Blame it on the weather.
That’s what Campbelltown Council says is the reason the premier playing field at Raby Sports Complex is unavailable on the eve of one of the biggest weekends of cricket for the Ghosts.
The centre square of Raby 1, as the premier field is called, was ripped up and new turf put down during winter.
Campbelltown Council says the plan was to have Raby 1 back to a playable condition when the cricket season started on September 24.
That was almost a month ago and the Camden Campbelltown Ghosts who call Raby home have still not played there this season.
“Due to unusually high winter rain the root system has not been able to bed down and thus growth on the centre square is not as progressed as when the project was planned,’’ says the council.
The Ghosts had hoped to resume using Raby 1 this Saturday when they were scheduled to host the University of NSW in round four of the Sydney Premier Cricket competition.
Having signed England international spinner Monty Panesar in the off season, the Ghosts were hoping to show off their high profile recruit at home for the first time in the 2016-17 season.
But it wasn’t to be, not at Raby 1 at any rate.
Jason Ellsmore, the secretary of the Ghosts emailed stakeholders earlier this week to inform them that Raby 1 would still be unavailable for play this weekend and next.
But there was some good news.
“I would like to thank the University of NSW Cricket Club for offering to host a mid-grade Ghosts home game. Their cooperation is appreciated in ensuring all men’s teams play on the coming two Saturdays.
“I would also like to thank the Campbelltown City Council and CDCA Junior Rep Administration for their support,’’ Mr Ellsmore wrote.
Which means that the Ghosts and Monty Panesar will play University of NSW at Raby but not on the premier field – they will instead be on Raby 2.
The unavailability of Raby 1 will also affect the representative selection fixtures scheduled for this Sunday for the NSW women’s team, the Breakers.
The Breakers Challenge between Thunder Green v Sixer Magenta will be played at Raby 2 and the Thunder Black v Sixer Black at Raby 3.
The 50 over clashes, which promise some spectacular cricket from the best women’s players in NSW and nationally, will see play start at 10am, with the second innings in both to start at 1.40pm.
The Ghosts have seven of their players selected for the two matches.
Two of their players have been given higher honours, with Lauren Cheatle captaining Thunder Green and wicketkeeper Hannah Trethewy skipper of the Thunder Black side.
On top of that, Ghosts head coach Steve Davies will carry the clipboard for the Thunder Green team.
As for Raby 1, the council says “it is expected that it will be available from the first weekend in November.’’
But they add, hopefully not ominously: “Weather permitting.’’
