Nightmare For Indian Batters? What To Expect From MCG Pitch For Boxing Day Test

Anurag Dasgupta

Indian batters to face trouble at MCG? [Source: AP Photos] Indian batters to face trouble at MCG? [Source: AP Photos]

The stage is set as the Boxing-Day Test match between India and Australia will commence at the iconic MCG from December 26. The series is evenly poised at the moment as the caravan will now shift towards the all-important clash which could also decide the fate of WTC finals.

India will head to MCG with truckloads of confidence, having won the previous two Tests played at this venue. In 2018 and 2020, Team India demolished the Aussies here and will be looking to make hat-trick of wins at the 'G'.

Over the years, the MCG pitch quality has dropped as from a seam friendly deck, the MCG pitch has generally seen a drop in quality as the spinners have also come into effect. So, the question arises, will India go in with two spinners? Will Washington Sundar come in place of Nitish Reddy?.

The MCG pitch curator downplayed the idea of having two spinners in the squad and insisted that the surface will have something for everyone, but won't deteriorate much.

MCG Pitch for Boxing-Day Test: Will Indian batters face a nightmare?

Interestingly, since 2010, Nathan Lyon has picked the most wickets at MCG, having scalped 45 wickets. However, since the 2017 Ashes tour where the pitch was criticised for being too batting friendly, the narrative changed about the surface and a balanced pitch was laid out which assisted everyone.

A couple of days prior to the Test match, there was a 6mm grass, but the majority of it will be cut-off to produce an even contest. The Australian side cannot take the risk to produce a green top, since their own batters are struggling for runs.

As per the curator, there won't be as much pace and bounce as Perth or the Gabba, but the pitch will have sideways movement and the batters will come into play as the pitch settles in. Also, from Day 3 onwards, spin bowlers will also come into play, so the teams might be tempted to go in with two spinners.