in its attack.. someone to ruffle some feathers. This mob is an embarrassment.