***Official*** 4th Test at the MCG

[Compton]

There's lots of evidence to suggest that MCG drop ins don't deteriorate so keep some live grass on it

A raging green top would better than this thing

If they produce a raging green top they would need to switch to a flatter wicket to bowl at tail-enders. Either that or have the seamers bowl with the wrong hand.

 

[Son Of Coco]

Well that played out to a rather non-entertaining draw. I know the curator's probably say they're hamstrung by the nature of the drop-in and the local weather conditions, but years ago some local ne'erdowells decided to get stuck into our pitch with a combination of putters and blue metal. A couple of week's later it produced some very entertaining cricket, with the ball seaming around quite a lot. Maybe next time a test is played at the MCG they could nominate 2 players from each team to be given a hip bag full of blue metal and a cut down Taylor Made blade a week out from the game, and let them go at it for 5 minutes each.

Either that, or throw an assortment of gloves, boxes, pads, and assorted other stuff from the team kitbag on a good length for the bowler to aim at.

 

[OverratedSanity]

I just hope the ICC rates this as a poor pitch. These are so much worse than greentops and Pune style dustbowls. Atleast those pitches help certain disciplines. This was the very worst kind of pitch... slow pace which makes strokeplay difficult, but survival easy.

 

[vic_orthdox]

Forgot, it was the last pitch to be done by that curator, he's heading to Brisbane while the Perth one is taking over at the MCG. The merry-go-round continues.

 

[S.Kennedy]

Flat dead ones are really the only really terrible wickets from a viewing perspective. At least with green seamers and raging turners you get three-day matches, cascades of wickets flying everywhere like the 2015 Ashes. The best wickets are balanced but I'd rather have overly bowling wickets than batting wickets any day.

 

[TheJediBrah]

Smith takes that catch off Cook, and we don't lose those sessions to rain, and this game gets a result IMO.

Doesn't change the grinding nature of the pitch though

 

[vic_orthdox]

Smith takes that catch off Cook, and we don't lose those sessions to rain, and this game gets a result IMO.

Doesn't change the grinding nature of the pitch though

Think this is the point for many. While administrators hide behind the fact that there is a result, its that the viewing public (particularly in Melbourne) gets shortchanged on the quality of cricket we get to watch.

There's been some really good quality cricket, against South Africa (05/06, 08/09) and India (11/12) but in general the cricket has been turgid.

 

[Spikey]

do you think the junction oval being able to host early season shield games may help the MCG produce a better test wicket in future

 

[vcs]

The pitches that jag around like crazy for 2 sessions on day 1 and then turn into complete roads annoy me more, because while they produce a result, the match is over as a contest after 2 sessions when the team that has to bat first gets bowled out for <150. You then just have to wait for it to play out predictably. There are a few wickets like that in England and NZ.

 

[vic_orthdox]

do you think the junction oval being able to host early season shield games may help the MCG produce a better test wicket in future

Nah, I think with the new curator they'll need to get him on the 'G as many times as possible before the Test.

Think all three of the Shield games at the 'G have been draws this year anyway. So it's not like this was unrepresentative of what it has been like during the season.

We've seen other years (Melbourne and elsewhere) where the wickets have been producing results in the Shield but roll out flat boring wickets for the Test matches to ensure five days. That's one thing you probably can't accuse them of this year.

 

[vic_orthdox]

The pitches that jag around like crazy for 2 sessions on day 1 and then turn into complete roads annoy me more, because while they produce a result, the match is over as a contest after 2 sessions when the team that has to bat first gets bowled out for <150. You then just have to wait for it to play out predictably. There are a few wickets like that in England and NZ.

Which I think the MCG is worried about being if they do grass it up, a la 2010/11 Ashes. Sometimes they have turned into really good games in the Shield stuff, but that's because of the more generous declarations for four day cricket to generate a result - need to give the team something to have a go at.

 

[vcs]

Which I think the MCG is worried about being if they do grass it up, a la 2010/11 Ashes. Sometimes they have turned into really good games in the Shield stuff, but that's because of the more generous declarations for four day cricket to generate a result - need to give the team something to have a go at.

Yeah, that's a good example. Those are generally my least favourite type of Test match.

 

[Spikey]

Nah, I think with the new curator they'll need to get him on the 'G as many times as possible before the Test.

Think all three of the Shield games at the 'G have been draws this year anyway. So it's not like this was unrepresentative of what it has been like during the season.

We've seen other years (Melbourne and elsewhere) where the wickets have been producing results in the Shield but roll out flat boring wickets for the Test matches to ensure five days. That's one thing you probably can't accuse them of this year.

Yeah it was a stench on my part but I'm just trying to think of differences between the SCG and MCG other than the drop in. the SCG basically not holding any matches until mid-November is a big one, although the SCG uses that time to redo the outfield

 

[GotSpin]

The pitches need to bounce properly at the minimum. They don't need to be green tops but at least reward good bowling and good batting.

 

[vogue]

Where did you go Morgie?

Getting back to the beach matter, any beach which is otherwise beautiful but at which you can’t swim because the water is always too cold is obviously excluded from any discussion.

Any beach which is otherwise beautiful but at which you can’t swim because the water is full of things which bite, sting or eat you, is obviously excluded from any discussion..

As for the cold water, we improvise and paddle... it’s a quirky British thing..

 

[Daemon]

Fully agree with whoever said this pitch should be reported. If Australia can't even revive their dead wickets theres not much hope for the Great Barrier Reef is there.

 

[Burgey]

Look, at least players here aren’t resorting to wearing masks to avoid dropping dead from air pollution.

And that wasn’t even at Chennai ffs.

 

[Spark]

Fully agree with whoever said this pitch should be reported. If Australia can't even revive their dead wickets theres not much hope for the Great Barrier Reef is there.

pretty sure that was me.

but i think i've said that about, like, five different australian pitches in the last few years

 

[S.Kennedy]

Seems there will be something about it,
MCG drop-ins under review after bore draw - ESPNcricinfo

Three of the dodgiest wickets were South Africa v India tests,
Which kind of pitch is worst for Tests? - ESPNcricinfo

 

[Spark]

Those India v SA pitches were a bit silly, and frankly kind of unfair, but I'd still take them every day of the week over this.

Of the three there, I would say (rank turner, green top, fast bouncy belter all roughly the same) >>>>>>>> uneven bounce >>>> slow road

EDIT: Maybe you could argue that the green-top places too much emphasis on the toss, I guess?