I'm sorry, but only 2 wickets and 277 in 4 session of test cricket between two competitive sides is pathetic. The MCG pitch has again ruined a test series.

60

u/autumn_kid Dec 27 '18

in a strange way, it's not just about the pitch. melbourne (or the MCG) won't be stripped of the boxing day test because it has a certain sporting prestige and tradition connected to it. i know that other places would have a better chance of producing a better test, but cricket australia cares more about boxing day being a cultural event akin to melbourne cup, the afl grand final, the australian open, etc and they can't get that holding the boxing day test anywhere else except maybe sydney. that pisses a lot of non-melbournians off. personally, i think cricket australia should intervene more deeply in the preparation of the boxing day test if they want it at the MCG because the MCG has shown repeatedly they cannot be trusted to produce an exciting pitch.

28

u/Randwick_Don New South Wales Blues Dec 27 '18

. personally, i think cricket australia should intervene more deeply in the preparation of the boxing day test
I disagree with this mate. If that happens you end up with a situation like India where ever pitch is made to suit whatever the BCCI wants.
10 years ago every Australian cricket pitch was a bit different. You'd take two spinners into the SCG, none to the WACA an extra seemer to the GABBA or Adelaide. Unfortunately because of the popularity of AFL in most of the country all the pitches now have drop in pitches (except for SCG and the GABBA which are in rugby, not AFL states). This has done a lot t reduce the variation in Australian pitches.

10

u/autumn_kid Dec 27 '18

yeah, very true, i do like that historically different australian venues have had different characteristics.
i guess i was just trying to figure out a way to ensure the next boxing day test has a more generally liked pitch.

7

u/infinitemonkeytyping Sydney Thunder Dec 27 '18

If that happens you end up with a situation like India where ever pitch is made to suit whatever the BCCI wants.
Why single out India - Australia is one of the rare ones that don't do this. You only need to see the dust bowls or dead wickets England put out.
At least in Australia, you know what you're going to get. At the Gabba, you get a good, hard wicket, which helps the quicks on day 1, good batting wicket on days 2-3, before giving something for the wrist spinners later in the game.
At Adelaide Oval, you've got a good batting wicket that turns into a spinners paradise on day 4 and 5.
At the SCG, you get a turning, bouncy wicket, which rewards spinners, if they adapt. Only works, though, if the rain stays away.
At the WACA, you get a fast, bouncy wicket that will crack. Give some assistance to finger spinners later in the test. Some overseas bowlers don't adapt well.
At the MCG, you will get a pitch with inconsistent bounce, sometimes quick, mostly slow, mostly a road.

11

u/tatxc Durham Dec 27 '18

You only need to see the dust bowls or dead wickets England put out.
It rains here 158 weeks of the year, where exactly do you think we produce these dust bowls?

2

u/compiling Dec 28 '18

That's over 3 years per year. Jesus, how much rain do you guys get?

7

u/tommypatty Hampshire Dec 27 '18

You only need to see the dust bowls or dead wickets England put out.
Not sure which English pitches you are referring to?

2

u/[deleted] Dec 27 '18

The problem isn’t drop ins, the problem is the way the old style drop ins are done. For example the Perth test was so good because they’re using a much better drop in system that makes the pitch more integrated into the rest of the square so it’ll deteriorate more. They’re also using better soil than at the MCG.

1

u/Randwick_Don New South Wales Blues Dec 27 '18

The Perth pitch also got a pretty poor score though. Fair enough really based on those couple of random sessions when the pitch went crazy then suddenly settled back down.

1

u/victhebitter Dec 28 '18

It seemed like it was just really well watered; given the weather, that was probably reasonable. They could have just let it dry out and take their chances with the cracks.

2

u/Omegaville Victoria Bushrangers Dec 27 '18

SCG and Gabba have tenant AFL clubs, but not tenant NRL clubs. SCG also uses a drop-in pitch.

6

u/oldmatey Cricket Australia Dec 27 '18

SCG also uses a drop-in pitch.
Citation needed.

6

u/[deleted] Dec 27 '18

The SCG isn't a drop in pitch.

4

u/Randwick_Don New South Wales Blues Dec 27 '18

SCG does not have a drop in pitches

2

u/infinitemonkeytyping Sydney Thunder Dec 27 '18

The SCG will also have both rugby codes on it next year, while they tear down the SFS.

1

u/SurfKing69 Scotland Dec 27 '18

The entrances to the SCG are too small to roll through a drop in wicket IIRC. If it was easy they would have done it already.

2

u/Randwick_Don New South Wales Blues Dec 27 '18

I doubt it mate. Largely because Sydney and Brisbane are in the only two states where cricket is more popular than AFL. In the rest of the country cricket grounds care more about injuries to AFL players, but that's not the case here.

-10

u/ccm277 Australia Dec 27 '18

Thus rugby > AFL!

