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The drop in pitches at the MCG just aren't good enough. They're flat, dead monstosities which just make for boring as batshit tests.
The problem is the AFL, and their not wanting their marquee ground to have player injuries.
I was thinking a possible solution could be that the Boxing Day Test be the only game of cricket to be played annually at the MCG and played on an actual grown-in wicket to get a good test match, with limited overs matches moved elsewhere. The AFL would then get the ground back three months earlier to prepare the ground.
You could go:
ODI/T20Is --> Etihad. (48,000)
Melb. Stars --> Kardinia Park, Geelong. (35,000)
Victoria Shield --> Punt Road Oval (5,000).
The ODIs, T20Is and BBL are fine on drop in decks, and Punt Road would have real pitches for the shield. The only one of the above which needs a bigger capacity than what is available are the Stars for their derby against the Renegades, but I would gladly cop that drop in crowd for a decent Boxing Day pitch.
And please don't bang on about your hatred of AFL and how it should just f**k off. I think it's awful too, but the fact is Victorians love it and it's always going to win the argument down there
The problem is the AFL, and their not wanting their marquee ground to have player injuries.
I was thinking a possible solution could be that the Boxing Day Test be the only game of cricket to be played annually at the MCG and played on an actual grown-in wicket to get a good test match, with limited overs matches moved elsewhere. The AFL would then get the ground back three months earlier to prepare the ground.
You could go:
ODI/T20Is --> Etihad. (48,000)
Melb. Stars --> Kardinia Park, Geelong. (35,000)
Victoria Shield --> Punt Road Oval (5,000).
The ODIs, T20Is and BBL are fine on drop in decks, and Punt Road would have real pitches for the shield. The only one of the above which needs a bigger capacity than what is available are the Stars for their derby against the Renegades, but I would gladly cop that drop in crowd for a decent Boxing Day pitch.
And please don't bang on about your hatred of AFL and how it should just f**k off. I think it's awful too, but the fact is Victorians love it and it's always going to win the argument down there