TOPIC:

You can always get a decent pitch with a decent curator... problem solved there eh, Optus will never fit more than 60,000 try and fix that problem

58shark wrote:

UNKA2 wrote: How is optus gunna fit 70,000 plus on boxing day???

You’re talking like Cricket Australia unk. Let’s get 70,000 in and bore everyone shitless instead of getting 60,000 in and have an exciting game for the patrons. You’ve always talked about sport being a money making business, so this insistence on cricket at the mcg is just another example of it.

So no bore-fest with the match here, i agree, remind me of the crowd please??

The contrast with the other two boxing day tests couldn't be greater. In New Zealand its the second innings already on day two with NZ getting 178 and blowing Sri Lanka away for 104. Trent Boult took 6 wickets for 4 in 15 balls!. Meanwhile in South Africa 15 wickets fell on Day 1. Probably a bit too much the bowlers way but certainly more interesting than the snooze fest going on at the MCG. As GTRX said the Indians may well try and bat into day 3 of this match to grind the Australian bowlers into the dirt. This will impact not only on this test but also the Sydney one where they will have to back up again within a few days.

Hagley oval is predominantly a green top Mikeh, plus the weather here in Christchurch is perfect for bowling....20-21....only way Australia is going to protect their bowlers is to bat just as long as India....if Aust can keep India in the field till the end of this match....not fold easily, then at least the Aussie bowlers will have more rest than the Indian bowlers going into Sydney.....this test match is gone in terms of any positive Aussie result......up to the bowlers to keep the Indian run rate as it is....and up to the Aussie batters to keep their bowlers feet up and keep the Indians out on the field without losing this match......greatest worry is the Aussie batsmen and their ego's.....and dodgy techniques of course.....the MCG curator must be hoping for Aust to fold and deflect the blame from a another poor pitch on to the Aussie batters frailties....

Fellas like Hazlewood, Starc and Cummins don't bowl enough in the longer format on the MCG....perhaps next year Langer picks an all Victorian attack in Boland, Tremain etc...who bowl a lot on these MCG roadworks every year and still find wickets....save Starc et al legs for the Sydney test....sacrifice the Vic bowlers, keep the Vic fans happy watching their own boys play too....or move the MCG test to late November.....

UNKA2 wrote: You can always get a decent pitch with a decent curator... problem solved there eh, Optus will never fit more than 60,000 try and fix that problem

If Melbourne was to ever lose the Boxing Day Test.It would be Sydney to host the match ,not Perth.

Freezin wrote: Hagley oval is predominantly a green top Mikeh, plus the weather here in Christchurch is perfect for bowling....20-21....only way Australia is going to protect their bowlers is to bat just as long as India....if Aust can keep India in the field till the end of this match....not fold easily, then at least the Aussie bowlers will have more rest than the Indian bowlers going into Sydney.....this test match is gone in terms of any positive Aussie result......up to the bowlers to keep the Indian run rate as it is....and up to the Aussie batters to keep their bowlers feet up and keep the Indians out on the field without losing this match......greatest worry is the Aussie batsmen and their ego's.....and dodgy techniques of course.....the MCG curator must be hoping for Aust to fold and deflect the blame from a another poor pitch on to the Aussie batters frailties....

Fellas like Hazlewood, Starc and Cummins don't bowl enough in the longer format on the MCG....perhaps next year Langer picks an all Victorian attack in Boland, Tremain etc...who bowl a lot on these MCG roadworks every year and still find wickets....save Starc et al legs for the Sydney test....sacrifice the Vic bowlers, keep the Vic fans happy watching their own boys play too....or move the MCG test to late November.....

Freeze do you live in Christchurch. Watched the day1 highlights on Fox last night.Nz tail got the runs.

I have some fond memories of Hagley Oval Freezin. Dropped in there when we were on holiday in NZ in 2016. While we were in Christchurch, there just happened to be a test between Australia and NZ going on! I was there to witness Brendan McCullum's final test innings and I recall that his final scoring shot was a six ( sort of appropriate) and he was out next ball trying to repeat the shot. The six he hit whizzed straight in between where my wife and I were sitting on the grass bank but it had gone past well before I had a chance to put my hands out to try and catch it . Aussies won the game pretty easily in the end. Lovely ground and yes a pretty spicy wicket for sure, especially when it is cloudy.

Victorian Premier Dan Andrews has labeld WA the [Try Hard State].After securing the AFL GF till 2057.Hes now planning to do the same for the Boxing Day Test.No contact has been signed for next year's Dec 26 test.Not just Wa all states will have a crack at this.
Melbourne has had the Boxing day test since 1980.In 1989 they played a 50 over match on Boxing Day.Premier Andrews claims it's not his fault that Optus Stadium has no events to play at there new Stadium.

Yep mate live about 10min from Hagley Oval, it lies right in the middle of the iconic Christchurch's Hagley Park...fantastic location.......Mikeh you must if been sitting right near me mate that day....took my youngest....NZ started off so slowly, he was bored as bat shit...as like with many youngsters it's all about the BBL.....then McCullum comes out and goes bang bang...tho Mitch Marsh took a cracking "catch" of a Pattinson no ball...from then on it was the Brendan show.....great innings and great entertainment

India have called a halt I see to give Harris and Finch a nasty little 7 over period to survive. Good declaration and it could yield a few wickets with tired batsmen coming in