MCG Pitch Under Scrutiny Again After 17 Wickets Fall on Opening Day

The MCG pitch was once again under scrutiny after 17 wickets fell on the opening day of the Sheffield Shield match between Victoria and Queensland, though players from both sides were quick to defend the surface and instead praised the quality of the bowling.

The match marked the first red-ball fixture at the MCG since the ICC handed the ground an unsatisfactory rating for the Boxing Day Test pitch. Curator Matt Page had apologised after that match for leaving 10mm of grass on the surface, a decision that drew widespread criticism.

Queensland seamer Michael Neser was again outstanding at the venue, producing a devastating spell reminiscent of his performance against England on Boxing Day. At one stage, Neser had figures of 3 for 3 from seven overs as Victoria slumped to 11 for 5. Victoria eventually reached stumps on 61 for 7, with captain Peter Handscomb unbeaten on 25.

Earlier, Queensland were dismissed for 149 after Victorian bowlers struck back strongly. Sam Elliott continued his excellent Sheffield Shield form with 4 for 43, including the key wicket of Marnus Labuschagne, while David Moody claimed 3 for 24, troubling Queensland’s lower middle order with extra bounce from back of a length.

Low scores at the MCG have been a recurring theme this season. The venue’s final two Big Bash League matches in January were also low-scoring affairs, with Melbourne Stars bowled out for 128 against Sydney Sixers and Adelaide Strikers dismissed for 83 against the Stars five days later. Players suggested uneven bounce was a factor in those matches.

Victoria coach Chris Rogers told SEN radio on Wednesday that Page “looked a little bit stressed” earlier in the week. For the Shield match, Page reduced the grass covering to 7mm and used a pitch on the far eastern side of the square, different from the Boxing Day Test surface, the BBL wicket and the One-Day Cup pitch used by the same teams earlier in the week, which had played relatively well.

Despite the number of wickets to fall, both Handscomb and Neser defended the surface. Neser said he felt the pitch offered assistance without being excessive.

“I don’t think it was doing as much as Boxing Day,” Neser said. “He cut it down to about 7mm and the wicket actually looks half decent. It did do a bit when we were out there, but there were moments where you felt quite comfortable and you could score. We bowled very well as a unit and were very tight.”

Handscomb echoed those sentiments and strongly backed the curator.

“I still think it’s a good wicket,” he said. “I back Pagey in what he’s done over the last four or five years. We can jump at shadows a little bit here and blame it all on the wicket. I wouldn’t say bad batting – I’d say good bowling.”

Batting appeared relatively straightforward early in the day as Queensland eased to 74 for 1 before lunch after being sent in. Openers Hugo Burdon and Usman Khawaja added 47, with Burdon unfurling a confident pull shot to get going. Khawaja was eventually dismissed by Mitchell Perry, who produced a fine delivery from around the wicket to nip the ball back through the gate.

Queensland were 77 for 2 at lunch but lost 8 for 72 after the interval. Labuschagne was dismissed lbw by Elliott for 10, a decision he appeared unhappy with. Burdon top-scored with a patient 43 from 104 balls before slicing a catch to gully off Elliott after being surprised by extra bounce.

Fergus O’Neill and Moody continued to exploit the conditions, with Moody particularly effective from the Members’ End. Queensland wicketkeeper Jimmy Peirson made a composed 25 but was given out caught down the leg side, another decision that drew visible frustration.

Victoria’s reply unravelled rapidly under relentless pressure from Neser, who produced several unplayable deliveries. Debutant Dylan Brasher was bowled shouldering arms as one jagged back sharply, while Mitchell Perry played on first ball. Two contentious umpiring decisions also contributed to the collapse, with Campbell Kellaway given caught behind despite appearing to miss the ball, and Sam Harper adjudged lbw on debut despite being well forward.

Handscomb stood firm amid the chaos, looking a class above most batters on a difficult day for batting. Despite losing Harry Dixon, who was bowled by Hayden Kerr late in the evening, Handscomb remained resolute to guide Victoria through to stumps unbeaten.