Australia vs India 2018-19: 3 key factors that can influence the third Test

#2 Drop-in pitch

The drop-in wicket at MCG has been criticized for being unhelpful for the bowlers

The surface at MCG is a drop-in pitch which is usually flat and lacking any kind of help for the bowlers. Last year’s boxing-day Test saw a high-scoring draw between the home side and England with the then out-of-form Alastair Cook scoring a monumental double hundred.

The placid nature of the pitch led to a great deal of criticism from all sides directed at the pitch and demands for a wicket that provides scope for a more even contest. Australia may not mind a flat wicket similar as the one last year because that may allow their batsman such as Shaun Marsh and Usman Khawaja a better opportunity to get runs against an Indian bowling line-up which looks very potent.

Melbourne would certainly not have the bounce that Perth provided. With the Indian pace trio of Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah and Ishant Sharma looking very dangerous at the moment, the home side is unlikely to demand a green-top. So, the chances are that we will see a rather flat wicket in Melbourne.