Conspiracy denied: MCG curator defends practice pitches used by India, promises pace on Boxing Day
By Jon Pierik
Melbourne Cricket Club curator Matt Page has defended the preparation of net pitches offered up to India before the Boxing Day Test as visiting media raise the spectre of a “conspiracy” against the tourists.
In a week of escalating tensions since the tourists arrived in Melbourne, India’s players noted they were not given the best pitches available at the MCG at training on Saturday and Sunday, while their press gallery reported that the net pitches the team trained on were low and slow, and batsmen too easily played off the front foot.
Indian skipper Rohit Sharma, pictured here in the MCG nets on Saturday, had to adjust to a practice pitch more akin to that used for white-ball cricket. Credit: Getty Images
After an Indian website ran the headline, “Australia’s conspiracy against India? Visitors given flat pitch with low bounce for MCG practice”, Page explained standard protocols were being followed at the MCG this year. Those protocols meant the Test-quality practice wickets became available for both teams to train on from Monday – three days before the Test – a day when the Indian team chose not to train.
“For us, three days out, we prepare Test match pitches for here. If teams come and train before that, they get what pitches we have had,” Page said on Monday.
“Today, we are on fresh pitches. If India had trained this morning, they would have been on those fresh pitches. It’s stock standard procedure for us, three days out.”
Promising a centre wicket for the Test that will excite fast bowlers, Page said the fresh practice pitches would offer more life and bounce than those used at the weekend.
Indian fast bowler Akash Deep and his captain Rohit Sharma were both hit while batting on those pitches on Sunday.
Akash later acknowledged the conditions were not ideal, but said the body blows were nothing to worry about.
“Such blows are common when you play cricket,” he said. “I think this (practice) wicket was for white ball, which is why the ball kept low at times. But these blows are common in training. There are no major concerns because of that.”
Page said he was aware of India’s training schedule.
Protocols followed: MCG curator Matt Page.Credit: Chris Hopkins
India did not train on Monday. A team spokesman was contacted for comment. Australia had an optional afternoon session using the fresh pitches.
The MCG nets have already accommodated preparation for a one-day international and a Big Bash League game this summer.
This masthead noted that India were given the best of the centre-wicket pitches at the WACA before the series began in Perth. Australia had only one session at the WACA, and that was on a pitch on the edge of the square because of Women’s Big Bash League commitments, frustrating the men’s team.
What will matter most to both nations come Thursday is the state of the centre wicket, Page predicting the green-tinged deck will excite Indian pace ace Jasprit Bumrah.
While Australia’s fast bowlers have largely had strong campaigns through the opening three Tests which has the series locked at 1-1, the home team needs to find a way to at least blunt Bumrah if they are to wrest back the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
The Indian pace ace has a series-high 21 wickets at a remarkable average of just 10.9, and is now preparing to return to his most productive venue in Australian cricket, for he has 15 wickets at 13.06 in only two Tests at the MCG.
With 53 at 17.15 across three tours, Bumrah now boasts the best bowling average by any overseas player who has taken 50 or more wickets in Australia.
That the tourists have won their past two Tests in Melbourne, en route to series victories, adds to the confidence Bumrah and his team have brought to Melbourne.
Page said that the drop-in deck, with its six millimetres of grass cushioning will aid all fast bowlers, including Bumrah.
“I think all the quick bowlers get excited when they come here now. It gets through well for us. We are never going to be as quick as Perth or Brisbane, but over the last few years we have managed to get some pace into it, which has created that excitement,” Page said.
“There is a bit of grass on it. If you are a fast bowler, and you look it at, yeah, you probably do get excited.”
Page has played an instrumental role in the rebirth of the pitch nursery and, by extension, the centre wickets after they were lashed by the ICC late last decade, putting the ground on notice over its future pitches.
“Seven years ago, we were quite flat. We sat down as an organisation and said we want to create more exciting contests, more exciting Test matches, so we leave more grass on it now. That brings the bowlers into it a bit more, but they are still good for batting, once the new ball goes off,” Page said.
Pat Cummins praised the wicket after last summer’s 57-run win over Pakistan, noting it had encouraged seam and short bowling, and delivered the “up and down bounce” he enjoys.
Pakistan captain Shan Masood was more effusive, declaring “the groundsmen did a wonderful job, one of the better Test pitches that we have played on, something for everyone”.
The Bureau of Meteorology is predicting the temperature will top 40C on Thursday, before cooler conditions kick in for the rest of the match.