Australian cricket coach Andrew McDonald has stepped in to shield Melbourne Cricket Ground curator Matt Page from a barrage of criticism directed at the pitch used for the Boxing Day Test against Pakistan.
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The surface prepared for the marquee match came under intense scrutiny from commentators and former players, who labelled it excessively slow and lacking the traditional pace and bounce associated with the iconic MCG. Despite the uproar, McDonald offered a firm defence of Page's work, highlighting the challenging circumstances faced in the lead-up to the Test.
McDonald pointed to the significant rainfall that hit Melbourne in the weeks before the match, which severely limited the curator's ability to prepare the pitch in his preferred manner. The coach emphasised that the wet weather had disrupted the usual preparation process, making it impossible to achieve the desired characteristics.
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While the pitch debate raged externally, the Australian team's focus remained squarely on their performance, which culminated in a convincing 79-run victory. McDonald stressed that the playing surface, while not perfect, was the same for both teams and did not detract from the quality of the contest or the significance of the win.
The coach also drew a direct comparison to the previous year's Ashes Test at the MCG, which ended in a tame draw on a similarly docile pitch. He argued that this year's surface, while slow, at least produced a result within four days, representing an improvement in creating a competitive balance between bat and ball.
Looking Ahead to the New Year's Test
With the focus now shifting to the Sydney Cricket Ground for the New Year's Test, McDonald expressed confidence in the curatorial team there. He indicated that the Australian side was preparing for a pitch that would likely offer more turn for spin bowlers as the match progresses, a traditional feature of the SCG wicket.
The defence from the national coach adds a significant voice to the conversation about pitch preparation in Australia. It underscores the complex balance curators must strike between producing entertaining cricket and managing uncontrollable factors like weather, all while operating under the relentless spotlight of international sport.
