Just out of interest, in the game against Auckland at the Basin.. It looked like the test match pitch (I assume) had a cover on it during play ? Would've been a pain for close fielders.
Yeah mate, it's a mat made out of coconut husk. It protects the surface and keeps the moisture in the clay. Didn't seam to effect the game or the players as the ball bounces true off it. They all seam to be pretty ok with it and even if they didn't there's not a lot they can do - test match, obviously, gets priority.