Ashes 2010: Spicy MCG pitch won’t bother England, says Flower
December 21st, 2010 - 1:27 pm ICT by ANIMelbourne, Dec. 21 (ANI): England cricket team coach Andy Flower has said that his squad does not fear playing on a lively pitch during the Boxing day Test to be played here later this week.
“If they (MCG curators) prepare a pitch with bounce and a bit in it for the bowlers that will make it a good contest in Melbourne; that’s what they should be doing, as it makes for a good spectacle,” The Guardian quoted Flower, as saying.
“When we were there for the three-day game they were preparing two pitches. One looked barer than the other and we expected then that they would go with the one with more grass cover,” he added.
“We won’t see similar conditions in Melbourne because it is not as quick and it doesn’t bounce as much there,” Flower said.
He added: “I thought the curator at Perth did a really good job. I thought it was an excellent pitch as I did the Adelaide pitch, which deteriorated nicely. This made for really exciting cricket.”
Australia’s captain, Ricky Ponting, is eager for another surface to suit his aggressive fast bowlers, and negate England’s off-spinner Graeme Swann, after their crushing 267-run win in Perth levelled the Ashes series at 1-1 with two to play.
Flower, on the other hand, is determined to question the notion that England can only defeat Australia on benign surfaces. He repeatedly quotes Old Trafford as a pitch where England have proved they can play pace, and he could also refer to the fact that England beat Pakistan last summer, when the ball swung and seamed throughout, whereas Australia lost to Pakistan at Headingley. (ANI)
- WACA curator predicts bouncy Perth track - Jan 09, 2012
- We will be better prepared against Johnson: Pietersen - Dec 22, 2010
- Ashes 2010: Fletcher says England must stick to their guns - Dec 24, 2010
- Has Melbourne pitch been changed to neutralise wily Swann? - Dec 20, 2010
- The Ashes 2010: Ten reasons why England retained the urn - Dec 30, 2010
- Pietersen unfazed by prospect of bouncy wicket for Boxing Day Ashes Test - Dec 23, 2010
- MCG Ashes pitch should be prepared in favour of Aussies: Thommo - Dec 22, 2010
- England refreshed and ready to retain Ashes in Boxing Day Ashes Test: Trott - Dec 25, 2010
- MCG curator dismisses Englis media's pitch conspiracy theories - Dec 23, 2010
- Ashes 2010: Dependable Tim Bresnan to lead England fight back - Dec 22, 2010
- Oz team Xmas party is no fancy affair ahead of Boxing Day Test: Clark - Dec 24, 2010
- Bowling great Jeff Thomson calls for greentop on Boxing Day - Dec 22, 2010
- England 'won't be overwhelmed' by record 90,000 supporters at MCG: Strauss - Dec 24, 2010
- Trott feels 'privileged' to play in front of record 90,000 supporters at MCG - Dec 25, 2010
- England must dominate all forms of game to be declared a great team: Pringle - Jan 09, 2011
Tags: andy flower, boxing day, boxing day test, captain ricky ponting, coach andy, cricket australia, curator, curators, day game, england cricket team, fast bowlers, good job, old trafford, perth, pitch, pitches, spectacle, spinner, swann, team coach