• Australia coach backs under-fire MCG curator

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    Australia coach Andrew McDonald has defended the MCG’s curator and warned against authorities meddling in pitch preparation.

    Curator Matt Page and his team have been in the firing line after leaving 10mm of grass on the wicket for the fourth Ashes Test against England.

    It provided the seamers with movement and bounce, making batting treacherous, with England winning by four wickets inside two days.

    The carnage left Cricket Australia facing A$10-million (R112-million) in revenue shortfall, with tickets for day three, four and five needing to be refunded.

    MORE: MCG curator in ‘state of shock’

    McDonald said Page had done an “outstanding” job over the years and the batsmen should also shoulder some of the blame for not scoring enough runs.

    “The perspective that I always use is we have bad Test matches as well – this Test we weren’t at our best and sometimes these things can happen.

    “We support him in what he’s done and are really proud of the evolution of the MCG. He’s found a nice balance for a long period of time.”

    ICC referee Jeff Crowe is yet to deliver his assessment of the pitch, which if handed an “unsatisfactory” rating would see the venue slapped with a demerit point.

    Cricket Australia are set to undertake its own end-of-season review of the management of Test wickets.

    CEO Todd Greenberg has suggested a more interventionist approach might be needed, with shorter Tests “bad for business”.

    CA BOSS: Short Tests bad for business

    But McDonald said he was not in favour of any interference, with curators in Australia traditionally independent when preparing pitches, both from captains and Cricket Australia.

    “I don’t want to get to a situation where we are asking for specific surfaces and tailor-made,” McDonald said. “I don’t think Australia will ever go there, and I don’t think they’ve ever been there, to my knowledge.”

    – AFP

    Photo: Morgan Hancock/Getty Images

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