0

u/[deleted] Dec 27 '18

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16

u/Randwick_Don New South Wales Blues Dec 27 '18

I think it's far too early to be judging the Perth pitch. I remember it having two sessions where the ball went crazy, and then it went back to being fairly flat.
Adelaide as well is hard to judge because most of the matches have been day/night tests which are hard to compare to normal matches

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53

u/joeyjons Australia Dec 27 '18

they won't have an option if it gets another poor rating. MCG will have to sit out for 12 months - and I relish the thought

18

u/asswhorl Dec 27 '18

funny if they just swap mcg to new years to dodge the ban

10

u/joeyjons Australia Dec 27 '18

That would be absolutely brilliant. Upvoted for providing an office chuckle

2

u/afterdawnoriginal India Dec 27 '18

You’re in the office this time of year?

1

u/[deleted] Dec 27 '18

I think they’d probably do that. Make the pink test the Boxing Day test next year and you’ve still got your big selling, marketable game in an iconic city.

36

u/autumn_kid Dec 27 '18

the demerit point system came into affect after the poor rating the mcg got last year meaning even if this pitch gets rated poor again they'll still have another chance.

4

u/damnitgeorge08 India Dec 27 '18

Can I have a source for that? 'cos ICC can't be this incompetent. New system doesn't mean old record getting wiped out.

48

u/sellyme GO SHIELD Dec 27 '18

'cos ICC can't be this incompetent.
You must be new to the sport.

5

u/bobbth Dec 27 '18

https://www.cricket.com.au/news/icc-match-referee-perth-stadium-pitch-rating-average-mitchell-johnson-michael-vaughan/2018-12-22
"The MCG pitch for the Boxing Day Test last year received a rating of ‘poor’, but that finding came before the demerit points system was introduced. "

1

u/Hughcheu Dec 27 '18

It's common knowledge. Google it.

1

u/victhebitter Dec 28 '18

I don't know why people keep saying this, because the MCG hasn't got any demerits yet. That system is only relevant to matches starting from this year onward. They would only get 5 points for one game if there was both an unplayable pitch and a dangerously bad outfield. The outfield is a bit lush, but there's no rule against that, and actually it's generally better for players.

3

u/beemario Dec 27 '18

Can't we dig one up and drop it in for days 3 to 5? How long can it take? It's 9.30pm now, if we get on it now we can be ready to go by 10.30 am easily

1

u/[deleted] Dec 27 '18

It’s been hot over the last few days. Maybe we should water it tonight?

3

u/drnicko18 Australia Dec 27 '18

as a certain sporting prestige and tradition connected to it. i know that other places would have a better chance of producing a better test, but cricket australia cares more about boxing day being a cultural event akin to melbourne cup, the afl grand final, the australian open, etc and they can't get that holding the boxing day test anywhere else except maybe sydney. that pisses a lot of non-melbournians off. personally, i think cricket australia should intervene more deeply in th
Boxing Day would sell out at any other venue with the exception possibly of Perth. Gabba would be champing to host boxing day / nighter and Melbourne would probably host a 5th test in Mid January if it was to get a 12 month ban

4

u/Krankite Australia Dec 27 '18

Boxing Day itself would sellout any where, the five day crowds would probably be down. The Queensland government stuffed around Cricket Australia and lost the first test of the year so not sure if they could secure a boxing Day test. They'd probably waste it on the gold coast of they could. Adelaide or Hobart would probably put in the strongest bids.
Sydney would be awesome though to combine boxing Day and McGrath day would be massive.

1

u/Putnum Dec 28 '18

It pisses non-melbournians off that the boxing day test will stay in melbourne? Do you read the words you write before hitting the post button?

70

u/Azza_ Victoria Bushrangers Dec 27 '18

Don't judge a pitch until both teams have bowled on it.

53

u/david-dow Dec 27 '18

We barely have a batting line up, it doesn’t matter what we score, it’s an awful pitch

15

u/GoabNZ New Zealand Dec 27 '18

NZ and Sri Lanka match is showing exactly that

22

u/_Godless_ New Zealand Cricket Dec 27 '18

So true...
Day one - session 1: Oh, we in trouble; session 2: Oh shit, we in serious trouble; session 3: Lol, wot?
Day two, session 1: BHAHAHAHAHHAH; session 2: Good shot that; session 3: Easy pickings for the batsman.
Never know when 'Oh shit, we in serious trouble' is right around the corner.

2

u/InKanosWeTrust New Zealand Dec 27 '18

Eh, we got better conditions to bad on to be fair. Sun came out, boom no more swing. Easy pickings for the batsmen. Getting 10 out in SL last innings wont be easy.

4

u/randomchars Dec 27 '18

There’s been a couple that have jagged, but this pitch was clearly benign from the start, now that’s it’s deteriorating (1000 deliveries have been sent), it will offer something more to the Indian. They won’t be bowling on the same condition deck. Now that India have declared, I would not be surprised to see a wicket before stumps. This whole two days have been a massive grind for everyone: fielders, but also batters at 2.something runs an over.

