To quell the ongoing controversy surrounding pitches, Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) head curator Matt Page addressed concerns on Monday, stating that the pitch at the stadium has not been altered in response to the upcoming Boxing Day Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

The Kookaburra ball used in Australia, with its less pronounced seam and tendency to soften more quickly, presents a greater challenge for bowlers compared to the Dukes ball, which is known for supporting seam and swing bowling.