Cricket Australia blames curators for MCG 'farce'
Cricket Australia's head of operations Peter Roach says MCG curators went too far in their attempts to create more movement in the wicket.
The MCG has come under heavy scrutiny following the abandonment of the Sheffield Shield match between Victoria and Western Australia on Sunday due to fears over player safety.
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Warriors duo Shaun Marsh and Marcus Stoinis had to undergo concussion tests after balls spat up dangerously from the deck on Saturday and hit them on the head.
Fortunately, both players were cleared of concussion.
Fair to say there was a bit happening in the first session, including this ball which spat up at Marsh from Siddle 😮 #VICvWA #SheffieldShield pic.twitter.com/1F84jagdbd
— Victorian Cricket Team (@VicStateCricket) December 7, 2019
Roach says the aim is to create unique characteristics at individual Australian cricket grounds, but concedes MCG head curator Matt Page and his staff went a little bit too far in their attempts to produce more movement in the wicket.
But Roach claims Page and his ground staff now know what they can and can't do ahead of Australia's Boxing Day Test against New Zealand.
He made contact with New Zealand officials after the match was abandoned to reassure them that the pitch will be of a high standard for the match, which will take place on a strip that has not been used in the Shield this season.
"We want to see more movement in that wicket and more action in those early days of the Test match," Roach told SEN on Monday.
"They (the curators) have gone on the path to try and do that. This time they went a little bit far, but the learning from that is that they now know what they can and can't do.
"We've got confidence for the Test match on Boxing Day and we look forward to the 26th of December.
"We don't tailor (pitches) to our own teams' needs. What we want our grounds to do is to produce their own unique characteristics.
"With the MCG, what we've highlighted is that we want it to have some pace and bounce and some sideways movement."
The latest debacle to unfold at the MCG has left many cricket lovers incensed, with many calling for the Boxing Day Test to be moved to a different venue.
Is the Boxing day Test in danger?#9SportsSunday @Channel9#9WWOS #Cricket #AUSvPAK pic.twitter.com/08EM1Q6Ros
— Wide World of Sports (@wwos) December 7, 2019
The MCG pitch has been a farce for some time. Would be hilarious if they lost the Boxing Day test to another city.
— Peter Orinuela (@PeterOrinuela) December 7, 2019
The MCG pitch farce will uncover the ridiculousness of CA rules and the inconsistent application of them. In 2015 Victoria were awarded full points after the game vs NSW was abandoned due to an unsafe outfield on day three. #VICvWA
— Darren Murphy 🏏 (@MrDMurphy) December 7, 2019
The condition of MCG pitches have been a farce for the past few years. If they're not pitches that are deemed "unsafe", they're dishing up lifeless test pitches which result in boring 5-day draws.
Sad for our most iconic stadium.— Adam Hayward (@Hayward_AdamK) December 7, 2019
MCG pitch has been a flat lifeless wicket for years. Batters paradise! Bring it to perth #boxingday
— johno (@Westozy) December 9, 2019
That’s the worst pitch at the MCG since Meatloaf sang there! #MCG #AUSvNZ @7Cricket #7Crickeg
— Taylor Auerbach (@tauerbach) December 8, 2019
@mcg needs to be stripped of Boxing Day test til they sort this pitch out. Been the worst in Australia for years
— Heath (@heath_mds) December 8, 2019
I know they need to sort out the pitch however that is not a excuse to move the boxing day test match from MCG. https://t.co/1WiyPup8TM
— Luke (@lukecrossfield) December 8, 2019
WA had reached 3-89 before play was called off, with left-handed opener Jake Carder (44) carving out a solid innings in the difficult batting conditions.
Carder fell victim to Peter Siddle (3-21), who was Victoria's most damaging bowler.
With AAP