BGT: Curator States Boxing Day Test Pitch Will Favor Fast Bowlers, Including Bumrah
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Melbourne, Dec 23 (NationPress) Matt Page, the curator of the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), mentioned that the upcoming drop-in pitch for the Boxing Day Test, starting this Thursday, will be favorable for all fast bowlers, notably India’s bowling leader Jasprit Bumrah.
Bumrah is currently the top wicket-taker in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series, which stands at 1-1, having taken 21 wickets at an impressive average of just 10.9. “I believe all fast bowlers are thrilled when they arrive here now. The pitch performs exceptionally well for us,” said Page.
“While we may not reach the same speeds as Perth or Brisbane, we have managed to incorporate more pace over the past few years, generating a lot of excitement. There’s some grass left on it. Fast bowlers looking at it would definitely feel a surge of enthusiasm,” Page noted during a press briefing on Monday.
He also addressed the concerns regarding the pitches provided to the Indian team during their net sessions over the weekend, as there were whispers of dissatisfaction regarding low bounce.
“We prepare Test match pitches three days in advance. When teams come for practice before that, they encounter the pitches we’ve been using. Today, we are on fresh pitches. If India had practiced this morning, they would have used those fresh pitches. This is a standard procedure for us, three days prior to the match,” he explained.
With the first day of the match being completely sold out, the temperature in Melbourne is expected to soar to 40 degrees Celsius. Page reassured that the extreme heat will not impact pitch preparation for this crucial match, with six millimeters of grass to be kept on the surface.
“This could mean that the pitch might quicken up faster than it would at 20 degrees. As for whether we leave a bit more moisture in it, I can’t commit to a definite answer at this moment. We will continue to monitor the weather and adjust our preparations accordingly. We’ve been pleased with our results in recent years, so it’s a rinse-and-repeat process for us.”
Page concluded by reflecting on the evolution of the Melbourne pitch, which used to frequently produce draws. “Seven years ago, the pitches were quite flat. We made a collective decision to create more thrilling contests and exciting Test matches, which is why we are leaving more grass on the pitch now.”
“This approach allows bowlers to play a more significant role, while still providing good conditions for batting once the new ball is off the pitch. Our goal is to offer bowlers opportunities at different stages of the game while also giving batters a fair chance if they perform well. We experimented with grass levels, compaction, and moisture, a process that took about three years to perfect.”
“In the last two or three years, we’ve maintained a consistent approach, leaving more grass on the pitches than we previously did. This has resulted in thrilling contests, which is exactly what we aim for.”
