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Conspiracy claims rejected
Source: Agencies |
December 24, 2010, Friday
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ALLEGATIONS of pitch doctoring to favor Australia's attack for the fourth Ashes test against England have been "funny to read", the Melbourne Cricket Ground's head groundsman said yesterday.
British media alleged local cricket authorities had conspired to switch to a grassier drop-in wicket to aid Australia after its pacemen fired the hosts to a 267-run victory in Perth that levelled the five-test series at 1-1.
A livelier wicket would indeed favor the host's pace brigade but head groundsman Cameron Hodgkins said the decision to use the grassier pitch out of the two drop-in wickets he had been preparing was made well before the third Perth test.
"Two weeks ago, just prior to our tour match (against England), it became pretty evident that my first option wasn't going to be ideal for what I'd envisioned for a test pitch and I was able to then go to what I felt would be a better surface," he told reporters at the MCG's indoor practise nets.
"It was entirely a personal thing and something I did two weeks ago so it wasn't on the spur of anything that happened over the last week or so.
"I haven't been annoyed because I haven't taken (the controversy) seriously," added Hodgkins, saying the last time he had spoken to a Cricket Australia official was in the country's winter.
"For someone who keeps a fairly low profile, it's been funny to read."
Hodgkins implied the track for the test starting on December 26 would prove far less unpredictable than that at Perth's WACA ground, where England's batsmen were skittled for 187 and 123.
Bouncier
"I would think on the WACA's worst day they would still be faster and bouncier than anything we normally turn out. We traditionally are not a very fast and bouncy surface," he said.
"The MCG's never been accused of being fast and bouncy. It's more of a wicket which offers a little bit up front and is quite flat towards the end of the match."
After a week of conjecture, Australia left spinner Michael Beer to carry the drinks at Perth, where the curator told local radio he would have played a spinner.
The decision to play a four-pronged pace attack was exonerated at Perth, but Beer has been retained in the 12-man squad for Melbourne.
Australia captain Ricky Ponting meanwhile tested out his broken finger during fielding and throwing drills yesterday and said he was hopeful of playing the test "pain free".
British media alleged local cricket authorities had conspired to switch to a grassier drop-in wicket to aid Australia after its pacemen fired the hosts to a 267-run victory in Perth that levelled the five-test series at 1-1.
A livelier wicket would indeed favor the host's pace brigade but head groundsman Cameron Hodgkins said the decision to use the grassier pitch out of the two drop-in wickets he had been preparing was made well before the third Perth test.
"Two weeks ago, just prior to our tour match (against England), it became pretty evident that my first option wasn't going to be ideal for what I'd envisioned for a test pitch and I was able to then go to what I felt would be a better surface," he told reporters at the MCG's indoor practise nets.
"It was entirely a personal thing and something I did two weeks ago so it wasn't on the spur of anything that happened over the last week or so.
"I haven't been annoyed because I haven't taken (the controversy) seriously," added Hodgkins, saying the last time he had spoken to a Cricket Australia official was in the country's winter.
"For someone who keeps a fairly low profile, it's been funny to read."
Hodgkins implied the track for the test starting on December 26 would prove far less unpredictable than that at Perth's WACA ground, where England's batsmen were skittled for 187 and 123.
Bouncier
"I would think on the WACA's worst day they would still be faster and bouncier than anything we normally turn out. We traditionally are not a very fast and bouncy surface," he said.
"The MCG's never been accused of being fast and bouncy. It's more of a wicket which offers a little bit up front and is quite flat towards the end of the match."
After a week of conjecture, Australia left spinner Michael Beer to carry the drinks at Perth, where the curator told local radio he would have played a spinner.
The decision to play a four-pronged pace attack was exonerated at Perth, but Beer has been retained in the 12-man squad for Melbourne.
Australia captain Ricky Ponting meanwhile tested out his broken finger during fielding and throwing drills yesterday and said he was hopeful of playing the test "pain free".
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