Promising signs for MCG pitch, and Vics

We’re sorry, this feature is currently unavailable. We’re working to restore it. Please try again later.

Advertisement

This was published 4 years ago

Promising signs for MCG pitch, and Vics

By Daniel Cherny

The MCG pitch’s brave new world started promisingly on Tuesday as Victoria bowled out Queensland despite losing around an hour’s play to rain.

Seven of the eight most recent Sheffield Shield matches at the ground have ended in draws, so the fact the Bulls were dismissed for 183 on day one of this Shield clash should give heart to the ground’s curator, Matthew Page.

With the venue’s square having undergone significant changes since the end of last summer’s Big Bash League, the MCG pitch offered plenty of life early, with Australian tearaway James Pattinson in particular deriving lots of bounce from a wicket featuring a healthy smattering of grass.

The deck flattened out as the day wore on but Victoria are well-positioned to record their first victory of the Shield season with rain set to largely stay away over the next three days.

Will Sutherland is congratulated after taking a wicket.

Will Sutherland is congratulated after taking a wicket. Credit: Getty Images

The match is the first, first-class affair at the ground since last summer’s Boxing Day Test.

Earlier this year, the nearly two-decade old concrete slab housing the MCG pitches was replaced by a more natural sand and gravel base, bringing the ground closer in-line with Adelaide Oval and Perth Stadium, both of which have similar set-ups with drop-in pitches.

The MCG pitch for last year’s Boxing Day Test between Australia and India was rated “average” by the ICC, easing pressure on the Melbourne Cricket Club after the previous year’s Ashes pitch was rated “poor.”

Peter Siddle, left, celebrates after taking the wicket of Marnus Labuschagne.

Peter Siddle, left, celebrates after taking the wicket of Marnus Labuschagne. Credit: Getty Images

Victoria won the toss and elected to bowl on Tuesday. Bryce Street and Matthew Renshaw crawled their way to a 25-run opening partnership before Street (six) was removed by debutant Will Sutherland, who had the Bulls opener caught at point by Jake Fraser-McGurk, also playing his first Shield match for Victoria.

Advertisement

Renshaw (24) also fell to Sutherland before Peter Siddle removed Marnus Labuschagne for a 28-ball duck, the Test batsman’s second consecutive score of nought.

Rain forced interruptions later in the day, but the Vics kept taking wickets through the middle session, leaving Queensland 7-99 at tea.

Charlie Hemphrey (64) and Mark Steketee provided resistance, adding 55 for the eighth-wicket before Hemphrey was caught behind attempting to hook James Pattinson.

Jon Holland issued a reminder that he remains the second-best spinner in Australia, taking 3-29 to clean up the tail.

Veteran Siddle - who played in Australia’s most recent Test against England at The Oval - finished with 3-30 from 17 overs.

“I think the signs...10 wickets in a day, it was a good cricket wicket,” Siddle said.

“It was probably very slow at the start. There was enough [in it for the bowlers]. But when it’s slow and holding, it gives the batters time to think about their shots.”

The new-look Victorian opening pairing of Eamonn Vines and Matthew Short got the hosts to 0-5 before rain ended play at around 6:20pm.

Such is Victoria’s bowling depth that Scott Boland - the reigning Sheffield Shield Player of the Year - was squeezed out of the home side’s XI.

Most Viewed in Sport

Loading