Outdated MCG wicket undergoing major revamp in bid to liven up Boxing Day Test ‘snoozefest’

Work has begun on replacing the maligned MCG pitch that has led to the Boxing Day Test being dubbed a ‘snoozefest’, with the square’s concrete base set to be ripped out over the next 10 days.

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Work has begun on replacing the maligned MCG pitch that has led to the Boxing Day Test being dubbed a “snoozefest”.

The biggest centre wicket revamp at the iconic ground in over a decade started this week with all drop-in pitches removed.

Significantly, the square’s concrete base, which many believe was to blame for the poor wickets, will be ripped out over the next 10 days.

The MCG pitch has come under fire in recent years.

It will be filled in as usual for the AFL season, but this time with the same sand and gravel used for the entire ground.

A working party involving the Melbourne Cricket Club, Cricket Australia and Cricket Victoria agreed the old wicket area was outdated and made the decision to build four new wickets.

At the end of the 2019 football season construction will begin on a new “concrete rail support system”, similar to ones used at both the Adelaide Oval and new Perth Stadium.

The drop-in pitches at both grounds have been roundly considered much better than the MCG.

The International Cricket Council rated the wicket “poor” following the 2017 Boxing Day Test bore-draw with England.

The ground was given an “average” rating, a pass mark, following this summer’s loss to India

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Pat Cummins was happy but the MCG pitch is still up for a facelift.

MCG curator Matt Page said getting better wickets required rebuilding them.

But the new pitches will not be ready until England’s next Ashes visit in 2021-22.

“It’s important to note that first-class cricket pitches cannot be created overnight,” said Page, who helped build the wickets for the new Perth Stadium.

“Each new pitch requires at least two to three years to be mature enough to withstand the rigours of longer form cricket.”

Page said his team was reviewing the soil used to build their wickets.

“We want to see if a different soil with a higher percentage of clay will give us more pace and bounce,” he said.

“We are also trialling new wickets in the practice wicket area and are working towards a full refurbishment of our wicket nursery in Yarra Park.”

One of two pitches rebuilt in 2012 will be used for next summer’s Boxing Test against New Zealand.