Ashes 2025-26: ‘They should’ve played like Pujara or Rahane’ - Uthappa says MCG wasn’t impossible to bat on
"See, it's a dichotomous situation. It's not like it's an impossible wicket. There are such wickets in Melbourne which are very juicy for fast bowlers," said Uthappa.
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Former India cricketer Robin Uthappa shared his views on the Melbourne pitch used for the fourth Ashes Test between Australia and England, stating that the surface was not impossible to bat on. The Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) ended inside two days, with England registering a narrow four-wicket victory last week.
Weighing in on the debate surrounding the pitch, Uthappa felt that both Australian and English batters lacked the required application to succeed on such conditions. He added that the MCG surface has traditionally offered assistance to bowlers and demands patience and discipline from batters. Uthappa also suggested that India stalwarts Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane would have thrived on such tracks due to their solid defensive techniques and temperament.
"See, it's a dichotomous situation. It's not like it's an impossible wicket. There are such wickets in Melbourne which are very juicy for fast bowlers... I think it's because of the way cricket is played today. I feel like these pitches are unsporty, but if you've the right technique and the right mindset and the fight in you, you'll be able to figure out a solution for this kind of a wicket also. It's not a high-scoring game, but it's not... It won't be a 300-plus game, but even a 250 on this wicket is possible. You gotta fight it out. Play like Puji (Pujara) and Ajinkya Rahane. Definitely, you'll score runs," said Uthappa on his YouTube channel.
Uthappa also reflected on Joe Root’s struggles during the second Test in Brisbane, stating that the England batter appeared completely out of sorts. He described it as an unfortunate moment in Test cricket, noting that even players of Root’s calibre can have difficult phases on challenging surfaces.
"I am saying this with a grain of salt because the way we're playing Test cricket has now changed. I don't enjoy it a lot - like the Ashes Test matches that finished in two days. What are we doing to the sport for entertainment? Joe Root looked too lost in that Test match. He didn't know how to play, play attacking cricket, or play his own way in the second innings. It was quite unfortunate... I empathize with them," said Uthappa.
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