WACA boss dismisses pitch controversy

The Western Australian Cricket Association has dismissed outrage in the Indian media after ground staff were filmed sitting and drinking on the WACA pitch ahead of the third Test starting Friday.

As Australia and India prepared to face off in Perth, Indian television late Thursday showed footage of around a dozen WACA staff including head groundsman Cam Sutherland gathered barefoot on the pitch, some drinking alcohol.

The TV commentators vented their anger and reported that Indian cricket officials were upset by the footage, claiming it was a major breach of protocol and fretting about possible damage to the pitch.

But a Cricket Australia spokesman said on Friday that he was not aware of any official complaint from the tourists, and WACA chief executive Graeme Wood said it was a "storm in a teacup".

Sutherland was completing final preparations for the match, and was joined by fellow staff for a few minutes in a Perth pre-Test tradition, he said. "It is a tradition since Cameron has been here, they pour an enormous amount of work into this wicket," Wood said. "It is just having a little bit of fun and saluting the ground staff and in particular, Cam Sutherland. "Cam was there, he was the person lying on the pitch putting the finishing touches to the wicket." AFP