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The MCG doesn’t have the infamous Bay 13 anymore. It was dismantled and changed by a glitzy state-of-the-art hospitality area final yr. Besides, the stadium will probably be solely as much as 30 per cent full when India tackle Australia within the second Test on Saturday. However, the imposing 1,00,000-seater is a colossal amphitheatre and taking part in right here comes with its inherent challenges. The intimidating measurement and overwhelming presence can expose even the minutest shortcomings in a participant.
The MCG has not often been a cheerful go to for vacationers. Just to place issues in perspective, South Africa in 2008, England in 2010 and India in 2018 are the one three visiting groups to have defeated Australia at this venue this century.
After the Adelaide hammering, India beneath Ajinkya Rahane can both get intimidated and crumble at this imposing venue like a number of groups have prior to now. Or they will orchestrate a surprising turnaround. They can search inspiration from their spirited all-round efficiency two years in the past that vaulted them to a powerful collection win.
In his pre-departure presser, when Kohli was requested concerning the challenges of taking part in in Australia, he quipped: “Playing in huge stadiums and in front of such huge crowds is always challenging. But if you do well here, you earn their respect, and that is something that’s really satisfying for any cricketer.”
From Michael Atherton to KL Rahul, they’ve all been subjected to relentless taunts and a volley of vitriolic abuse from the MCG crowd. Rahul, who made his Test debut six years in the past, has spoken intimately about his harrowing expertise to bcci.television.
“The crowd is really against us when we play here. They love their cricket, but make our lives on the ground really hard. This is why cricket in Australia is so exciting. When I played my first Test in Melbourne, I was standing at deep square-leg boundary, and one of the guys in the crowd asked: ‘Mate, what’s your name?’ They said hello and all, but in 10 seconds, the whole section started chanting, ‘Rahul is a wa&$#r’,” he recollects.
Atherton, in an interview to The Times, London, mentioned: “You never forget the crowd. In the 1990s, I played three Tests in front of 80,000 people and the atmosphere was incredible. As a player, it was inspiring. It racks up tension, puts you on the edge and makes you sharper and, ideally, better.”
The pandemic-forced isolation is anticipated so as to add stress on the gamers. Steve Smith has not met spouse Dani Willis since August 31, earlier than leaving for England on a white-ball tour. From there to the IPL and again in Australia, Smith has travelled from one bubble to a different. Christmas Day, on the eve of the Melbourne Test, is historically an event when households of Australian gamers and training and help workers get collectively for lunch after a quick coaching session within the morning. Not this yr, due to the pandemic.
Happy Boxing Day Eve! The ‘G is trying an absolute deal with 😍 #AUSvIND
PS. Merry Christmas, everybody! pic.twitter.com/yG7SOc6WT0
— Cricket Australia (@CricketAus) December 24, 2020
“It’s the first time in 50 years I’ve been without my family (for Christmas),” head coach Justin Langer mentioned. “There’s a number of players and the staff who are without families this year. It’s one of the sacrifices we have to make in 2020. It’s not ideal but it is what it is.”
Team India additionally has loads to ponder. It arrives on the hallowed turf on the again of a calamitous batting implosion on the Adelaide Oval. Trailing 0-1, they are going to be with out their talismanic captain Virat Kohli and senior pacer Mohammed Shami. The dodgy type of their batsmen and visions of 36/9 will add to their plight. But Langer and his troops received’t prefer to let their guard down.
“India had the better of us really for the first two days of the (Adelaide) game,” Langer mentioned. “We were in for a real arm wrestle of a Test match. So, it was amazing how things turned around. We know how good a team India is, we know we’ve got to keep improving,” the previous opener mentioned. “We’ll have to start well Boxing Day morning and then be consistent, because we know India will fight back.”
MCG standby venue for Sydney Test
Melbourne: Cricket Australia on Thursday mentioned Melbourne has been positioned on standby to host the third Test between India and Australia if Sydney’s COVID-19 state of affairs renders it “untenable” regardless of efforts being made to proceed with the unique schedule. The destiny of the third Test has been shrouded in uncertainty since earlier this month after a outbreak within the northern seashores in Sydney, which is scheduled to host the third Test from January 7.
“CA has reaffirmed its commitment to giving it the best chance to play the third Vodafone Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground and the fourth Vodafone Test at the Gabba as per the original schedule,” CA mentioned. “Should the public health situation in NSW render playing in Sydney untenable, CA’s preferred contingency plan is to work with the Victorian Government to play the third Vodafone Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground followed by the fourth Vodafone Test at the Gabba.”
A remaining choice can be made in the course of the Boxing Day Test. PTI
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