Everyone likes to play at MCG: Australia coach on why Docklands Stadium with roof wasn’t used for England tie

T20 World Cup 2022: Australia head coach Andrew McDonald make clear why the Melbourne Cricket Ground is being prefered over the Docklands Stadium, which has a retractable roof, whilst rain has performed spoilsport in Melbourne within the ongoing event.

New Delhi,UPDATED: Oct 28, 2022 16:54 IST

Australia’s match in opposition to England on the MCG was washed out attributable to rain on Friday (AP Photo)

By India Today Web Desk: Australia head coach Andrew McDonald stated on Friday that it is as much as the International Cricket Council to schedule if matches in Melbourne will be performed on the Docklands Stadium throughout wet climate within the metropolis. The Docklands, which has been used for Big Bash League matches and hosted just a few ODIs prior to now, has a retractable roof to assist keep it up with play even when it is raining within the metropolis.

The Docklands is lower than 5km from the Melbourne Cricket Ground however the latter has been most well-liked for worldwide matches and main International Cricket Council matches attributable to its seating capability and the historical past that the bottom has provided prior to now.

The MCG Stadium has witnessed 3 washed-out matches within the ongoing T20 World Cup in Australia. While the big-ticket match in opposition to India and Pakistan escaped the wrath of the moist climate on Sunday, Afghanistan’s match in opposition to New Zealand on Wednesday was deserted. Moreover, the primary match of Friday between Afghanistan and Ireland was additionally deserted with out a ball bowled. Fans had turned up in numbers to look at Australia tackle their arch-rivals on the MCG and even after a quick break in rainfall, the match was known as off.

Notably, the outfield was not lined whilst regular rain lashed the stadium on Friday.

“I think everyone likes to play at the MCG. You can’t predict the weather but what you do know is the Melbourne fans generally turn out when it’s England and Australia. There’s probably no better stadium that you want to be playing than the MCG. Whether you want to be playing at stadiums with roof on it, that’s up to the scheduling. Yeah, it (Docklands Stadium) down the road but it’s not a purpose-built cricket venue. BBL games are being played there,” McDonald stated on Friday.

JONATHAN TROTT ON ROOFS

McDonald’s feedback got here after former England batter and Afghanistan head coach Jonathan Trott stated it was irritating to have two of their video games washed out and lamented not utilizing the Docklands Stadium.

“It is very frustrating. That’s what happens this time of year and the beginning of summers. This always has the potential to happen, and it’s just really unfortunate. The frustrating thing as well is there’s a stadium down the road that’s got a roof on it as well so you can play cricket there. So we could have had lots of cricket,” he added.

McDonald, moreover, stated he’s truly shocked by the quantity of rain Melbourne has seen in the previous few days.

“I would have been keen to play, whether it’s a 5-over game or a 20-over game. I thought we were ready to get on to the field. We were prepared for it. England have obviously caused us a few problems in the recent past, but we were well prepared for whatever might have happened,” he added.

Australia, who’re the 4th spot behind Ireland in Group 1 of the Super 12, will subsequent face Ireland in Brisbane on October 31 whereas England tackle New Zealand in a big-ticket match in Brisbane on November 1.

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Oct 28, 2022