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Bowler-friendly SCG wicket spices up Test series finale
Scott Bailey, AAP • January 5th, 2025 9:30 am
Photo: AAP
Andrew McDonald has defended the spicy SCG wicket, with Australia's coach insistent the surface is not responsible for allowing India back into the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Statistically the hardest wicket in the world to take wickets on as recently as two years ago, some 26 wickets have now fallen on the first two days of this year's Sydney Test.
A returfed square and new variety of grass is largely considered responsible for the change, with above-average carry and plenty of seam movement on offer.
While the move towards a more bowler friendly wicket has been praised, the surface has been met with criticism from the likes of Sunil Gavaskar.
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The former India captain claimed on Saturday night if wickets fell at this rate in India, "there would be hell" with complaints about the state of the pitch.
But McDonald said the shift towards a livelier SCG wicket should not be considered a bad thing.
"The ground staff have done an incredible job in terms of creating a wicket with something in it," McDonald said, prior to Gavaskar's comments.
"Traditionally here it is quite benign, and a lot of people have been talking about the draws. So you're damned if you do, damned if don't. This game has sped up.
"I think he is trying to produce an even contest between bat and ball.
"Has it favoured bowlers a little more than what we expected and potentially the ground staff expected?
"There is no doubt about that. But it has made for interesting cricket."
Wickets only fell once every 73 balls between 2014 and 2023 at the SCG, for the slowest rate of any ground in the world which hosted more than three Tests.
In the first two days of this Test alone, they have fallen at a rate of one in every 36 balls.
A lively SCG wicket has potentially come at the wrong time for Australia, given a draw in Sydney would have been enough for them to maintain the 2-1 series ledger and clinch the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
But with the game having moved at a rapid rate, it appears certain one of Australia or India will win the match despite heavy rain being forecast for day five.
The tourists finished day two at 6-141 in their second innings and with a lead of 145, meaning Australia will likely face a tricky last-innings chase on Sunday.
An SCG victory would see the hosts win the series 3-1, while a loss would allow India to retain the Trophy with the five-Test series drawn at 2-2.
"I don't think it has brought India necessarily back into the series," McDonald said.
"Low-scoring games like this just heighten the pressure within it. A long way still to go, there is going to be plenty of cricket. So we'll see what happens.
"The surfaces in Australia have been like this for a period of time, they have been difficult to bat on."
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