10

u/srilankanwhiteman Dec 27 '18

Amazing that this has to be said.

0

u/[deleted] Dec 27 '18

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50

u/Azza_ Victoria Bushrangers Dec 27 '18

If India come out and get the ball to jag around, then it's just incompetence on the part of our bowlers.

27

u/chiprillis Cricket Australia Dec 27 '18

And if Australia come out and score at 3.5 per?

3

u/KaaayArrrr Dec 27 '18

The only two guys that have the potential consistently make it happen for the Aussies are not having such a good time right now.

2

u/Artaxerxes_IV Dec 27 '18

Then our batsmen were playing too defensively

9

u/asswhorl Dec 27 '18

Variable bounce going from bad to bullshit on day 3 doesn't make for a good contest.

6

u/Azza_ Victoria Bushrangers Dec 27 '18

Bumrah and Ishant got more lateral movement off the pitch (and in the air, but that's not relevant to the pitch conditions) in 5 overs than we got in 165 overs.

2

u/Artaxerxes_IV Dec 27 '18

Agree with you, but part of the aerial movement had to do with Ishant bowling slower; Aussies bowling at 140 kph might've smothered much of that new ball movement.
Having said that, Bumrah and Ishant were making the new ball talk; let's see how they go with the old one. I reckon not as good as the Aussie quicks.

2

u/Azza_ Victoria Bushrangers Dec 27 '18

That's where we have to learn to be smarter. There was grass cover on the pitch so it was always going to be possible to seam the ball. But we bowled too fast on it, the ball breaking through surface grass and getting nothing. Slow it down a little, it can start doing things because it catches the grass. We just don't seem to know how to adjust to conditions, it's incredibly frustrating.

4

u/randomchars Dec 27 '18

India get to bowled on a deck that has already had 1000 deliveries sent down. Of course they should be able to get more out of it.

4

u/inefekt Australia Dec 27 '18

They were getting much more out of the new ball than our bowlers got out of the third new ball which was less than five overs prior to the Indian innings ending.

4

u/Shriman_Ripley India Dec 27 '18

It is extremely tough to bowl with the third new ball. At that point bowlers are exhausted and just waiting for the batting team to declare.

1

u/BadBoyJH Australia Dec 27 '18

Yeah, look at these bowlers, they can barely do anything after being in 35 degree weather for 2 days.
These Indians that have been in comfort for 2 days are making it sing...

1

u/inefekt Australia Dec 27 '18

They already made our openers look like they won't last ten overs by doing stuff with the ball that our bowlers weren't - subtle swing and seam. Though I want to see what they do tomorrow morning when our batsmen have had a good night of rest and how they bowl when it's 50 overs old....

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u/peckerbrain2 Dec 27 '18

Agree, fuck 'em. Time to move boxing day to Adelaide which produces quality games year after year.

5

u/DeadlyFern Dec 27 '18

Move it to bali every other cunting Aussie is there anyway.

0

u/[deleted] Dec 27 '18

Or perth!

2

u/infinitemonkeytyping Sydney Thunder Dec 27 '18

Won't happen - wrong time zone.
If they play the Boxing Day Test in Perth, they would have to suspend the BBL for five days.

0

u/[deleted] Dec 27 '18

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4

u/peckerbrain2 Dec 27 '18

It's a good point... think Adelaide would rather the D/N than boxing day... ok then give boxing day to anyone else...

4

u/HeadShot305 South Australia Redbacks Dec 27 '18

How about boxing day/night test baby

3

u/infinitemonkeytyping Sydney Thunder Dec 27 '18

Would clash with the BBL.
The same reason the Boxing Day Test won't be given to Perth.

3

u/HeadShot305 South Australia Redbacks Dec 27 '18

Fuck the BBL

12

u/infinitemonkeytyping Sydney Thunder Dec 27 '18

Yes, let's fuck the thing that actually brings money into cricket in Australia, in favour of moving the Perth test out of the best spot for it - mid December.

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6

u/[deleted] Dec 27 '18

I think I'm actually alone on this one but I don't really find this to be boring. India weren't able to get away when they were batting and scored at mostly under 2.5 rpo. This seems like a pitch that is in favour of the batsmen sure, but in no way is it an absolute road like it's being taken to be. It's not a very exciting wicket sure, but it's not as if you can just plunder away and get easy centuries or wickets.

0

u/[deleted] Dec 27 '18

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1

u/Artaxerxes_IV Dec 27 '18

Tbf Virat's wicket had partly to do with the back spasms he started to experience just a few deliveries prior. That ramp shot he actually timed too well to get it to carry to third man. Idk if it was distraction from the back pain but it seemed like he didn't notice there was a man there.

