Ashes: What To Expect At MCG - Venue For Boxing Day Test

Venue Stats of MCG ahead of Boxing Day Test - AUS v ENG Ashes.

Cricket Image for Ashes: What To Expect At MCG - Venue For Boxing Day Test (Image Source: AFP)

AUS v ENG: The Boxing day test is generally hosted in Melbourne Cricket Ground(MCG) and this time as well, the third Ashes test will be played at the same ground from 26th December. 

MCG has hosted 113 test matches in which 96 times the match has got a result while only 17 matches have resulted in a draw. Teams tend to bat first here. 81 times a team has opted to bat first here. The team batting first has won 56 matches out of 113 while 40 matches have been won by team bowling first. 

Melbourne offers something for everybody. The pacers are a threat throughout the five days. They average 29.02, bowl at an economy of 2.68, and have a strike rate of 64.8. 

Unlike what we have seen and already predicted previously in this series that spinners don't get much help in Gabba and Adelaide, but MCG is different. Spinners keep getting threatening as the game progresses. They have an overall average of 33.26 at MCG but in the final innings, spinners average 25.83 and strike every 63 balls. 

Ground	Spin Avg	Spin Eco	Spin SR
SCG	33.01	2.58	77.3
MCG	33.26	2.57	77
Gabba	38.84	2.55	91.2
Adelaide	42.01	2.66	94.5

Australia have a high quality spinner, Nathan Lyon, and it won't be a surprise if he ends up taking a fifer. England are likely to bring Jack Leach or Dominic Bess as specialist spinner.