Australian skipper Steve Smith slams MCG flat track

The Australian team had already secured the urn after winning the first three Ashes encounter. Thus going into Melbourne Test, the England team had nothing to lose as the Lions played for honour in the dead-rubber fixture. And to an extent, it worked out well for both the sides as the match ended in a draw.

However, the flat track which MCG presented has received scathing remarks and criticism from several pundits. In fact, Aussie skipper Steve Smith, who registered yet another century in the ongoing Ashes expressed his frustration with the pitch, which practically offered nothing. Although he was content with his team’s draw, the skipper remains frustrated with the pitch conditions. The track at MCG failed to present any bounce and pace, giving a nightmare to the bowlers.

“It hasn’t changed over five days and I’d say if we were playing for the next couple of days it probably wouldn’t change at all, either.”

“It’s got to find a way to have some pace and bounce, or take some spin, or do something,” added Smith to News.com.au

“I don’t mind if they’re flat, as such. It just needs to have some pace and carry. This wicket just has none of that. I just don’t think it’s good for anyone.”

Smith batted for the entirety of day five, closing play at 102 not out after a score of 76 in the first innings and a mountain of runs already this summer. Although his love of the craft is evident, the 28-year-old skipper conceded that his innings could have continued for many days on a pitch like that. Smith became the third-century maker of the Test after David Warner‘s day one effort and Alastair Cook’s record-breaking 244 not out.

MCC chief executive Stuart Fox issues a statement

The Boxing Day Test of 2017 will be remembered as a tedious, non-competitive affair due to the pitch that refused to relent to the pressure of five long days of Test cricket, remaining a dream for batsmen and a recurring nightmare for bowlers.

Following all the negative criticism, MCC chief executive Stuart Fox decided to address the problem. Fox, in a statement, revealed to ‘The Australian’, “While this pitch did produce a good contest, it has not contained the bounce and pace that we expected. As the game progressed, the surface did not deteriorate nor bring the level of unpredictability that was anticipated.”

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