Australia issued SCG pitch warning ahead fifth Test against India

Australia’s SCG security blanket has been ripped off them ahead of the fifth Test, with the ground’s curator predicting the wicket will produce a winner in the Border Gavaskar Trophy decider.

Australia has been warned not to be fooled by history – playing for a draw will be a huge gamble on an SCG wicket tipped to yield a result.

That’s the verdict of Sydney curator Adam Lewis who is confident a clear weather forecast and the best growing season in close to a decade will produce a winner in the Border Gavaskar Trophy decider.

Australia only needs a draw to claim the one piece of silverware that has cruelly eluded them for the past eight years, but dropping anchor and trying to protect their 2-1 series lead could spell disaster, despite the statistics which say the SCG is comfortably the best batting deck in the country.

Pat Cummins’ team has been urged to go out and attack the win.

“For sure,” Lewis said when asked if he expected his pitch to be a result wicket starting on Friday.

“Especially with the weather. We’ve had two Shields (Sheffield Shield matches) with two results so I’m pretty sure this should be a result Test. I’m hoping for a result Test.

“It’s looking really good. There’s a good even grass over. We’re just starting to raise the weight on the roller today (Wednesday).

“We’re hoping we’re going to get some good carry and some good bounce in it early, and then hopefully with this weather around it’ll break up and hopefully the usual SCG traits come out.

Andrew McDonald and Pat Cummins inspect the wicket. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

“We’ve been really happy with the two Shield pitches we’ve produced this year. We’ve mimicked the exact preparation with them for the Test.”

Lewis and his team have endured a nightmare run with bad weather over recent years to the point where rain has become a running talking point associated with the Sydney Test.

But after years of sleepless nights, Lewis is finally sleeping like a baby before an SCG Test and is buoyant about the dream preparation he has enjoyed for this blockbuster series finale.

Since the start of 2020 PitchViz numbers from stats wizards CricViz have confirmed that the SCG is the best batting deck in Australia by some distance from Brisbane and Melbourne, and unsurprisingly the toughest hunting ground for fast bowlers.

In this time frame, the SCG is joined only by the National Stadium in Karachi and Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in North Sound for having had more draws than result Test matches (3 draws out of 5 Tests) – the most of any venue in the world.

The SCG has also seen the lowest swing numbers for any Australian venue and the lowest seam movement from the first 10 overs of Tests.

However, the fact it swings as much in the first 10 overs as it does between overs 61-80 at the SCG indicates that reverse swing could come into play later in the match.

Sydney still retains its reputation as the home of spin in Australia, with big turn on the SCG wicket, even if spinners have still struggled to take wickets at the venue in recent years.

Most of these numbers are largely due to the extraordinary levels of rain recorded in Sydney over the past five years and that will not be a factor this year.

Lewis believes this wicket will break down and offer a bit for both quicks and spinners.

“I do. I agree with you, the weather has really been the detriment to us the last few years,” Lewis said.

“The pitch has not been able to break up. We’ve been under the covers for such a long time and the bowlers just aren’t able to get in and get into it as much.

The Australian Test team with Glenn McGrath to launch the Pink Test. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

“I think we’ve got the right soil. It’s the Bulli soil that breaks down and crushes up and once the ball hits all that, that’s when we get the turn. We’ve got the weather this year, so hopefully we can see that.”

Australian star Alex Carey said he liked the look of the surface and is adamant the team’s ethos will be to win not draw.

“I think this wicket sets up really well for a good Test match. It looks like there will be a bit in it early,” Carey said.

“From a couple of days out, there’s nice grass coverage, the weather forecast looks pretty solid. But to go into the last game 2-1 up, it’s great for the group, we’ve got another opportunity to win a Test match.

“We always play to win the game and then work backwards from there.”

Originally published as Australia issued SCG pitch warning ahead fifth Test against India