In a umpire venue assessment report provided to the Central Otago District Council by New Zealand Cricket following the Otago Volts Northern Knights T20 clash on December 30, both captains described the pitch as a ''joke'' and ''rated it one out of 10''.
The planned installation of a new cricket block cannot come soon enough for the picturesque Central Otago venue. Plans to dig out the 45-year-old block are under way.
Earlier, the pitch was rated as ''below average'' following the December 6-10 Plunket Shield match-up between the Volts and Central Stags
Pitch reports for both matches along with a Molyneux Park wicket report from contractor Asplundh, which manages the ground, will be presented to council today.
A report by council parks and recreations manager Gordon Bailey says ''discussions with New Zealand Cricket indicated Molyneux Park was not going to lose its first class cricket match status, particularly with the long-awaited upgrade scheduled''.
''Council staff have made a commitment to New Zealand Cricket that the block will be renewed as soon as practicable following the Highlander rugby match that occurred on 1 February 2019.''
The slow and low nature of the track during December 30's T20 double header was described as ''looking like a dry riverbed of rolled mud'' with players voicing their concerns of the ''quality of cricket for the good crowd''.
''Unfortunately the practice and playing surfaces were not of the required standard,''the report said.
Both the playing and practice pitches were rated as ''poor'' with the Knights opting for an all-weather artificial facility during their practice day.
Earlier in the month, only six bouncers were bowled during the entirety of the four-day Volts-Stags Plunket Shield game. The report said the ball - only 16 overs old - was badly damaged on the first day due to the rough surface ''which was starting to look like a Day 4 pitch'' with pieces of leather removed.
In Asplundh's Molyneux Park wicket report, several factors were identified as contributing to the ground's poor performance including weak grass cover due to the covers being left on too long, lack of resources and a record rainfall of 200mm between October and December 2018.
An ''unrealistic cricket schedule'' with a Plunket Shield game, T20 double-header and two Hawke Cup games all being played in the month of December was highlighted by ground staff.