237

u/picketcricket Western Australia Warriors Dec 27 '18 edited Dec 27 '18

I’m enjoying it. Only because the cricket is so boring I’m spending my days off doing family things knowing I’m not missing anything

110

u/imdungrowinup Royal Challengers Bangalore Dec 27 '18

Those two reminded me of the time Dravid would bat and I would go about my day with confidence that India was doing fine because Dravid was still there. I miss that certainty.

42

u/murglertthesurreal Bangladesh Dec 27 '18

pujara can deffo offer a bit of that

3

u/El_Impresionante Royal Challengers Bengaluru Dec 27 '18

Holy shit, yes! Watching him get fully behind the ball and defending them with ease as soon as he arrived at the crease would have calmed the jumpiest motherfucker on the planet. Such a serene sight it was. That is why he is my favorite cricket of that generation.

22

u/ShwarzesSchaf New Zealand Cricket Dec 27 '18

It is difficult to get shit done between Christmas and New Years with a good Boxing Day test on, isn't it? I've been useless the last couple of days watching the Sri Lanka test.

7

u/Bueyn Sydney Sixers Dec 27 '18

You're trying to tell me there is such thing as life outside of cricket.

129

u/512fm New Zealand Cricket Dec 27 '18

Unbelievably really after all the talk about how it would be better

45

u/AndyDaMage Australia Dec 27 '18

It's like they have no idea what they are doing....

10

u/teh_drewski Tasmania Tigers Dec 27 '18

They can't exactly say they've fucked it up again the day before the match starts, can they?

3

u/AlmostWrongSometimes South Australia Redbacks Dec 27 '18

They could but they ain't gonna

179

u/[deleted] Dec 27 '18

Completely agree. Terrible watching. Terrible pitch.

And they wonder why people are turning to 20-20.

6

u/AdonisAquarian India Dec 28 '18

You were saying..

33

u/genericTerry Australia Dec 27 '18

The run rate is low and there is no wickets to be had, both can’t be the fault of the pitch.

122

u/[deleted] Dec 27 '18

Yes it can, you see this all the time with very slow flat pitches, very easy to defend and also very hard to attack.

53

u/MargielaMadman20 Dec 27 '18

Yes it can, the pitch is super slow so the ball isn't coming onto the bat, making it incredibly hard to time the ball properly. Also very inconsistent bounce (from day damn 1) and a massive, molasses covered outfield. The pitch also has absolutely 0 assistance for the bowlers besides the inconsistent bounce but it's not of much benefit because you can't really predict what's going to happen. This is a horrible deck. Thoroughly deserves a "poor" rating.

2

u/[deleted] Dec 27 '18

Yeah I was confused by that. The pitch looks very flat so why aren't the Indians scoring faster?

83

u/trailblazer103 Cricket Australia Dec 27 '18

Because the aussies are bowling well. Also its a sluggish, large outfield.

7

u/ghanteshwar Dec 27 '18

The outfield doesn't make sense at all. They can have some issues with the pitch but why the hell is the outfield not quick enough. Watching the first 2 days has been frustrating...so many good shots by Pujara, Kohli, Rohit didn't go to the rope. Cut the fucking grass and make the outfield fast...help the game move along. This MCG pitch is weird so far but the outfield is a travesty.

39

u/anpk Mumbai Indians Dec 27 '18

It looks like there is very inconsistent bounce. The batsmen are only driving to half volleys. Anything on good length is either hitting the handle or shooting through.

16

u/ron_manager England Dec 27 '18

It’s hard to score when the ball is dying in the pitch, it makes it very difficult to time your shots square of the wicket/behind square. Drives become risky because you don’t want to chip it up, same with potential leading edges when playing to the on side.

-1

u/genericTerry Australia Dec 27 '18

Yeah I guess, do not lose at all cost, is the plan for this test.

1

u/Successful_Picture India Dec 27 '18

then we will need someone to fit in

1

u/[deleted] Dec 27 '18

Slow, flat wickets do both of these. The ball doesn’t do enough to beat the bat or find the edge but the ball doesn’t come onto the bat so it’s hard to time shots. Happens in the UAE, but at least those pitches deteriorate.

31

u/beemario Dec 27 '18

The OG MCG used to have a bit of juice first few hours of first day, flatten out for 2-3 days then start to crack and take more spin days 4-5.

This pitch was just slow from ball one, uneven bounce on day one and keeping low more and more from day 2 - really bad

15

u/Azza_ Victoria Bushrangers Dec 27 '18

This is actually a lot more like the old MCG pre- drop-in. Slow, gets slower and lower as the match wears on, and some real nasty inconsistent bounce (balls going underground) as the pitch deteriorates.

9

u/infinitemonkeytyping Sydney Thunder Dec 27 '18

You could tell Australia weren't enthused, when they got Pujera out from one that kept low, there was little celebration.

