Melbourne's Boxing Day test wicket will benefit from the lessons of the Sheffield Shield pitch debacle, according to Cricket Australia chief executive Kevin Roberts.
The MCG's middle strip is again expected to dominate discussion leading into the headline test of the summer between the Blackcaps and Australia, after two years of criticism over the slow deck.
Last week's abandoned Shield match due to a dangerous wicket couldn't have come at a worse time, with the match the last scheduled at the ground before the test.
The dangerous pitch has largely been blamed on attempts to liven up the wicket, with CA admitting chief curator Matt Page had gone too far in attempts to do so.
New drop-in wickets at the ground are still a couple of years away, but a move has been made to have a sand base, rather than a concrete one, under the current wickets.
The ground's wicket had also received ratings of 'very good' and 'good' in the two Shield matches before the abandoned one, showing some signs of improvement.
"We're really confident and appreciative of the new ways of managing the drop-in pitches at the MCG," Roberts said.
"[Melbourne Cricket Club boss] Stuart Fox and Matt Page inherited ageing pitches, which arguably should have been turned over before this.
"It was unfortunate that a little too much moisture was put into the wicket for the last Shield game.
"In fairness to Matt and his staff, they were urged to make the pitch more sporting by a number of parties, be it players, Cricket Victoria or ourselves.
"And credit to them for having the courage to test that. I think it places the MCC better to prepare the best possible deck for Boxing Day, with the learning from these last three Shield games."
The ground's pitch woes have prompted calls from Western Australia chairman Mike McKenna that his state should snatch the match away from Melbourne.
This week, former Australian wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist also claimed no venue had a "God-given right" to an event, with the MCG hosting the Boxing Day test since 1990.
Under CA deals, Melbourne and Sydney are the only cities guaranteed tests each summer, but there are no specifications on which dates they must be played.
But Roberts also indicated the Boxing Day test was unlikely to ever be taken away from Melbourne.
"What we do know is that there is a rich history around Boxing Day," Roberts said. "We love that and respect that, and we would really like to see Boxing Day test continue at the MCG.
"There's an average opening day crowd of over 70,000 at the MCG.
"That's the only venue in Australia that can accommodate that crowd, so that's a key consideration."
AAP
