All eyes are on the Melbourne pitch, which is expected to be less lively than last year
Stephen Smith has named Gabba Greentop as the toughest course he has played in Australia and hopes the conditions at the MCG will encourage more hitting.
South Africa shattered when 34 wickets in Brisbane fell just two days to start his series a big hit, making it the shortest Test on Australian soil in 91 years.
The ICC took a sober look at the game, which lasted only six sessions, with match umpire Richie Richardson calling Gabba’s pitch “below average” and “the battle between bat and ball was not evenly matched. ‘ said.
Despite Australia winning 1–0 with a six-wicket win, Smith hopes his batsmen can get more help during the Boxing Day Test.
“As a batsman, I want to do a little less,” he said in Melbourne on Wednesday. It was the toughest wicket I have played at.”
South Africa captain Dean Elgar explained at the post-match press conference that the pitch was dangerous and asked the referees at the final meeting if it seemed unsafe to continue. I admit that I had moments. “I think there were a few instances where the ball did things that came out of nowhere,” said Smith. was incredibly difficult. I can’t tell if it wasn’t safe, but it wasn’t easy to beat.”
Cricket Australia’s head of cricket operations, Peter Roach, accepted the ICC’s assessment, admitting that Gabba’s pitch encourages too fast bowling.
“For every game, I recommend looking at how you find the right balance on day four,” Roach told reporters. Please, being late on day four gives us a chance to move the game a little further.”
Last year’s boxing his day His test ended before lunch on his third day and Scott his Boland beat the English batsmen his line-up 6-7 in his second debut .
But it’s only been five years since MCG were beaten with a ‘bad’ rating after a tedious draw in which he took just 24 wickets in his five days.
Roach said MCG curator Matt his Page would not change preparations based on what happened at Gabba. Smith seemed a little confused when CA told him there was no message to make him more batting-friendly at the MCG.