Lingering doubt over this summer’s Ashes hasn’t stopped exciting scenes from unfolding at the Melbourne Cricket Ground this week.
In a telltale sign the summer of cricket is beginning, the Melbourne Cricket Ground’s pitches are being installed this week.
Despite border closures and Melbourne’s Covid-19 situation casting doubt over the Ashes, the MCG’s staff got to work installing the first four pitches on Thursday night.
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The MCG’s head curator, Matt Page, says he hopes the final three will be put in place by Friday evening.
“This is the start of our summer. The footy season’s over and we’re starting to get ready for the cricket season,” said Page.
“The pitches are coming in one by one tonight. Hopefully we’ll get four in and get another three in tomorrow night and go from there.”
The MCG pioneered the portable pitch technology on display below, which allows the ground to make a seamless transition between the AFL and cricket seasons.
The English side is expected to make a call in the coming days as to whether it will travel to Australia for the first Ashes in Australia since 2017-18.
“We’re still waiting for more information about the Ashes,” England captain Joe Root said at the PCA Awards this week.
“It’s a little frustrating, but hopefully it’ll be coming soon and we can start moving forward.
“I’m very hopeful we can go and I think I speak on behalf of everyone that Ashes cricket, an away tour to Australia, is one of those things that you’re desperate to be on.”
As usual, the MCG will host the Boxing Day Test, should the Ashes go ahead.
The MCG is currently set to host its first match of the summer when Victoria meets Tasmania in the Sheffield Shield on October 15 but Covid-19 outbreaks across the east coast have thrown the tournament’s entire fixture into doubt.
Victoria’s coronavirus situation forced the AFL to take its finals series on the road, so should it go ahead, the Sheffield Shield clash would be the first fixture at the iconic ground in almost two months. In front of empty stands in round 22, Collingwood and Essendon contested the last game at the MCG for the AFL season.
The ‘G is currently scheduled to host another of Victoria’s Sheffield Shield matches in November and two BBL games in December before the Boxing Day Test.
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