Concerns continue to grow over Boxing Day Test pitch

Retired Test player John Hastings said it was time to “throw the cake mix out” and start with a fresh MCG pitch as concerns for the Boxing Day Test showpiece continue to grow louder.

A groundsman working on the pitch last year. Picture: AAP

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Victorians Aaron Finch and John Hastings have cast further doubt over the MCG pitch as pressure grows to produce a lively Boxing Day wicket.

The Herald Sun revealed the flat deck used for this month’s Sheffield Shield draw had star players concerned another boring Boxing Day draw was on the cards.

Finch - set to open the batting in a Test match in front of his home crowd for the first time - expected curators to leave even more grass on the Test pitch.

“I haven’t played a Shield game there, but the boys said there’s been a little bit more grass on it and it’s seamed around a little bit,” Finch said.

A groundsman working on the pitch last year. Picture: AAP

“But it’s still been on the slower side. I don’t expect that to change a hell of a lot.”

Retired allrounder John Hastings said it was time to “throw the cake mix out” and start fresh, like they did in Perth.

“I’ve said this all along and, having played there for nearly 10 years, I just think the MCG pitch is too stale to be honest,” Hastings said.

“(New MCG curator) Matty Page (MCG curator) is trying everything he possibly can.

“He’s experimented a little bit in the early stages of the Sheffield Shield, so he’s tried to put a bit more grass on it.

“I think there will be enough coverage of grass to get a little bit of interest with the ball early, but then it just becomes so flat.

“It just doesn’t break up.”

Victorian star Glenn Maxwell and WA batsman Ashton Turner agreed the MCG pitch got easier to bat on during their draw this month.

Last year’s Boxing Day Test was a fizzer. Picture: AAP

Turner, who was unbeaten from 145 balls on day four, said it would be hard for Australia or India to get a result on that wicket.

WA coach Adam Voges said Australia should drop a batsman in favour of an allrounder given the conditions.

“I would think, having just played a Shield game in Melbourne, they may need some extra bowling,” Voges said.

“It was pretty flat when we played there, so if they were ever going to go with the allround option, it will be that time.”

Perth’s new deck was pitch perfect. Picture: AAP

All five first-class matches at the MCG last summer were draws.

Page is expected to prepare a pitch similar to the first two Sheffield Shield games this summer, rather than the deck used for the dull Vics-WA draw.

Victorian quick Peter Siddle, who is in the Test squad, played in a rain-affected Shield draw at the MCG this summer but was confident of a Test result.

Perth Stadium boss Mike McKenna, a former Cricket Australia executive, has flagged plans to poach the Boxing Day or New Year’s Test.

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Originally published as Concerns continue to grow over Boxing Day Test pitch