Undignified end for an old friend
By Ron Reed - Fox Sports
THE mighty MCG is in magnificent shape for the Boxing Day Test, with one sad exception.
The venerable Melbourne Cricket Club Members' Pavilion is still in the middle stages of demolition and will be an eye-sore during the showpiece match.
It is an undignified end for the building that has been the heart and soul of the great stadium since 1928.
Even after countless farewell functions, it is still standing - just - like some stubborn old batsman who refuses to walk long after the umpire's finger has gone up.
But it wasn't meant to be that way.
The plan was for it to have been removed entirely by now so as not to detract from the ambience of the Test, but a problem with asbestos in the ceiling delayed the work.
On the other hand, there is no longer a gap where the old Ponsford Stand once was, as was the case for last year's Test.
The new development looks to be about two-thirds complete in that section, providing just a small sense of what the finished product might look like.
Cricket authorities are hoping to almost fill what's left of the stadium tomorrow, with the maximum attendance likely to be between 70,000 and 74,000.
Australian captain Steve Waugh, who himself won't be seen at the ground again, is playing his 17th Test there, having made his debut against India at the ground in 1985.
"It's a little bit of a shame the ground's not ready because I'm pretty sure they would have got 100,000 people if it was ready," Waugh said yesterday.
"But it's still a fantastic place to play.
"The atmosphere here is amazing on Boxing Day.
"It's one of the great highlights of any Australian cricketer's career, playing a Test here, and I think India will enjoy the occasion as well."
The Indians appear more concerned about the pitch, which looks to be in perfect nick - flat and hard with enough grass to make life interesting for the fast bowlers.
According to the arena's manager Tony Ware, the Indian camp made one predictably futile attempt three days out to talk him out of watering it again.
"I think they want something flat, low and dry, like they'd get in Kolkata," he said, grinning.
"They won't be getting it."
Ware was also amused to be quizzed by an Indian journalist about whether he was under instructions to prepare a certain type of surface.
The interrogator was told that Ware works for the MCC, not Cricket Australia or Cricket Victoria, and the preparation is entirely up to him.
The outfield is also in faultless condition, and with fine weather forecast, the stage is set. So let the action begin.
