SCG will be ready for Sydney Test: CA

Cricket Australia are confident that the Sydney Cricket Ground will be ready to host the annual New Year's Test despite last week's Sheffield Shield match at the ground being abandoned due to an unsafe playing surface.

The SCG is set to undergo a urgent resurfacing ahead of the third Test against the West Indies, starting on January 3, after the Shield clash between NSW Blues and Victoria was abandoned on Sunday after just 34.2 overs of play.

Victoria were on Monday awarded victory in their match against Blues after the turf surrounding the centre wicket was deemed unfit for first-class cricket.

In accordance with CA's Playing Conditions, the Bushrangers – as the visiting team - were awarded the match.

The Blues have shifted their Shield match against Tasmania, which starts on Saturday, away from the SCG and to Bankstown Oval, with Cricket NSW CEO Andrew Jones saying the side could not risk the prospect of another abandonment and another loss of points.

While there has been no official word from the SCG Trust in regards to their immediate plans for the ground, Jones said his "informal advice" was that the turf would be re-laid in the hope it would be ready for the Shield match against Queensland from November 28.

Cricket Australia's Head of Operations Sean Cary said CA and Cricket NSW would keep a close eye on the ground over the coming weeks.

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The area surrounding the SCG wicket this weekend // Getty Images

Cary added there was no guarantee that the ground would be ready to host the Shield match against the Bulls and also KFC Big Bash League matches on December 20 and 27, but was confident the Test against the Windies would go ahead as planned.

"The Sydney Test is two months away. We have every confidence they will get the playing surface right for that match," Cary said.

"We will need to make some checks on it between now and then and we are very hopeful they will get it right.

"There are no guarantees (for the domestic games) at all. We're hopeful that the ground will be right and ready to play them.

"We'll make regular checks along with Cricket NSW to ensure that the best possible outcome will be achieved."

Cary said he was unaware of the last time a Sheffield Shield match in Australia was abandoned due to an unsafe playing surface, if at all, describing the decision as "pretty significant".

The SCG Trust released a statement on Sunday night expressing their disappointment at the decision to abandon the match, with curator Tom Parker saying the surface was "absolutely ready" to host the match. 

"The Sydney Cricket and Sports Ground Trust notes the decision to relocate this weekend's Sheffield Shield match from the SCG," a SCG Trust spokesman said on Monday. 

"The SCG remains ready to host cricket at the highest level. The Trust will work closely with Cricket NSW and Cricket Australia to ensure that the next Sheffield Shield match, set down to start on 27 November, takes place as normal at the SCG."

Jones said the Blues had been surprised by the substandard conditions, adding Cricket NSW would speak directly with the Trust to ensure the playing surface returns to its normal standard.

"We're obviously talking directly to them about this issue as we do on issues that come up from time to time," Jones said.

"They've been here for more than 100 years, as have we, and we'll both be here for another 100 years so we'll work through that.

"But we'll certainly take this issue up with them directly."

It's the second time in the space of a week that a first-class match in Sydney has been abandoned due to an unfit playing surface; New Zealand's tour match against the CA XI at Blacktown was called off when it was determined that the pitch was unsafe for play. 

WATCH: Pitch forces tour match abandonment

"(The Shield match) is not a good look for cricket and it's not a good look for anyone involved in it so we have to take that on the chin," Jones said.

"Bear in mind that we're hirers of the ground, as we are at Blacktown, so to some extent we have influence but not control.

"But having said that we like to be excellent at Cricket NSW and this clearly isn't excellent."

Cricket Victoria CEO Tony Dodemaide was disappointed that players from both sides had been denied the opportunity to play.

"We'll certainly take (the points), but no one is pleased with the outcome because what we wanted was the game to be played on its merits and all the players to be able to put performances on the board and stake their claim for national honours," Dodemaide said.

"There's only 10 Shield games a year when they get a chance to do that and unfortunately it's an opportunity for players from both sides that's been missed.

"We don't blame Cricket NSW. I've spoken to my counterpart up there, Andrew Jones, a couple of times ... and he's very frustrated as well.

"Obviously from his point of view he'd also would like the game to be played on its merits and for players to get that opportunity to put performances on the board.

"That hasn't been the case so I'm sure he's frustrated."

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Finch with a clump of SCG turf // Getty Images

Dodemaide expected Bushrangers batsman Aaron Finch, who was one of several players to fall on the SCG turf during the match, would be fit to play their Shield clash against Western Australia.

He backed the decision to abandon that match in favour of player safety.

"Player safety is paramount always, but certainly in recent times," Dodemaide said.

"We know that for players out there, that's their livelihoods. There was a lot of Australian players who were playing out there. Aaron Finch is the Australian T20 captain and for him to have had a significant knee injury would have been incredibly serious.

"So I think the right call was made in the end."