‘If India had trained…’: MCG pitch curator dismisses claims of bias towards Australia

After reaching Melbourne a week before the Boxing Day Test, the Indian team had to practice for multiple days on seemingly used pitches. After this news got out, many pointed their fingers at the pitch curator of the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) and claims were made about him favouring the Australian team.

However, all such claims were dismissed by MCG’s pitch curator himself Matt Page, who explained that fresh pitches for the Test match are prepared only 3 days prior to the game.

“For us, three days out, we prepare Test match pitches for here. If teams come and train before that, they get what pitches we have had. Today (Monday), we are on fresh pitches. If India had trained this morning, they would have been on those fresh pitches. It’s stock standard procedure for us, three days out,” Page said.

Unlike Team India who have been practicing for multiple days in Melbourne, Australia held their first practice session there on Monday, and therefore got to play on the pitches that have been prepared for the fourth Test.

Page’s statement made sure to rubbish all the claims regarding him favouring Australia over India by making the Men in Blue practice on unrepresentative pitches.

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