The amazement and the thrill of the Australia vs India T20I cricket was short-lived in Canberra as the first T20I between the two sides was washed-out due to rain. Now the attention shifts to the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) for the 2nd T20I on 31st October.
The 1st India vs Australia T20I was poised for a grand action-packed cricket. Despite losing the wicket of Abhishek Sharma early inside the powerplay, Shubman Gill and captain Suryakumar Yadav added 62 runs partnership for the 2nd wicket.
Team India were on 97-1 after 9.4 overs before the second interruption stopped the match. The game couldn’t resume following on from that. That means, the scoreline is 0-0 after the first match with 4 more games to go.
Both the teams are vying for an upper-hand in the series. The 2nd T20I match of the series will be played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in Melbourne on October 31 from 1:45 P.M Indian Standard Time (IST). Find below the MCG Pitch Report for the 2nd India vs Australia T20I.
MCG Pitch Report – Batting or Bowling Pitch?
The Melbourne Cricket Ground, popularly known as the MCG, is the second largest cricket stadium in the world by capacity. Opened in 1853 and operated under the Melbourne Cricket Club, the stadium has a capacity of 100,024.
The Melbourne Cricket Ground is one of the world’s most renowned venues not only because of its capacity and how picturesque it is. But also because it offers a fairly balanced surface where batters and bowlers can make an impact.
For batters, the surface’s true bounce helps to take advantage when the pitch is hard initially, making it great for shot making. It will be important for the batters to deal with the bowlers with the new ball, after which run scoring can be a bit easy. However, the bigger boundaries have always stopped bigger scores at the venue. Middle overs are going to be the most crucial phase of the game where batters will find it easy to play shots, especially with the pitch not having any sort of help for the spin bowlers.
MCG Pitch Report – Fast Bowlers or Spinners Pitch?
Fast bowlers are going to be the key to success at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. According to the MCG Pitch Report, the pitch tends to help the pacers generally because of the natural bounce on the offer and the swing movement with the new ball. There are possibilities of reverse swing in the death overs, but that’s not always guaranteed.
This is not a game to go with an all-out spin attack. The surface has little to no help for the spinners. However, the bigger boundaries could be the key. For the spinners and even the pacers, the ideal way to pick up some wickets is to force the batters into a mistake.
Overall, the Melbourne Cricket Ground offers a pitch surface that has natural bounce and early swing movement. For the batters, surviving the first few overs will be crucial after which the ball should come nicely on the bat. However, the bigger boundary dimensions mean that this ground has never seen 200+ scores in T20I.
Read Also:- Sydney Cricket Ground Records and Stats
Melbourne Cricket Ground – Test Records
| Category | Data |
|---|---|
| Total Matches | 119 |
| Matches won batting first | 58 |
| Matches won bowling first | 43 |
| Average 1st innings Score | 307 |
| Average 2nd innings Score | 314 |
| Average 3rd innings Score | 251 |
| Average 4th innings Score | 171 |
| Highest total recorded | 624/8 (142 Ovs) by AUS vs PAK |
| Lowest total recorded | 36/10 (23.2 Ovs) by RSA vs AUS |
| Highest score chased | 332/7 (159.5 Ovs) by ENG vs AUS |
| Lowest score defended | 83/10 (48.4 Ovs) by AUS vs IND |
Melbourne Cricket Ground – ODI Records
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Total Matches | 2 |
| Matches won batting first | 2 |
| Matches won bowling first | 0 |
| Average 1st innings Score | 220 |
| Average 2nd innings Score | 174 |
| Highest total recorded | 340/3 (49 Ovs) – INDW vs NZW |
| Lowest total recorded | 202/10 (48.4 Ovs) – SLW vs BANW |
| Highest score chased | 0/0 (0 Ovs) – By vs |
| Lowest score defended | 202/10 (48.4 Ovs) – SLW vs BANW |
Melbourne Cricket Ground – T20I Records
| Category | Data |
|---|---|
| Total Matches | 28 |
| Matches won batting first | 11 |
| Matches won bowling first | 16 |
| Average 1st innings Score | 141 |
| Average 2nd innings Score | 124 |
| Highest total recorded | 186/5 (20 Ovs) by IND vs ZIM |
| Lowest total recorded | 74/10 (17.3 Ovs) by IND vs AUS |
| Highest score chased | 172/5 (20 Ovs) by SL vs AUS |
| Lowest score defended | 127/10 (18.4 Ovs) by AUS vs PAK |
FAQ:
Is MCG Stadium Batting or Bowling Friendly?
The MCG Stadium pitch is known to be a balanced surface. Batters can take advantage of the bounce and pace on the offer which makes run scoring easier. However, there will be some new ball movement and pacers who manage to spring surprise for the batters could be game-changers. The bigger ground size also helps the bowlers to restrict the batting team under 200.
What is the average score at Melbourne Cricket Ground?
The Melbourne Cricket Ground has a first inning average score of 141 runs. Which showcases that it is a ground where runs are expected, but not the usual 190-200 scores we see in T20 cricket nowadays.
What are the boundary dimensions at Melbourne Cricket Ground?
The Melbourne Cricket Ground is known for its bigger boundary dimensions. The straight boundaries are approximately 84 meters while the square boundaries are around 86 meters.
