Justin Langer says flat pitches are the biggest threat to the future of Test cricket
The heat is on the MCG to find a balance in the extreme nature of its pitches. And if Aussie coach Justin Langer has his way, it should be more bowler friendly decks used around the world.
Cricket
Don't miss out on the headlines from Cricket. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The heat is on the MCG to find the balance between hell and a highway with its Boxing Day deck, after Australian coach Justin Langer declared flat pitches the biggest threat to the future of Test cricket.
The ICC on Tuesday refused to comment on pitch preparation, despite the governing body handing out the ratings that determine which grounds are allowed to host international fixtures.
“I see flat pitches as a huge problem for the health of cricket,” Langer said.
“I know (the MCG) are trying to push it so they get a contest back, because we don’t want to see cricket anywhere in the world on flat wickets which are batsman-dominated. It’s just not a spectacle.
“I’ve said this for 10, 15 or 20 years, for the health of Test cricket, first-class cricket and even one-day cricket you want to play on wickets where there’s a contest between bat and ball.
“I’d rather it strayed towards bowler-friendly than batsman-friendly.”
Stream the Australia v New Zealand Domain Test Series Live & Ad-Break Free During Play with KAYO SPORTS. Get your 14-day free trial & start streaming instantly >
Langer conceded that the Adelaide Oval pitch as well the Test pitches New Zealand just hosted England were all far too flat.
The pink ball copped stick for softening too quickly as Pakistan dominated Australia A in a tour match at Perth Stadium last month.
Ball manufacturer Kookaburra blamed the pitch for that and the pink ball will be used again when Australia hosts New Zealand at the new venue Thursday night.
But it is the MCG that is firmly in the spotlight with eyes across the world set to scrutinise what sort of surface it produces for Boxing Day.
All Sheffield Shield matches at the MCG from 2017-18 ended in draws, along with the 2017 Ashes bore in which just 24 wickets fell.
Kiwi captain Kane Williamson echoed Langer.
“There’s often results, but the balance between bat and ball is really important and always needs to be closely looked at,” Williamson told the Herald Sun.
“I can’t believe I’m taking us back there, but if you go back to the World Cup, the cricket in general was really fascinating tussles.
“You were always in the game because of the balance between bat and ball. At times (chasing) 240, 230 and it meant you’d have to navigate through.
“If a team bats first and gets 400 then often the game is (not a contest). Sometimes that’s nice to see, without a doubt, but that was a good example of balance between bat and ball.”
World Cup directors had scorecards reprinted to go up to 500 runs as hype swirled that it would be a buffet for batsmen.
But, in a surprise, fast bowlers led by Mitchell Starc dominated the tournament in England and Wales, and that delivered some engrossing contests.
MORE CRICKET
BBL 09: Big Bash squads, new signings for 2019-20 revealed
Sydney Thunder young gun Oliver Davies set to miss most of BBL09 due to wrist injury
How Nathan Ellis went from Sydney grade cricketer to Hobart Hurricanes quick
Dumped Test batsman Usman Khawaja instilled hope that the recently lifeless SCG would deliver a juicy, spin-friendly Test wicket next month.
“That’d be a pretty good deck to roll out for the Test here,” Khawaja said after making 20 and 54 for Queensland.
“It’s feeling more like the SCG of old, which is nice.”