Uneven pitch, slippery surface-these problems have dominated the discussion around Marvel Stadium. Aaron Finch, an Australian cricket legend, has openly called for the team's matches to be moved to Geelong. Is this the beginning of the end for Marvel Stadium as a host venue for cricket?

Worrying situation at Marvel Stadium

The Melbourne Renegades, one of the key teams of the Big Bash League (BBL), may soon face a major decision regarding the future of their main arena, Marvel Stadium. Following recent events, the team's long-time player Aaron Finch has famously called for consideration of moving matches to another venue, such as Geelong.

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The criticism focused on the state of the pitch, which was uneven and difficult to play on during the Renegades' clash with Perth Scorchers on Monday. This problem is not new and recurs regularly, especially at the start of the season.

© Gav Owen

Pitch problems vs multipurpose stadiums

The pitch inadequacies at Marvel Stadium stemmed from the stadium's roof being closed two days before the game due to wet weather. The result? A slippery and difficult surface that made the game difficult for both Renegades players, and their opponents, the Perth Scorchers. Similar problems had previously occurred at Sydney's Engie Stadium, where the pitch appeared to be inadequately prepared during the Sydney Smash match. In both cases, the cause was due to previous events - concerts and other events held at these multi-purpose venues.

As Finch noted, the situation is repeated regularly. Marvel was shocking last night. I was out on the ground and it was slippery. There has to be questions, are Marvel Stadium serious about hosting cricket he said on ESPN. His call for the matches to be moved to Geelong was met with mixed reactions.

Big Bash League governing body's stance

BBL chief executive Alistair Dobson admitted on Tuesday that the situation at Marvel Stadium was disappointing. The ground was "presented poorly". By and large they present good outfields and good wickets, particularly as we get further into the season. That (multi-purpose aspect) does come with some trade offs, but we don't expect it to be the size of the trade off we saw last night he said. Dobson suggested that, in the future, it may be possible to avoid scheduling BBL matches at Marvel Stadium until later in the summer, which could allow the surface to be better prepared. However, such a solution raises further logistical challenges, particularly as Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) is unavailable in the run-up to the traditional Boxing Day Test match.

It's a balance between the best possible preparation and spacing games out to give fans a chance to go Dobson added. At the same time, he stressed that poor pitch preparation could negatively impact the BBL's image overseas, especially in a season where attendance and viewing figures have increased by 30 per cent.

© Plutinc (cc: by-sa)

Will Renegades move to Geelong?

Aaron Finch's proposal for the Renegades to move permanently to Geelong seems unlikely. Melbourne authorities insist the city needs two teams to cater for both on and off the field. Also, the suggestion that the Renegades join the Melbourne Stars at the MCG has been dismissed. We have two clubs in Melbourne that have different identities and different fan bases and different history Dobson pointed out.