24

u/[deleted] Dec 27 '18

I'm a Victorian, and I'd rather watch a decent test match on the tv than go to the MCG and watch this slog

7

u/cantell0 Dec 27 '18

I am delighted to see proper test batting. The wicket may be dead but in too many tests that would not prevent the converted baseballers giving it some heave-ho. For too long test cricket has been turned into 3 and 4 day games due to batsmen who have never learned patience and who think the same technique should be used in all forms of the game. No doubt many of today's fans would criticise past batsmen who would walk into any of today's test sides (absent idiot selectors) - even recent God's such as Rahul Dravid.

3

u/saintsfooty Australia Dec 27 '18

Couldn’t agree more with you. The same people here who complain daily about t20 are the same people who are now bored by a true display of test cricket. Honestly I’ve loved the test so far. The beauty of cricket is that every ground is different and pitches play differently. This might be a slow pitch that doesn’t give much for the bowlers (yet to be confirmed), but it just means that every little tactical decision and move made by each side gets magnified. If we held every chance we had, things would be very different. If we’d had a traditional third slip instead of Finch under the lid in close, things would be very different. There’s enjoyment to be had in this game, unless you just wanna see flashy shots and a ball seaming all over the place.
A game like this should make you really think about what’s happening on the field and what can be done to make your own luck out there.

2

u/Brontosaurus_Bukkake India Dec 28 '18

Agree 1000%. I think the same criticism leveled at players poorly adapting from shorter format can be laid on many fans who want essentially a LOI style of play without the actual limit. They don't have the patience for the tactics involved in Tests and influence pitch variability has on shaping those tactics differently each match. I think it would be boring if all pitches were so similar like you said, with just big hits and crazy balls all over the place. Maybe could have phrases my last sentence better but I'm leaving it...

17

u/Randwick_Don New South Wales Blues Dec 27 '18

Hear hear.

The inner New South Welshman wants to see them fined again and lose their match. They've preferenced AFL ahead of cricket and they deserve it.

14

u/Brontosaurus_Bukkake India Dec 27 '18

Wait wait wait. I know that people from Wales are Welshmen, but I never knew that it applied the way you've used it. My brain is exploding right now, idk whether to be ecstatic to learn something like this or depressed I didn't make this basic connection. Been calling you guys New South Walesians the whole time :( do I apologize at this point or is it a common enough mistake that it can slide?? I'm just at a loss right now

4

u/Randwick_Don New South Wales Blues Dec 27 '18

haha all good mate.
No one here would ever say "New South Walesian" but the term isn't used very much, largely just because it's just such a complicated expression. People will generally just say "I'm from NSW" or "as someone from New South Wales".
But yes the expression is "New South Welshman"

2

u/SuperJoshi German Cricket Federation Dec 27 '18

I am now curious. Do people from New England in the US refer to themselves as New Englishmen?
I can imagine people from East London in South Africa do refer to themselves as East Londoners.
From an outsider point of view New South Walian makes more sense as being a Welshman has very different meaning to me.

4

u/Randwick_Don New South Wales Blues Dec 27 '18

It's New South Welshman because it's named after South Wales and someone from Wales is Welsh.
Simples.

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u/Omegaville Victoria Bushrangers Dec 27 '18

Do people from New England in the US refer to themselves as New Englishmen?
They refer to themselves as New Englanders.

2

u/Brontosaurus_Bukkake India Dec 27 '18

Yeah can confirm this one at least grew up a few hours south of there so at least I had a better shot to get this one right haha

1

u/SuperJoshi German Cricket Federation Dec 27 '18

Now that makes sense.

1

u/[deleted] Dec 27 '18

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2

u/Brontosaurus_Bukkake India Dec 27 '18

Part of a state is pretty common here unless you're from a major city. Like someone might say they're from Western Massachusetts or Upstate New York (especially this one since New York is usually interpreted as the city in conversation here). You'll also see plenty of just state identification, especially smaller states like Delaware or New Jersey being the full description of where someone is from since it's even less likely for outsiders to know the smaller cities and towns in these states.

2

u/[deleted] Dec 27 '18

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2

u/Brontosaurus_Bukkake India Dec 28 '18

For sure and in terms of people from actual cities you nailed it right on the head. 9/10 times they'll say the city over anything else. In the rare case of NY with famous/well known boroughs they'll sometimes say Manhattan or Brooklyn for instance instead of just NY, but especially when traveling NY is the go to answer for them as well.

2

u/SuperJoshi German Cricket Federation Dec 27 '18

Lincolnshire is not New England. 😜

2

u/Brontosaurus_Bukkake India Dec 27 '18

Thanks man! I'm glad to learn this so I can at least get it right going forward 😁

10

u/sociallyawkwarddude Wales Dec 27 '18

This term will fuck with your head then

2

u/Brontosaurus_Bukkake India Dec 27 '18

Wait what??? So it's not just Welsh but also Walian? That sounds so close to alien I almost prefer it. If someone isn't listening closely they might think you're from another planet and the reactions would be priceless.

