Boxing Day Test pitch to be ‘seam-friendly’ but balanced enough for batters, says MCG curator Matt Page

As anticipation builds for the Boxing Day Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) head curator Matt Page has shared insights into the pitch conditions, emphasizing that it will favor seam bowlers but remain balanced enough to provide opportunities for both bowlers and batters.

Speaking at a press conference, Page highlighted the historical behavior of the MCG pitch in the longer format, which has generally favored pacers over spinners. “The pitch here doesn’t really break up for spin. Over the last four or five years, it has been more seam-friendly than spin, and I don’t see that changing for this Test,” Page stated.

This characteristic of the MCG could play a pivotal role in the upcoming fourth Test between India and Australia, scheduled to begin on December 26, with the series currently tied 1-1.

Addressing rumors about pitch modifications due to the Kookaburra ball’s less prominent seam, Page dismissed such claims. He explained that the MCG grounds team has consistently focused on creating pitches that ensure a thrilling contest.

“We haven’t altered our pitches because of the balls. We decided after 2017 to focus on producing Test matches that offer opportunities for both bowlers and batters. It’s about providing balance—bowlers will have their moments, and batters can capitalize if they play well,” Page said.

Page further elaborated on the evolution of the pitch preparation process, noting that they experimented with grass lengths, moisture, and compaction levels for three years to achieve the desired balance.

“For the last two or three years, we’ve been consistent in what we’ve rolled out. We leave a bit more grass on the pitch now than before, and that has led to thrilling contests, which is what we aim for,” he added.

The Australian team will head into the fourth Test with notable changes, particularly in their bowling lineup. Josh Hazlewood, who suffered a calf strain during the third Test in Brisbane, has been ruled out of the series. Hazlewood, who had earlier taken five wickets in the first Test at Perth, including a four-wicket haul, will likely be replaced by Scott Boland.

Additionally, Australia has bolstered its squad by adding Beau Webster, Jhye Richardson, and Sam Konstas to address gaps in their bowling attack and top-order batting.

Also See: India tour of Australia Full Series Schedule

India Squad: Rohit Sharma (C), Jasprit Bumrah (VC), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel (wicket-keeper), Tanush Kotian, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep, Prasidh Krishna, Harshit Rana, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar.

Australia Squad: Pat Cummins (C), Sean Abbott, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Travis Head (VC), Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Jhye Richardson, Steve Smith (VC), Mitchell Starc, Beau Webster.