MCG deck likely to be more subdued

HAVING traded blows on a demonic pitch in Perth, Australia and India are likely to encounter a far more docile deck in Melbourne.

The four-Test series, level at 1-1 following Australia’s 146run win in the second Test, continues at the MCG on Boxing Day.

Both sides will enjoy the week’s break, having been physically battered in a brutal contest at Optus Stadium.

Aaron Finch, Marcus Harris, Tim Paine, Nathan Lyon, Virat Kohli, Umesh Yadav and Ishant Sharma were among the batsmen to cop blows.

The respective pace attacks are unlikely to receive anywhere near as much assistance at the MCG, where two of the past four Tests have ended in a draw. Criticism about the MCG pitch peaked a year ago, when the venue was officially put on notice by the International Cricket Council for its “poor” pitch.

The MCG has since attempted to make its deck more lively but recent evidence suggests it will be a far more batsmanfriendly venue than Perth. There have been five centuries scored in three MCG matches this Sheffield Shield season, headlined by Marcus Harris’ unbeaten 250 that sealed his Test call-up. “There’s been a lot of talk about this wicket, there’s been a lot of talk about the MCG wicket after last year,” Australia coach Justin Langer said on Fox. Langer revealed he was so worried about the bouncer barrage directed at Australia’s tail on day four of the second Test that he floated the idea of declaring.

“(Mohammed Shami) is not renowned as an ultra-aggressive bowler but it was ultra-aggressive and I was nervous to watch.” Finch’s finger injury, inflicted by a Shami delivery that reared at him, was serious enough for the opener to retire hurt but subsequent scans cleared him of a fracture.

Paine is confident Hazlewood, Starc and Pat Cummins will be fit and firing after playing two Tests in a fortnight.