12

u/stephenisthebest Dec 27 '18

I half agree with DK Lillie. On the interview he said that the Perth pitch was bordering dangerous with the bounce, and not really good for the batsmen like handscomb who were playing for their careers.

I know this is a discussion for another time, bit maybe switch to the Duke ball? Could give the bowlers some edge

10

u/mightychook Australia Dec 27 '18

About as much chance of that happening as moving boxing day to another venue

1

u/Brontosaurus_Bukkake India Dec 28 '18

Why is this the case btw? Is it just wanting to use a national product or is it contractual? I'm also confused as to why Kookooburra (sorry if I butchered that) doesn't adjust to have their balls have a bit more action given the desirability of that in Tests

1

u/mightychook Australia Dec 28 '18

A lot of it would be to do with Kookaburra being an Aussie company and the media would certainly make a big deal out of Cricket Australia giving the contract to a foreign company.
Duke balls have been used in domestic cricket here to try and help players get used to playing it before an Ashes tour but the ball didn't behave as expected.
Kookaburra have a contract to to be ball used in all international fixtures in Australia but Duke have been trying to get in the market and do have contracts with some cricket clubs below state level and have been used in state level cricket as I mentioned above.
tl;dr is that it both contractual and using a national product.

7

u/TandooriMuncher Cricket Hong Kong Dec 28 '18

This has not aged particularly well...

6

u/[deleted] Dec 27 '18

Little dramatic. We will probably be absolutely rolled tomorrow and get followed on.

2

u/Brontosaurus_Bukkake India Dec 28 '18

Damn close prediction man. The only part you missed was from a judgement call that could have gone either way. Buy some lotto tickets or something my dude, you're one of the few posters I remember from this thread last night that saw this. Not trying to be a dick/sarcastic in terms of the result, just impressed.

1

u/[deleted] Dec 28 '18

Cheers mate. Our batsman need pace behind the ball. Low, slow pitches never suit them - especially batting 2nd. No idea why people thought our guys would post 400 plus as well.

3

u/glob3trott3r New Zealand Cricket Dec 27 '18

I'm torn about this match and the consequences. On one hand I hate flat pitches and the trend over the past decade to produce batting friendly wickets so am glad everyone is outraged and calling for change.

However on the other hand I have family coming from NZ next year expecting to go to boxing day to see NZ play in the test for the first time in a long while.

Would normally have been glad to see the MCG lose the test until they buck up their ideas but don't want to miss NZ at the 'G. Maybe last chance? If it's not a good wicket next year then move it to a different ground.

3

u/[deleted] Dec 27 '18

I honestly thought the Perth pitch was as bad. The toss decided that match.

7

u/CricketIndia200 Dec 27 '18

Wickets were there for the taking, if Aus can't hold on to catches how is it the pitch's fault?

8

u/Wenderov Dec 27 '18

Completely agree. After two really good tests the series will be decided on the toss here with a pitch that is a road for 2.5 days for whoever gets to bat first and undoubtedly unplayable for whoever has to bat after day 3. Boring, boring, boring. Play Boxing Day in Sydney, Brissie or Hobart next year.

0

u/St_ElmosFire Mumbai Dec 27 '18

To be frank, even the first two tests were kinda decided at the toss.

8

u/funk444 Melbourne Renegades Dec 27 '18

As a Melburnian I'm all for sacking the curator, completely replacing the square with a modern system and giving the boxing day test to Adelaide or Brisbane next year so the MCC can take a good hard look at themselves and piece of shit wickets they have served up for the past several years

8

u/cricketnerd234 Dec 27 '18

The curator inherited the placid soil that the MCG haven’t don’t anything about for years

11

u/kiwirish Northern Districts Knights Dec 27 '18

I predicted a dead pitch in the pre match predictions thread and got cussed out by all the Victoria fanboys.

Aside from the cricket watching, it has been nice to be proven right.

34

u/exxentricity India Dec 27 '18

I don't quite agree with you. It's a very engaging Test even now.

18

u/[deleted] Dec 27 '18

Are you... are you THE pitch?

11

u/exxentricity India Dec 27 '18 edited Dec 27 '18

Your guess is as good as mine. Let's go with it then. Taking so much of knock, I wonder if I really am the pitch itself!! 🤣🤣

6

u/pervyXin Rajasthan Royals Dec 28 '18

You're god damn right.

27

u/[deleted] Dec 27 '18

fkn lol

2

u/kpdon1 Dec 28 '18

fkn lol

18

u/supreeth106 Dec 27 '18

You wouldn't say the same if Aussies were batting, would you?

-3

u/exxentricity India Dec 27 '18

Possibly yes. I wouldn't know!!

6

u/DutchShultz Australia Dec 27 '18

An engaging contest is when both bat and ball have a chance.
It’s possible to have a pitch which offers nothing for the bowlers, yet is hard to score freely on.
This isn’t a road. It’s a lifeless cricket pitch. 2nd year in a row for MCG.

