But the former wicketkeeper was eager to point out the pitch block was still new and would take some time to bed in.
A combination of humidity and a damp pitch saw 16 wickets tumble on the opening day of the Plunket Shield match between Otago and Central Districts. And last week, Auckland was dismissed for just 46 at the venue on a day in which 18 wickets fell.
It was hardly a great advertisement for the revamped venue on which $5 million has been spent, including the laying of a new drainage system, expanding the playing surface and shifting the pitch block.
But Dykes believes it has been money well spent. The drainage system is working precisely how it was intended and the pitch block has shown potential.
However, the wicket was too soft on Monday and was not conducive to good batting.
"It is fair to say I was a little disappointed [with how it played]," he said.
"I am aware that it is early days for the block and there has been a lot of dew in the morning, which contributed. But it was disappointing that it was soft on top because, combined with the humidity, it just created conditions which were difficult to bat in. When it swings and grips on the surface, batting becomes pretty difficult."
Groundsman Tom Tamati accepted the pitch was not right.
"I had it pretty hard on Sunday night but we had a pretty heavy dew on Monday morning, so I think it softened the top up."
The morning's play left the pitch with indentations, a clear indication the surface was too soft.
But conditions improved in the afternoon. The wind got up and helped dry the pitch and the ball stopped swinging as much.
In hindsight, Tamati said he would have started preparation on the pitch earlier and he could have used an extra half a day of sunlight.
The pitch for the match against Auckland actually received a reasonable grade despite the Aces capitulating for 46. After each first-class match, the captains from both sides meet the umpires to help compile a report, and they gave the University Oval a "good" mark.
"They thought the pitch was good and there are grades of unsatisfactory, satisfactory, good and very good," Dykes said.
"So that is a pretty standard mark and certainly an acceptable mark. They thought the bounce and the carry was good and the pace was adequate without being express."
The University Oval certainly does not have the best reputation. In 2009, a survey of New Zealand's first-class cricketers found the University Oval had the worst wicket, and the venue has seen its share of low scores.
"Clearly, the pitch didn't have the greatest reputation before and the fact we've used a different type of Kakanui clay is recognition that the surface could be better and, hopefully, it will be," Dykes said.
The country's groundsmen have tended to produce "bland" pitches in the past five years and, in that way, have "safeguarded themselves from any criticism", Dykes said.
"I think we need to move away from that and balance the ledger a bit. To do that, you have to have a bit of grass on it and it will seam a bit and give the bowlers a chance - that is not unreasonable."
Day two of the Plunket Shield match between Otago and Central Districts was abandoned without a ball being bowled due to poor weather.
The game will resume at 10am with Central on 134 for six in reply to Otago's first-innings tally of 147.
