On the back of another successful AFL season, and following last weekend’s WWE Super Show-Down, preparations at the MCG have turned to the upcoming cricket season, with the portable pitches installed in the stadium this week.
The final set of cricket pitches arrived at the MCG last night. The first match, a four-day Sheffield Shield contest between Victoria and New South Wales, starts on October 25.Melbourne Cricket Club CEO Stuart Fox said that the club had conducted a thorough review of recent MCG pitch performances, including last summer’s Boxing Day Test pitch.
“The pitches that we produced for long-form cricket last summer were lower and slower than we would like, and didn’t deteriorate sufficiently over the course of matches,” said Mr Fox.
“However, we remain of the strong belief that portable pitches can produce quality cricket and we are determined to do that this summer and beyond.”
Matthew Page joined the MCG team early this year as head curator, after five years at the WACA Ground in Perth.
“Since Matthew’s arrival, he has worked with Cricket Australia and other curators around the country to ensure our practices and techniques are enabling us to get the most out of our pitches here in Melbourne,” said Mr Fox.
A number of changes have been made since the end of last cricket season:
• A reduction from 10 to seven pitches on the square to allow for more wear and tear.
• Bringing forward the timing of an aggressive renovation of the pitches, designed to improve the clay profile of each pitch, from the start of this cricket season to the end of last season.
• Placement of a layer of sand on the concrete slab in the centre of the MCG to soften the connection between the pitches and the concrete base.
• Using the pitches either side of the Test strip for Sheffield Shield matches earlier in the season than previously.
• Installing two portable pitches in the outdoor practice wicket area to allow pitch experimentation to occur.
• Planning for an overhaul of the portable pitch nursery in Yarra Park, where the pitches live during the winter months.
• Introducing a layer of sand into each pitch tray before the pitches were placed into the nursery last winter.
Speaking ahead of his first season in charge of the MCG pitches, Matthew Page said he was excited about the opportunity.
“I am really looking forward to my first summer of cricket at the MCG,” said Page.
“I have already learnt a lot about Melbourne conditions in my short time here, but I have also been able to bring new ideas that, in time, will see us better deliver an even contest between bat and ball that players love.
Cricket at the MCG in 2018/19
Sheffield Shield
• October 25-28: Victoria v New South Wales• November 3-6: Victoria v South Australia
• December 7-10: Victoria v Western Australia
• March 3-6: Victoria v Tasmania
Internationals
• November 23: T20 – Australia v India• December 26-30: Boxing Day Test – Australia v India
• January 18: One-day international – Australia v India
Big Bash League
• January 1: Melbourne Stars v Melbourne Renegades• January 9: Melbourne Stars v Perth Scorchers
• January 14: Melbourne Stars v Hobart Hurricanes
• January 27: Melbourne Stars v Brisbane Heat
• February 10: Melbourne Stars v Sydney Sixers