MCG head curator Matt Page has admitted to being in a “state of shock” following the dramatic conclusion of the Boxing Day Test, which saw England secure a four-wicket victory over Australia in just two days of play.
The match, which traditionally serves as the crown jewel of the Australian summer, became a chaotic “bowlers’ paradise” that has left Cricket Australia (CA) facing an estimated $10 million AUD revenue shortfall and the venue’s reputation under heavy fire.
MCG Pitch curator expresses disappointment following quick end of 4th Test
Speaking to reporters on Sunday morning—a day that was supposed to feature a sold-out crowd of 90,000—a visibly disappointed Page expressed his disbelief at how quickly the surface deteriorated.
“I was in a state of shock after the first day to see everything that happened—20 wickets in a single day,” Page said.
Notably, a staggering 36 wickets fell in just 142 overs, making it the third-shortest Test match in Australian history. For the first time since 1932, no player from either side managed to score a half-century in a Test on Australian soil.
“I’ve never been involved in a Test match like it and hopefully I’m never involved in a Test match like that again. It was a roller-coaster ride for two days to see everything unfold,” he added.
The controversy centers on Page’s decision to leave 10mm of grass on the pitch—3mm more than the 7mm left for last year’s five-day classic against India. Page explained that the decision was a preemptive measure against a forecast of high heat for Days 3 and 4, intended to prevent the pitch from cracking and becoming a “road” like the infamous 2017 Ashes draw.
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Travis Head comes in support of MCG Pitch curator
Travis Head, whose second-innings knock of 46 turned out to be the highest score of the match, came out in support of MCG curator Page, admitting that the margin for error in pitch preparation is incredibly small. Acknowledging how demanding the job is for groundstaff, Head said they have it ‘bloody tough,’ especially when elite players are involved. He compared the surface to recent high-profile Tests, including last year’s MCG match—where India collapsed late on the final day—and the third Ashes Test in Adelaide, where both teams struggled despite the pitch being one of the better batting wickets he had played on.
“You look at the Test match last year, and India batted poorly on the last day… It probably looks like it’s going to a draw, and then there’s question marks around: are we going too far the other way? I feel for him [Page]. It’s bloody tough. You leave 1-2mm on with high-quality bowling and you find yourself short, and you take 2-3mm off with high-quality batting and you leave yourself the other way,” said Head as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.
