Magazine - Hopes MCG Pitch not Batter-Friendly

By Editor in Cricket on 22nd Dec 2009 21:40

MCG curator Cameron Hodgkins says he was pleased with preparations for the Boxing Day Test between Australia and Pakistan, and is hoping to get the right balance between bat and ball.

MCG curator Cameron Hodgkins is hopeful his next pitch won't be too batsman-friendly and will resemble more the one used a year ago rather than the most recent. Hodgkins said he was pleased with preparations for the Boxing Day Test between Australia and Pakistan, and is hoping to get the right balance between bat and ball.

The MCG wickets have played well so far this season, although the bat easily dominated in the most recent first-class match, when Victoria beat South Australia with a last-day pursuit after the first three innings were all declared. In that game, which finished just over a week ago, the 18 wickets that fell cost almost 70 runs apiece.

Hodgkins said he would prefer to prepare a similar wicket to the one from last year's Test, when the batsmen from South Africa and Australia prospered although they had to combat some reverse swing and there were wickets for those good enough, such as the Proteas' Dale Steyn, who claimed 10 for the game. "So far there's been good pace and carry and the good bowlers are getting wickets," Hodgkins said on Monday.

"In the last game there was plenty of grass, but the only ingredient missing was there wasn't much nibble. "We'd always like a bit of sideways movement, but it's hard to get and a fine line between what's right and what's too much, so it's easier to be conservative." "If we can get one similar to last year I'd be pretty happy."

As for spin, Hodgkins predicted tough work for the likes of Australia's Nathan Hauritz, although Pakistan legspinner Danish Kaneria took a first-innings 5-125 in the tourists' last visit, in the summer of 2004-05.

Victorian legspinner Bryce McGain took seven wickets for the game against Western Australia in November, but wickets for spinners have been scarcer in the past two Sheffield Shield games.

"Traditionally there's not any extra turn, although good bowlers take wickets," Hodgkins said. "We're not known as a turning wicket, it's more one for the quicks."

Source & More: www.theage.com.au

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