Ashes 2017-18: MCG surface a cause of concern for officials in Australia

Following the Australian skipper Steven Smith and his England counterpart remarked the surface of the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) lifeless, the cricket officials further noted they are looking into it after being not being up to the mark.

“I think it (pitch) just needs to do something. It hasn’t changed over five days,” Smith shed led earlier on the MCG pitch

Following the lack of the pace in the surface, the chief executive officer of Cricket Victoria Tony Dodemade reiterated they are looking forward to making games exciting.

“You want the pitch to break up, bring more players into the game, chasing runs or defending gets harder as the game goes on,” Dodemade was quoted as saying by Sydney Morning Herald which further saw him voting for variations while speaking to ABC Radio.

However, Andrew Ingleton, who’s the chief executive with CA, is subsequently bound to replace the Dodemaide.

The pitch came into the focus when three first-class JLT Sheffield Shield fixtures were drawn, as the past 19 Tests held at the iconic stadium saw a solitary draw.

“While this Test pitch did produce a good contest, it has not contained the bounce and pace that we expected. As the game progressed, the surface did not deteriorate nor bring the level of unpredictability that was anticipated,” MCC’s executive Stuart Fox said.

The 22-yard deck saw even batsmen struggling, as bowlers had to toil hard which subsequently left the visitors disappointed for good show in the drawn Test fixture which was also the fourth Magellan Ashes Test.

Interestingly, the interim curator for the MCG is Michael Salvator, as he is making his way for the Perth pitch curator Matt Page, the one who becomes the cause of the delayed start on the final day of the WACA Test when water dampened the 22-yard surface after seeping under the tarpaulin.

However, the officials don’t want to see what panned out at the MCG pitch which did not assist the bowlers any assistance on the culmination day.

Moreover, throughout five days, the surface at the world’s biggest cricket ground saw 24 wickets were taken, as 387.3 overs were bowled across three innings by Australia and England bowlers respectively.

The 28-year-old Smith, who rescued his team with his third century of the ongoing traditional series, as Mitchell Marsh’s patient knock off 166-ball 29 gave a hint how the surface was enraging the bowlers

On the other side, Yorkshire-based Root might have praised his team for their brilliant comeback, but the 27-year-old went on to rue what unfolded on the final day of the Boxing Day Test, as the Three Lions were already 3-0 in the series with Australia regaining the Ashes Urn in Perth.

It is important to state, that round of 88,000 turned to the stadium on Boxing Day which further saw the chief executive for Cricket Australia James Sutherland drawing satisfaction with the numbers, but that joy was short lived when thousands left the venue with little on offer.

Here you could read more about the Syndey Ashes Test build up:

Ashes 2017-18: Craig Overton hopes to be fit for Sydney Test