``As general manager/curator I am the authority responsible for the preparation of the pitch at the SSC. It was stated that the New Zealand captain had not been informed as to which pitch the game was to be played on. May I say that neither the captain or the New Zealand team management made any inquiries from me as to which pitch the match was to be played on. Had they inquired they would have been given the appropriate information.
``As for preparing two pitches it is totally the responsibility of the ground authority. If I so wish to I could prepare more than one pitch. Once again had any member of the New Zealand tour party made an inquiry from me as to the reasons for preparing two pitches, I would gladly have disclosed the facts''.