India vs Australia | Peter Siddle highly optimistic about unpredictable MCG pitch

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SportsCafe Desk
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Peter Siddle has reckoned that the mystery pitch in Melbourne will definitely lead to a result as both, Australia and India, prepare for a crucial encounter which will be played on the boxing day. Australia levelled the four-match series after they registered a 146-run victory in Perth.

Australia bounced back in the second Test match at Perth as they put in an all-round performance to comfortably outplay Virat Kohli & Co. and equal the series at 1-1. With two more matches left to go, the series is nicely poised for a neutral crowd as both teams look hungry for a win in the next match which will be played at the MCG on boxing day.

However, there has been a lot of speculation surrounding the pitch at the MCG as reports across various media outlets have claimed they did not know what to expect from the surface in the coming week. While the pitch was slow in Adelaide, it was pacy and bouncy in the second game in Perth.  However, Aussie speedster Peter Siddle, who also plays for Victoria in the Sheffield Shield, claimed that the pitches at the MCG have been good so far this season.

"It's going to be a good one and I think the boys should be excited and there's definitely going to be a result wicket I think, going by what's happened in the first couple of Shield games this season," Siddle told a TV channel.

Previously, the MCG pitch was rated 'poor' by ICC Match Referee Ranjan Madugalle last year after it played sedately on all five days during the Ashes series win and led to a dull draw in the fourth Test. MCG's new curator Matt Page has been trying his best to improve the condition of the pitch and inject some life into the 'flat' playing surface after all five first-class matches played here last summer ended in draws.

However, things have started to improve this season as there have been five centuries scored in three matches here this season with Aussie debutant Marcus Harris also scoring an unbeaten 250 that helped him make the jump to the national team.

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