Steve Smith has labelled the Gabba green-top because the hardest pitch he has performed on in Australia and is hoping circumstances on the MCG will likely be extra suited to batting.
South Africa have been smashed in Brisbane as 34 wickets tumbled in simply two days to open the blockbuster sequence, making it the shortest Test on Australian soil in 91 years.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) took a dim view of the sport lasting simply six classes, with match referee Richie Richardson grading the Gabba pitch as “below average”, and saying it was “not an even contest between bat and ball”.
Even although Australia went 1-0 up with a six-wicket triumph towards the Proteas, Smith needs to see batters given extra assist throughout the Boxing Day Test.
“As a batter I’d like it to do a little bit less,” the Australian star mentioned on Wednesday.
“It’s a fine balance just trying to get that even contest between bat and ball.
“(The Gabba) was most likely probably the most tough wicket I’ve performed on right here in Australia and Melbourne was most likely a detailed second final 12 months.”
Proteas captain Dean Elgar slammed the pitch as dangerous in his post-match press conference and asked umpires during the last session if it was unsafe to continue.
Smith conceded there were moments during the match when he was taken by surprise.
“There have been just a few cases that the ball did some stuff that was simply out of nowhere,” he mentioned.
“Some balls have been sitting within the wicket, making divots, some have been zinging by and it was simply extremely arduous to bat.
“Whether it was unsafe or not, it’s not really my place to judge – but it certainly wasn’t easy to bat.”
Peter Roach, head of cricket operations for Cricket Australia (CA), accepted the ICC’s evaluation, conceding the Gabba pitch too closely favoured quick bowling.
“We encourage all our (curators) to look at how we make the right balance over it going deep into the fourth day,” Roach mentioned.
“We say that not being disappointed when a match goes into the fifth day; late on the fourth day gives a chance for the game to go a bit further.”
Roach mentioned MCG curator Matt Page wouldn’t be altering his preparations based mostly on what occurred on the Gabba.
Smith seemed puzzled when instructed there could be no message from CA to make circumstances extra batter-friendly on the MCG.
“(Last year’s MCG Test) went three days, was a difficult weekend and this year we’ve again got two really good bowling attacks so we’ll sum up the conditions and try to play accordingly,” he mentioned.
Meanwhile, Queensland seamer Michael Neser has been launched from the Test squad to hyperlink up with the Brisbane Heat within the Big Bash League.
After impressing in Adelaide towards West Indies, Neser was the unfortunate bowler to drop out for the Gabba Test and can now deal with his BBL commitments.
Fellow fast Josh Hazlewood is pushing to return from harm on Boxing Day, with selectors confronted with the tough determination of selecting between him and Boland.
