Page said after the Boxing Day Test that he was in a “state of shock” after 20 wickets fell on the opening day. The International Cricket Council rated the pitch as “unsatisfactory” and the condition of the pitch (and the standard of batting) was criticized.
MCC Chief Executive Stuart Fox and MCG Chief Curator Matthew Page addressed the media after the Boxing Day Test.Credit: Wayne Taylor
The MCG uses a drop-in pitch and the one used for Tuesday night’s match was different to the one used in the two-day Test on Boxing Day. The game was played shortly after Victoria was hit by a heatwave last week.
Marcus Stoinis hit just three sixes in the match before he was forced to retire, injured when the ball bounced a length and hit him on the finger. A scan cleared him of serious injury.
His teammate, Stars opener Tom Rogers, top-scored with 32, while the Strikers’ best individual score was 20.
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Stoinis was cautious in his comments on the broadcast when asked about the match post-match, but said the wicket made it difficult to play entertaining Twenty20 cricket.
“We talked after that last game and we wanted a better surface,” Stoinis said.
“I think that’s what they tried to do. Of course it’s difficult and they’re doing their best, but it’s not ideal for us.
“It went up, it went down and it struck out.
A Melbourne Cricket Club spokesman said the ground would be reviewed as normal, with much of the focus being on getting it ready to host a home final for the Stars if they qualify.
“We are aware of the comments that were made after yesterday’s BBL match. But as we do after every game, we are talking to the players and officials and checking the pitch data to understand how it played. We are now moving on to prepare the next cricket pitch, which will hopefully be for the Stars’ home final,” the spokesman said.
The three previous BBL matches played at the MCG this season had been run-of-the-mill, producing 924 in 113.1 overs (8.2 per over) for the loss of 40 wickets.
The Strikers slumped to 9-55 in the 14th over before recovering to 83, but the result was clear when they lost Liam Scott and slumped to 5-40 at the halfway mark.
Page looks on during Australia’s training session on December 24.Credit: Getty Images
Australian wicketkeeper Alex Carey was dismissed for eight after opening the batting for the Strikers. He admitted on SEN that he misread the goal and it was much more even than he predicted when he surveyed the pitch.
“It performed really well,” Carey said.
“When you came out to bat and looked at the wicket, it was quite white, it was quite hard and all the signs were for a pretty good track.
“But the movement of the seams was just right, the ball was swinging and I reckon that when it was hitting the shiny side and sliding on, the bounce wasn’t quite there. There was enough for the ball.”
“It was one of those where there was just enough to make it difficult for the batsmen.
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