Pitch trouble not just in Delhi but in Melbourne too!

That was the case not only in Delhi yesterday but also at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, which is described by Pakistan coach Intikhab Alam as the dullest MCG wicket he has seen

Pitch trouble not just in Delhi but in Melbourne too!

On a day on which Delhi's Ferozshah Kotla Stadium, a venue notorious internationally for inept management, acquired further infamy for the dangerous wicket prepared for the abandoned match between India and Sri Lanka, the 'hallowed' turf at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) earned dubious comparison with Pakistan's lifeless wicket at Faisalabad.

So dull and lifeless has been the drop-in wicket produced by curator Cameron Hodgkins for the ongoing Test that coach and former Pakistan captain Intikhab Alam was prompted to say: "I don't think I've ever seen a wicket like this at the Melbourne Cricket Ground."

And although there has, as yet, been no slow hand-clapping, a characteristic of the MCG during boring games, for the sleep-inducing proceedings, attendance fell sharply from the first (Boxing) day's figure of almost 60,000 to below 40,000 yesterday.

Excitement at the famous ground has largely centred around the proceedings of boisterous fans in Bay13, the pitch "invader" yesterday and an initiative launched by Australian legend Richard Benaud and Tony Greig, in the presence of prime minister Kevin Rudd, which urges fans to realise when "to declare" (stop) while drinking at grounds.

About the only serious and notable cricketing discussions at the MCG has been the future of Test cricket in the face of onslaught from the Twenty20 variety.

Another has been the so-called 'curse' that has seen the tally of Australian batsmen failing to convert half centuries into centuries to 20 in 3 u00bd Tests so far this season.

Then there have been Ponting's "bold" declaration at 454 for five yesterday that, given Pakistan's sub-standard batting line-up, has enabled a possible decision on the dead wicket and the bizarre run-out of Shane Watson on the first day that has been described as "unique" in the game's history.

Both Watson and his opening partner Simon Katich were stranded at the same end in a laughable mix-up which culminated in Watson being adjudged out after a lengthy discussion between the on-field umpires and close scrutiny of the "photo finish" by the TV umpire to determine which batsman had gained at the crease at the batsman's end first.

With the media speculating about bad blood between the batsmen, Katich later admitted the mix-up was the result of his fault.

Meanwhile a Melbourne newspaper has reported that India, which it describes as "already the game's new powerbroker" is "plotting to seize more control of world cricket by relocating the headquarters of the International Cricket Council from Dubai to Mumbai" when Sharad Pawar takes over presidency of the world body in July.

The report says "there appears no major stumbling block, even though a 7-3 majority of Test-playing countries would be required to rubber-stamp the move".

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