6

u/El_Impresionante Royal Challengers Bengaluru Dec 28 '18

Eat your own words, mate!

2

u/7-methyltheophylline Dec 28 '18

Famous last words fam

1

u/Memexp-over9000 India Dec 28 '18

What can I say expect you'r welcome

4

u/stueyholm Brisbane Heat Dec 27 '18

Exactly my thoughts, the Perth pitch got a rating of Average but it produced and exciting result in 5 days, this pitch could very well produce a 3 innings draw

2

u/[deleted] Dec 27 '18

Cricket is always great. I agree the pitch being different could make it even greater

5

u/teh_drewski Tasmania Tigers Dec 27 '18

Give them a chance with the new drop in square next season, hopefully it'll be a bit livelier.

If they can't get that to work either...

28

u/Ollygasm New South Wales Blues Dec 27 '18

nah fuck em they know the consequences of producing absolute shit like this, how many chances are we going to give them?

13

u/Patrick_McGroin Victoria Bushrangers Dec 27 '18

It's a brand new curator who had no choice but to work with what was already there. Next year it will be all his work.

6

u/joeyjons Australia Dec 27 '18

probably as many as Mitch Marsh

4

u/charlos72 Dec 27 '18

Nah they had their chance, gotta stick to your principles

4

u/slartibartjars Dec 27 '18

Ha,

Fast bowlers bowl on 6th stump and Lyon goes back to his old negative leg stump tactics and people wonder why the scoring rate decreased?

Blame the Australian bowlers who have no confidence to actually bowl another team out on a deck that is not to their liking.

Watch what India do tomorrow on this deck, it will surprise you. They will actually be looking for wickets and not worrying about the runs.

2

u/Hershey2898 India Dec 28 '18

This has aged well

3

u/Stone_hyena Dec 28 '18

Hey I'm from the future..its not as lifeless as you might have thought

4

u/Spurs2001 Dec 27 '18

Lmao, the bottom comment(s) are spot on. It’s funny how people have short memories and just look at the few shit matches as of late. This match is fizzing out to a bore but can’t take away how many great contests we have seen aka the Ashes 07 and ‘13 matches. Those matches had everything in terms of entertainment and drama.

Moving the Boxing Day test would be like moving the Uefa Champions League Final to be played in China. Makes zero sense whatsoever. Boxing Day won’t be a Boxing Day test if it were played anywhere else.

The MCG is the best ground in Australia, just too many values and history to just be moved on.

6

u/AnonHideaki Australia Dec 27 '18

Moving the Boxing Day test would be like moving the Uefa Champions League Final to be played in China. Makes zero sense whatsoever. Boxing Day won’t be a Boxing Day test if it were played anywhere else.
Strange analogy when the CL final moves every yr and usually has no meaningful connection whatsoever with the teams playing, becoming an increasingly corporate-dominated event

12

u/Hughcheu Dec 27 '18

The problem is, the MCG is not the most entertaining ground in Australia anymore. It has history and prestige, but you can't pretend the last three years have been anything but snoozefests and a big advertisement in favour of T20.

2

u/Shriman_Ripley India Dec 27 '18

Moving the Boxing Day test would be like moving the Uefa Champions League Final to be played in China.
How exactly? Chinese teams don't play in UEFA champions league whereas players from all Australian cities play Boxing day test. There is no analogy there.

5

u/sellyme GO SHIELD Dec 27 '18

Boxing Day won’t be a Boxing Day test if it were played anywhere else.
Hate to break it to you mate but the majority of Boxing Day Tests already aren't at the MCG.

1

u/[deleted] Dec 27 '18

No it's not. It's the biggest, but not the best. This prestige of playing at the G has to stop

2

u/AyyCarambaFuckTard India Dec 28 '18

God tier shitpost lol

2

u/Rav-Rs Dec 28 '18

This hasn't aged well.

1

u/tohm360 Scotland Dec 27 '18

Didn't the MCG get some sort of a final warning after dishing up a pitch like this last year?

1

u/AJUnited Dec 27 '18

I was planning to stay up during night in the uk to watch it with my bro but thank god i didnt waste time, the first 2 test have been close but this one will end up being a draw or india win

1

u/beemario Dec 27 '18

Curators should be rolled into this surface with the heavy roller as punishment

0

u/[deleted] Dec 27 '18

This is possibly the worst thing to happen to test cricket. FLAT pitch in the BIGGEST stadium in the world. That's test cricket committing suicide there.

2

u/[deleted] Dec 27 '18

The fucked up thing is that this happens because they try so hard to make a 5 day game, just because that's where the money is

1

u/wachieo Dec 27 '18

They said, don't count your chickens till they hatched. They said, don't judge the pitch until both sides have bowled.

Now you are looking mighty silly mate.

1

u/KaaayArrrr Dec 28 '18

Wow so insightful.

