Smith backs MCG curator to prepare 'good' Boxing Day pitch

Steve Smith is confident the Melbourne Cricket Ground pitch will be ready to go for this summer's Boxing Day Test against New Zealand and wants to see the marquee match remain at the iconic venue.

Concerns were raised this week after the Marsh Sheffield Shield match between Victoria and Western Australia was abandoned midway through day one due to an unsafe pitch on which several WA batsmen were struck on the body.

Cricket Australia will work closely with MCG curator Matt Page and his groundstaff to ensure the pitch is up to international standard come Boxing Day, but Smith has no fears around the playing surface for the traditional clash in Melbourne.

"I'm sure they'll produce something good for us on Boxing Day," Smith said today in Perth ahead of the first Domain Test against the Black Caps from Thursday.

"It's a really fine line with that wicket. 'Pagey' is a very good curator, he'll be working as hard as he can to try and get a wicket that is suitable for bat and ball.

"These guys have a really tough job. They've tried a lot down in Melbourne but not been able to get something that is a bit more bowler friendly.

"They're going to work hard over the next couple of weeks to get us a good wicket for Boxing Day."

The MCG wicket came under fire in 2017 after the International Cricket Council rated the pitch as "poor" for the Ashes clash that ended in a draw which was dominated by batters.

A second poorly-rated pitch would result in the MCG unable to host international matches for 12 months, including next year's Boxing Day Test and the final of the men's and women's T20 World Cup.

However, last year's Test pitch produced a result – India by 137 runs – and the two Shield matches prior to the abandoned clash last week were fit to play. 

The doubt around the MCG pitch has raised the prospect of the Boxing Day Test being moved to another venue but Smith does not want to see that happen.

"I'd love for it to stay," he said. "It's part of the tradition of Australian cricket for a long time.

"I've had some of my great memories in cricket walking out there on the first morning of Boxing Day and listening to the anthems – you get a shiver down your spine.

"The Boxing Day Test in Melbourne is something I look forward to every year.

"It's a great occasion and I'd love for Melbourne to keep it."

While Smith has played in six Tests at the MCG he is yet to play one at Perth Stadium, having been suspended last summer when the venue made its Test debut.

Australia won that clash against India but that was a day game, unlike this week's match which will be played under lights.

Smith is unsure exactly what to expect but has picked the brains of his teammates who played at Perth Stadium 12 months ago.

"I watched the Test match last year which seemed to have some good pace and bounce," Smith said.

"I guess it's just different with the pink ball, how that responds.

"Sometimes when the wicket's really hard, it can soften that ball up.

"(For) 10, 15 overs at the start when the ball is new it can be hard work, but then good for batting for 50 or 60 overs.

"I think it will be about us just summing it up and seeing how it plays and adapting really quickly to whatever we need to do."

Domain Test Series v New Zealand

Australia squad: Tim Paine (c), Joe Burns, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, James Pattinson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade, David Warner.

New Zealand: Todd Astle, Tom Blundell, Trent Boult, Colin de Grandhomme, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Henry Nicholls, Jeet Raval, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor, BJ Watling, Neil Wagner, Kane Williamson (c)

First Test: December 12-16, Perth Stadium day-night (Seven, Fox & Kayo)

Second Test: December 26-30, MCG (Seven, Fox & Kayo)

Third Test: January 3-7, SCG (Seven, Fox & Kayo)