IND vs AUS 4th Test: The fourth test match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy between India and Australia is going to be played in Melbourne. During the three Test matches played so far, both the teams have been tied at 1-1. India won the first test match by 295 runs while Australia won by ten wickets in the second test match. The rain-interrupted third Test match was a draw. In such a situation, the fourth Test match to be played in Melbourne is considered very important for both the teams. This Boxing Day Test match is going to start on 26th December.
Indian batting has not yet been able to stand up to the fast bowlers of Australia. Now all eyes are on the Melbourne pitch. Before the start of the Test match, Melbourne’s pitch curator has revealed that the pitch here will also prove to be helpful to the fast bowlers. In such a situation, even during the fourth Test match, Indian batsmen will have to face the litmus test in front of Australian fast bowlers.
Spinners will not get help from the pitch
Melbourne Cricket Ground curator Matt Page says that the Melbourne pitch is not going to provide much help to the spinners. He said that the temperament of the Melbourne pitch will also be the same as the pitch of recent Test matches. He said that till a few years ago, the pitch of Melbourne used to be flat and in such a situation, most of the Test matches played on this ground used to end in a draw, but after the 2017 Ashes series, the situation changed.
Melbourne’s pitch curator said that if we look at the Test matches played here during the last five years, fast bowlers have achieved more success than spinners on the pitch here. The pitch here has been favorable to fast bowlers in recent years and still there is no change in the situation. Even during this Test match, we have not made any changes in the condition of the pitch.
Fast bowlers will test the batsmen
The pitch curator said that while preparing the Melbourne pitch, we have taken full care of the bowlers as well as the batsmen. We have taken full care that the bowlers get good opportunities and if the batsman bats well then he also gets success on this pitch. A little more grass has been left on the Melbourne pitch than before.
He said that because of this, an exciting match is expected on this pitch and that is what we want. This pitch will prove to help the fast bowlers with the new ball and in such a situation there will be a tough competition between the batsmen and bowlers. During the last two-three years we have worked a lot on this pitch so that there is consistency.
expected to be an exciting match
Page said that seven years ago the temperament of the Melbourne pitch was completely different and it was a completely flat pitch. In such situations, most of the test matches used to end in a draw but we decided to change the conditions. We wanted to make the test match exciting.
This is why we now leave more grass on the pitches in Melbourne. This gives the bowlers full opportunity to showcase their skills during the game. Along with this, after the ball becomes soft, the batsmen also find it easier to play their shots. Overall, there will be an exciting contest between the bowlers and batsmen on the Melbourne pitch.
