The final day
There were 3 reasons why England failed to win this game: the unresponsive pitch, Steve Smith and the weather.
My neighbour in the MCG announced himself with these words:
“I expect a bloody boring day”
And it was. The problem is that Australia, now that the WACA is gone, have only one pure cricket ground left, the Sydney Cricket Ground. To pay for the improvements and rebuild, the other state stadia have to host multi-sport events which means a drop-in tray for a cricket wicket at the MCG.
This flat lifeless wicket offers the bowler nothing, did not break up, take spin or indeed offer any help as the pace bowlers toiled away to little avail. If Test cricket is to survive then wickets which challenge both batter and bowler must be produced.
I was assured by a Sydneysider that the curator of the SCG will be preparing a wicket that will be nippy for the first few days but will then turn. The problem is no one can be sure as it’s a new curator and almost no cricket has been played there these past few months.
The drop-in wicket has no moisture and sits on a cement bed. Its not even bouncy but stays flat. I suppose a genuine spin genius who can flight the ball – a Shane Warne or Murilithinan – might take wickets on it but Nathan Lyon, currently the world’s most effective finger spinner, could extract nothing from it.
Downpours in this most temperental of micro climates ensured there was no flow to the day and at 4-45 there was genuine relief when proceedings were called to a halt. Steve Smith never looked in difficulty. On an uneven wicket he occupies the crease like no other: on such a sterile one – well, no chance.
