Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) - Discussion

[its been done]

They've changed the text size (making them smaller) on the cricket scoreboards on both the video screens and the LED banners, very annyoing to read from the top deck of the Great Southern Stand

 

[Pessimistic]

They've changed the text size (making them smaller) on the cricket scoreboards on both the video screens and the LED banners, very annyoing to read from the top deck of the Great Southern Stand

Remember a couple of years ago there was great fanfare about bigger screens? For mine , they dispensed with the static advertising around the screens and put more adverts on the screen

 

[hitthepost]

Remember a couple of years ago there was great fanfare about bigger screens? For mine , they dispensed with the static advertising around the screens and put more adverts on the screen

They never said that the video image would be bigger
Really the main thing about the bigger screens (same with SCG's new one) is it's easier to give each user a clean stadium. It's then up to the user what they want to put on the screen.

 

[Roogal]

The perfect and only venue suitable for accommodating the Boxing Day test:

 

[Reptilia]

The perfect and only venue suitable for accommodating the Boxing Day test:

How come

 

[Brenton Davy]

The perfect and only venue suitable for accommodating the Boxing Day test:

If this pitch doesn't improve over the next 4 days it WON'T be hosting the Boxing Day (or any other) Test next year...

 

[hitthepost]

If this pitch doesn't improve over the next 4 days it WON'T be hosting the Boxing Day (or any other) Test next year...

That would be a coup, but it is a possibility.

 

[its been done]

Remember a couple of years ago there was great fanfare about bigger screens? For mine , they dispensed with the static advertising around the screens and put more adverts on the screen

Actually there was/is very little advertising apart from the very top of the screen like in AFL mode and the left hand side of the screen still have the batters part of the scoreboard while the rest of the screen hasn't changed from displaying the current batsmen/bowler or the full batting team's scorecard

 

[hitthepost]

Old:

Recent:

 

[KissKiss]

If this pitch doesn't improve over the next 4 days it WON'T be hosting the Boxing Day (or any other) Test next year...

The pitch looks like another shocker and it is frustrating seeing it the same every year, but hasnt the new demerit system only just kicked in? So it will take another bad year before the ICC could act

 

[Brenton Davy]

The pitch looks like another shocker and it is frustrating seeing it the same every year, but hasnt the new demerit system only just kicked in? So it will take another bad year before the ICC could act

You are correct. Just checked. If the last boxing day test had been 2 days later then the demerit point would have applied but as it stands there are currently no demerits hanging over the MCG.

I suspect that may not be the case this time next year tho...

 

[KissKiss]

You are correct. Just checked. If the last boxing day test had been 2 days later then the demerit point would have applied but as it stands there are currently no demerits hanging over the MCG.

I suspect that may not be the case this time next year tho...

I had high hopes after seeing some of the Shield results this season but it was just another shocker. I am getting tired of sitting through poor Boxing Day game. Spent a lot more time in the bars socialising this year.

I also did hear from staff that the groundskeeper spent a lot of time trying to water and keeping it green the week before the test. But didnt seem to have pulled it off

 

[Brenton Davy]

I think the issue is the clay content (or lack thereof) as both Adelaide and, especially, Perth have much higher clay contents. I think you will find these will be dug up and relaid with more clay after this season

 

[hitthepost]

I think the issue is the clay content (or lack thereof) as both Adelaide and, especially, Perth have much higher clay contents. I think you will find these will be dug up and relaid with more clay after this season

Inside the MCG's pitch reboot https://es.pn/2T9OYZ0
via ESPNCricinfo app http://es.pn/ciapp

This is what they're doing

MCG dropins have always struggled to get really good pace and bounce - I always remembered hearing that it was more tennis ball bounce. Their tech is still first-generation and now that Adelaide and Perth have newer tech they're even more being shown up by good dropin decks. Not saying that's the reason this and last year's pitches were s**t, but it can't have helped.

 

[Brenton Davy]

Inside the MCG's pitch reboot https://es.pn/2T9OYZ0
via ESPNCricinfo app http://es.pn/ciapp

This is what they're doing

MCG dropins have always struggled to get really good pace and bounce - I always remembered hearing that it was more tennis ball bounce. Their tech is still first-generation and now that Adelaide and Perth have newer tech they're even more being shown up by good dropin decks. Not saying that's the reason this and last year's pitches were s**t, but it can't have helped.

Interesting article.

I'm curious to see what Page would be saying now after the first 2 days of the test because, presumably this isn't the sort of pitch he was hoping for.

 

[hitthepost]

Interesting article.

I'm curious to see what Page would be saying now after the first 2 days of the test because, presumably this isn't the sort of pitch he was hoping for.

Presumably!

 

[Roogal]

If this pitch doesn't improve over the next 4 days it WON'T be hosting the Boxing Day (or any other) Test next year...

