Bowling friendly MCG wickets awaits http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 - Cricket News Update
The Melbourne Cricket Ground curators have prepared a grassy, bowling friendly pitch for the Boxing Day Test match between India and Australia.
The curator at the MCG, Cameron Hodgkins, told the media reporters on Friday that he is planning to leave some grass on the pitch. He denied that the track will be a green top as he wants to make sure a variety of bowlers from both sides claim wickets in
the Test match which starts on December, 26th.
"If than freshness disappears through rolling, well and good. If not, we will adjust the cut lower to take grass off the top," Hodgkins was quoted as saying by a leading newspaper.
Hodgkins told reporters that the pitch being used has not witnessed a Test in 4 years.
"We have never used it for a Test match, but it is in the traditional position...I haven't used the same pitch for a Test for the past four years,” said the MCG pitch curator.
With three days left for the Test match, Hodgkins said that they have ample time to prepare a good track.
The curator added that the weather would influence the behavior of the pitch but would not hamper the preparation of it, and he is hopeful a competitive wicket can be put in place.
Commenting on the track, he said the pitch would assist the new ball bowlers, but as the match progresses, the bowlers would need variations to earn their wickets.
"After the new ball has worn and the pitch has flattened out, you tend to need a fair bit of variety to conjure up wickets," said Hodgkins.
Australia go into the test match with an inexperienced, new look pace attack, while http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Z-Khan-c98379 will lead the experienced bowling line-up for India.
The weatherman is predicting overcast conditions in Melbourne for the duration of the match. The toss will be crucial for both Captains, as Dhoni and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Clarke-c51120 would be hoping that they win the toss and make first use of the track.
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