I am pretty sure ross did say it was ready. He even said but for the ashes debacle the game would be in our hands by now. (he said that initially some time ago, and repeated it recently). He also never contradicted his self-appointed attack dogs who slaughtered anyone who suggested maybe it wasn't ready.
Now i personally read the "deliver the best game possible" bit not necessarily as an admission that the game isnn't ready but more an allusion to the fact that they could use the extra time to add more fixes etc. obviously he couldn't say it those words exactly, since that's pretty much what Fegan said.
I am certain he said it was ready back in June and was just waiting for the Ashes team to make their move.
I am not disappointed at the game being delayed, but I firmly believe Ross knew the game would not make a 2013 release quite some time ago and so to lessen the blow waited to tell us till he had a major update to the cricket academy to lessen the blow.
All those protecting Ross as the guy who can do no wrong need a reality check. Why do you think he was so snappy and evasive of so many genuine questions during the past few months?? It certainly was not an extended 'period'