It's a poor tradesman who blames his tools. They (the media and the Australian Cricket team) can bang on about the pitch being poor from a bowling perspective as much as they like, but gee we saw a lot of dropped catches in the field from the Aussies over the last two days. Hmm?

The current MCG pitch is definitely not the worst pitch that Australia has ever served up in test series over the years. The old WACA used to serve up cracks that you could lose a prime mover in, and Melbourne definitely served up some shockers 10 years ago. You could never hold a decisive test in Brisbane because you can always guarantee losing a day and a half to storms at this time of year. And frankly who the "feck" are the Indians to criticize Australian pitches when theirs could be at best described as "runways"!

 

[Brenton Davy]

It's a poor tradesman who blames his tools. They (the media and the Australian Cricket team) can bang on about the pitch being poor from a bowling perspective as much as they like, but gee we saw a lot of dropped catches in the field from the Aussies over the last two days. Hmm?

Who is the tradesman blaming the tools. It's the ICC who has put the heat on the MCC to get it right. Continue to get it wrong and the MCG could well lose Boxing Day (and any other tests)

 

[Roogal]

Who is the tradesman blaming the tools. It's the ICC who has put the heat on the MCC to get it right. Continue to get it wrong and the MCG could well lose Boxing Day (and any other tests)

And who are the ICC these days? It used to be the International Cricket Council but these days it might as well stand for the Indian Cricket Council because they dictate world cricket from a money perspective. The Indians frankly have no right criticizing any other pitches, theirs are complete shite.

 

[Brenton Davy]

And who are the ICC these days? It used to be the International Cricket Council but these days it might as well stand for the Indian Cricket Council because they dictate world cricket from a money perspective. The Indians frankly have no right criticizing any other pitches, theirs are complete shite.

Irrelevant.

They pull the strings and if the "G" doesn't start getting it right...

I want the Boxing Day Test to stay at the MCG, but this test is an absolute snooze fest. Get the pitches RIGHT!!!

 

[Billy ray]

They should pour petrol on it and light it. Plus allow some kids to play with tonka trucks and diggers the day before (not while burning).

 

[Roogal]

Irrelevant.

They pull the strings and if the "G" doesn't start getting it right...

I want the Boxing Day Test to stay at the MCG, but this test is an absolute snooze fest. Get the pitches RIGHT!!!

Sorry just cause you call 'irrellevant' does not make it so. My point is very relevant.

Melbourne has to make a choice as does any AFL dual use stadium/ground that uses drop in pitches. The MCG and every other major stadium used for cricket in Australia has to choose. Do we accept perfect and compressed centre wickets stay permanently in the ground all year round and watch them turn into quagmires during football seasons or do we accept perfect AFL grounds with mediocre drop in cricket pitches during summer? Keeping in mind that the ICC rated Perth's drop in wicket as only 'acceptable'.

Frankly drop in pitches have been crticized from Day 1. You take what you get depending on the conditions of the ground according to its seasonal weather patterns preceding it. Otherwise, if the ICC want perfect homogenized conditions suitable for batsmen and bowlers then perhaps they ought to consider drop in artificial surfaces.

Do you seriously think that they would drop cricket tests from the biggest and best cricket arena in the world? They and the media are talking shite. Does the drop in pitch need improvement? Possibly, but the MCG already has some of the best groundsmen in the world. I can't see what else they think that can be done.

 

[Brenton Davy]

Frankly drop in pitches have been crticized from Day 1. You take what you get depending on the conditions of the ground according to its seasonal weather patterns preceding it. Otherwise, if the ICC want perfect homogenized conditions suitable for batsmen and bowlers then perhaps they ought to consider drop in artificial surfaces.

Do you seriously think that they would drop cricket tests from the biggest and best cricket arena in the world? They and the media are talking shite. Does the drop in pitch need improvement? Possibly, but the MCG already has some of the best groundsmen in the world. I can't see what else they think that can be done.

Adelaides was criticized the first year but they have adjusted and now it's a GREAT test match pitch. Maybe we should loan you one of our pitches. That would fix the problem. Or maybe the MCC should stop resting on their "oh we've got the best stadium in the world" laurels and update their drop in pitch technology.

The ICC doesn't give a stuff about the MCG and if they see fit they will strip it of test status if they get 2 more below average or poor ratings.

 

[hitthepost]

They are updating the tech. After this season. The new groundsman has had half a summer in charge and has that going. I shared the link above.

 

[Kwality]

Do you seriously think that they would drop cricket tests from the biggest and best cricket arena in the world? They and the media are talking shite. Does the drop in pitch need improvement? Possibly, but the MCG already has some of the best groundsmen in the world. I can't see what else they think that can be done.

The MCC should supply their tradesmen an up to date set of tools, not even high tech but it appears the MCC have dropped the ball, need to update pitch tech.