Australia coach urges patience, opposes interference in pitch preparation traditions
Melbourne
Australia head coach Andrew McDonald has come out strongly in defence of Melbourne Cricket Ground curator Matt Page, who has faced intense criticism following the dramatic conclusion of the fourth Ashes Test against England. The match ended inside two days, with England clinching a four-wicket victory on a surface that offered significant assistance to fast bowlers.
Page and his ground staff were targeted after leaving around 10 millimetres of grass on the wicket, which produced pronounced seam movement and bounce. Batting proved extremely challenging for both sides, contributing to the unusually short Test and sparking debate over pitch standards at Australia’s most iconic venue.
The early finish has also had financial repercussions. Cricket Australia is estimated to have suffered a revenue loss of about Aus$10 million (US$6.7 million), as tickets for days three, four and five had to be refunded. The incident has prompted calls from some quarters for greater oversight of pitch preparation.
McDonald, however, urged restraint, praising Page’s long-term work and warning against administrative interference. He said the curator had done an “outstanding” job over many years and argued that Australia’s batsmen must also take responsibility for their lack of runs.
“We have bad Test matches as well — this Test we weren’t at our best,” McDonald said. “Sometimes these things can happen. We support him in what he’s done and are really proud of the evolution of the MCG. He’s found a nice balance for a long period of time.”
The pitch is still under scrutiny, with ICC match referee Jeff Crowe yet to submit his official report. An “unsatisfactory” rating would result in a demerit point for the venue.
While Cricket Australia will conduct its own end-of-season review, McDonald reiterated his opposition to tailoring surfaces for commercial reasons, stressing that Australian curators have traditionally operated independently of captains and administrators.