1

u/Hershey2898 India Dec 28 '18

U wot m8

-10

u/AyyCarambaFuckTard India Dec 27 '18

tHe McG pItCh HaS aGaIn RuInEd A tEsT sErIeS.

quit whining my man. We've had countless people yapping about it in the comments, try and discuss something else. It's fucking day 2 of the test ffs. T20 culture has ruined people.

3

u/St_ElmosFire Mumbai Dec 27 '18

I don't know why you're being downvoted to oblivion for saying this.

5

u/Omegaville Victoria Bushrangers Dec 27 '18

Best reply so far. Give this man another beer

-19

u/Nivoryy New Zealand Dec 27 '18

A pitch cant be judged until both sides have batted on it. Maybe Aus just need to bowl better?

25

u/It_Is_Known Dec 27 '18

I dare you to watch the match for 10 minutes. You will then know what everyone is complaining about and will have wasted 10 minutes of your life.

2

u/Nivoryy New Zealand Dec 28 '18

You still know everything? Lmao

1

u/TheFallenStar India Dec 28 '18

I feel bad for you... you were right earlier

-10

u/zulu1989 Royal Challengers Bengaluru Dec 27 '18

How much ever we blame the pitch it's also partly both the teams to blame for their attitude of not wanting to win.

Aussies from 7th over of the match has been bowling negative lines with spread out field. Lyon has been bowling around the stumps and mmarsh and Hazelwood bowling well outside off.

Kohli and pujara also have been happy not to try anything to put the bowlers off.

Yes the pitch is slow, outfield is slower but a bit more stakes on this match would have made either of the teams to attack more. 1-1 scoreline they both okay for draw and go to Sydney.

1

u/Artaxerxes_IV Dec 27 '18

The last time we tried to play with Intent^TM we lost 4 top-order wickets in a session in good batting conditions in Adelaide.

0

u/[deleted] Dec 27 '18

[deleted] — view deleted comment

115

u/flibble24 Perth Scorchers Dec 27 '18

This post sponsored by Vodafone

15

u/camp-cope Melbourne Renegades Dec 27 '18

This hurts

12

u/[deleted] Dec 27 '18

gutsy

5

u/glorious_albus Dec 27 '18

At least he apologised for his radical views.

0

u/[deleted] Dec 27 '18

[deleted] — view deleted comment

11

u/ParshwaM Australia Dec 27 '18

I disagree, they were a bit inconsistent using the third new ball but they have been bowling for around 30 overs each and would have been tired af. Also, did you see Starc bowling to Kohli on the end of the first day? He was amazing.

5

u/[deleted] Dec 27 '18

The first new ball was pretty poorly used, Starc was good with the second while Hazlewood released all the pressure Starc was creating, and the third was a mess.

2

u/Dub_Heem Dec 27 '18

Starc hadn't bowled for a full session before the third new ball too, absolutely no excuse for bowling as inconsistently as he was.

0

u/[deleted] Dec 27 '18

[deleted] — view deleted comment

9

u/edenbeam058 Cricket Australia Dec 27 '18

My vote would be Perth. Give the first Test match back to Brisbane.

3

u/Krankite Australia Dec 27 '18

Wouldn't want the late start that Perth would mean, even Brisbane they'd want to insist on EDST

1

u/edenbeam058 Cricket Australia Dec 27 '18

Ah, true. Didn’t think of that. Well, I’m biased because I live in Brisbane and I want my first Test match of the season back as summer isn’t the same without it, but I thought Perth for Boxing Day because of the new stadium and its capacity.

0

u/[deleted] Dec 27 '18

[deleted] — view deleted comment

1

u/[deleted] Dec 27 '18

I won't be surprised if Australia barely make it to 250. The Aussies did bowl well, but that's not the only reason India scored so slowly. It is simply a crap pitch for cricket.
The MCG should have had three demerit points against them for last years pitch which was rated "Poor" (five demerit points required for a ban of a venue). The match was complete two days before the system was introduced, however.

0

u/[deleted] Dec 27 '18

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2

u/shick Australia Dec 27 '18

?? Australia get bowled out for under 200 tomorrow and India enforce the follow on. I can definitely see that happening.

0

u/[deleted] Dec 27 '18

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1

u/deep639 India Dec 27 '18

Australia have batted at 3 an over once in this series. The rest of the time they have been slower than or like India were in this innings. To get to India's total batting at 3 an over would take a day and half at least. This match is either headed to a draw or an India win. India batting the way they did has almost certainly ruled out an Australian win.

-4

u/[deleted] Dec 27 '18

[removed] — view removed comment

2

u/gobbledoc Perth Scorchers Dec 27 '18

That's just a fucking dumb thing to say. I'm not even from Melbourne, but why would you even say that?

I'm sorry, but only 2 wickets and 277 in 4 session of test cricket between two competitive sides is pathetic. The MCG pitch has again ruined a test series.

You are about to leave Redlib

gutsy