Photo: Getty ImagesThere are fears surrounding the Black Caps' Boxing Day test against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground after a Sheffield Shield match at the venue was called off due to safety issues yesterday. The drama occurred just 19 days out from one of the Black Caps' biggest test matches in years – and their first Boxing Day test in 32 years. But Cricket Australia has pledged to get that particular pitch – which will be a different one to the strip used today - right come Boxing Day. We will also work closely with MCG groundstaff in the lead up to the Test match," said Cricket Australia head of operations Peter Roach. The Boxing Day test is the second of three tests the Black Caps will play in Australia, with the team having flown out today to Perth for the first test, a day-night pink-ball encounter, which starts on Thursday.

Source: Otago Daily Times December 07, 2019 23:03 UTC