Legendary curator Les Burdett brought in to fix MCG pitch problem before Boxing Day Test
Former Adelaide Oval curator Les Burdett has answered an emergency call to help improve the standard of the MCG pitch ahead of the Boxing Day Test against New Zealand.
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Les Burdett believes he can fix Melbourne’s ‘embarrassing’ pitch fiasco, but Jason Gillespie says Cricket Australia shouldn’t hide behind tradition in allocating Boxing Day Tests.
Adelaide is on standby to host a Boxing Day Test between Australia and New Zealand if Melbourne can’t deliver a safe and satisfactory drop in pitch.
CA ‘pitch whisperer’ and legendary greenkeeper Burdett - who has answered an emergency request to revive the MCG from next week - acknowledged the gravity of the situation.
“I am pitch advisor for CA and doing some work with them. It is just duty of care, Cricket Australia have a responsibility, need someone to have a look at it,” Burdett told The Advertiser.
Victoria’s Sheffield Shield match against Western Australia last weekend was abandoned due to an unsafe MCG pitch.
Batsmen Marcus Stoinis and Shaun Marsh were hit then suffered concussion tests.
The pitch for the Shield game had been overwatered, which led to the formation of dangerous divets.
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“I have spoken to the curator (Matthew Page), he said what went on. There was damage done when it was wet and all of a sudden you have an issue,” explained former Adelaide Oval lead curator Burdett.
“It won’t be a problem.”
The MCG pitch is five ICC demerit points away from a one-year international venue hosting ban.
“It is serious but it is whether they (ICC) pull the trigger on it,” said Burdett, with the MCG’s 2017 Ashes pitch rated ‘poor’ by the ICC.
Broadcasters are concerned by the prospect of a substandard pitch or a dull MCG strip that delivers another boring contest and turns off fans from ball one.
Gillespie thrived in four Boxing Day Test matches taking 21 wicket at 13, but says rival venues headlined by Adelaide deserve to be rewarded for excellence in numbers, pitch and experience.
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“I know it has been a tradition in Melbourne for 30 years, but why can’t you start new traditions or rotate a Boxing Day Test?” Gillespie told The Advertiser.
“These conversations shouldn’t be taboo and cricket is constantly evolving.
“It is not as though the Boxing Day Test has been going since 1880.
“It wasn’t long ago Adelaide had the Australia Day Test.
“There is no harm in asking CA the question.”
Gillespie noted Adelaide’s Test attendances were marginally behind Melbourne without the benefit of programming through public and school holidays.
“Boxing Day you can fit 80,000 at the MCG, but who is to say you can’t get 50,000 every day in Adelaide?,” said Gillespie.
Cricket Australia is negotiating a new agreement with the Melbourne Cricket Club to host Boxing Day Tests for years to come despite the venue’s ongoing issues.
SACA chief executive Keith Bradshaw says Adelaide’s ‘strong spectator numbers, voting with their feet’ – highlighted by 123,000 over three days when New Zealand toured in 2015 – would support a Boxing Day Test.
South Australian sports Minister Corey Wingard wants to purse Adelaide’s compelling case to host Boxing Day Tests
“I’ve spoken with SACA and said I’d be ready to support their push for the match if there was the possibility it could be moved. No one would do it better than Adelaide and the SACA,” Mr Wingard said.