Xtra Time Web Desk: Indian batsmen can be up against a similar challenge against the Australian pace battery as the wicket at the Melbourne Cricket Ground is likely to have more pace and bounce unlike the one was on offer when the Indians toured Down Under in 2018. Australian pace ace Pat Cummins hopes they get a sporting MCG pitch for Boxing Day Test. The wicket at the MCG came in for a lot of criticism during the 2018-19 series between India and Australia. The Australian bowlers were made to toil hard for two days to get the Indians out.
The Indians were still coming to terms with their stunning defeat on Sunday, and have several selection headaches to deal with, not the least settling on a batting replacement for skipper Virat Kohli, who has returned home for the birth of his first child.
To make matters worse Mohammed Shami too has been ruled out for the remainder of the test series. Shami fractured his right arm after he was hit by a short ball from Cummins during the Indian second innings at the Adelaide Oval. He is very likely to replaced by Mohammed Siraj or Navdeep Saini.
MCG Curator Matt Page is confident of delivering an excellent wicket after a recent practice match at the famous stadium went well in a season when Melbourne’s lockdown meant no Sheffield Shield matches could be held.
Vice-captain Cummins said it was important not only for players but fans that the MCG continued to deliver in what is the showcase Test of the summer.
“I thought the Ashes Test and the Indian Test at the MCG a couple of years ago were pretty flat wickets. As a bowler, last year against New Zealand, it was a really good wicket, a bit of sideways movement and a bit of pace and bounce, so, hopefully, much the same,” he said.