New Delhi: After the stand-off between Indian cricketers and the Australian media, a fresh controversy has erupted in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 over the pitches provided to India for practice ahead of the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). Team India were reportedly not happy with the quality of pitches provided to them for training at the MCG ahead of the 4th Test.
As per a report in Dainik Jagranfour practice pitches were made available for India for their training at the MCG ahead of the 4th Test. However, the tracks lacked bounce and carry which left the Indian players and team management unhappy as they couldn’t get the kind of practice they wanted ahead of the Boxing Day Test where the pitch is expected to assist the fast bowlers.
The report claimed that the Indian team were not provided quality pitches with a tint of grass on them despite them being available at the MCG. As a result of the ‘tired’ pitches, the Indian pacers got little assistance while bowling to their teammates in the nets. The Indian team was also reportedly unhappy after skipper Rohit Sharma got hit on his left knee while facing a throwdown specialist due to the ball keeping low.
However, Rohit avoided a major injury and is expected to be fit for the 4th Test at the MCG which gets underway on Thursday, December 26. Nonetheless, the Indian skipper couldn’t continue with his batting practice on Sunday after being hit on his knee and was seen sitting with an ice pack around the injured knee during India’s training session.
Adding more fuel to the fire, Australia were provided with fresh pitches at the MCG for practice after they began training on Monday. The hosts getting fresh pitches sparked concerns over the fairness of preparations of both teams. However, the pitch curator at MCG issued clarification on the matter.
Why were India not provided fresh pitches for practice?
After the row over practice pitches, MCG curator Matt Page addressed the matter and revealed why the Indian team was not provided with fresh pitches for training. Page said the curators provide fresh practice pitches only three days before the start of the Test match to ensure the track doesn’t get worn out as the game approaches.
He said the rule applies to all teams, including hosts Australia. He explained India didn’t get fresh pitches as they began training early while Australia got fresh pitches as they started training only on Monday. India too got fresh pitches for practice on Monday.
“We got the schedule of the Indian team well ahead. But we usually give match-centric wickets only three days before the match. It’s applicable for all teams,” Page was quoted as saying by India Today.
It has been a spicy build-up to the much-awaited Boxing Day Test between India and Australia. The row over practice pitches emerged after Virat Kohli was recently involved in a heated argument with an Australian reporter at the Melbourne airport over his kids being filmed without his permission. Later Ravindra Jadeja was accused of not speaking in English at a presser.
The five-match Test series is currently locked at 1-1 after the conclusion of the 3rd Test at the Gabba which ended in a draw. Both India and Australia will be looking to take the lead by ending up on the winning side in the Boxing Day Test at the MCG.
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