Grassy MCG pitch to offer seam movement, says curator

England are currently considering their options after a second heavy defeat in as many matches, with changes likely following the 275-run loss at the Adelaide Oval

England and Australia have been told the MCG pitch will offer plenty for the seamers in the Boxing Day Test.

The two teams move to Melbourne for the third match of the Ashes series this week, with Australia 2-0 up and looking to retain the urn with two games to spare.

England are currently considering their options after a second heavy defeat in as many outings, with changes likely following the 275-run loss at the Adelaide Oval.

Jack Leach could return to give the tourists a primary spin option, while Mark Wood is certain to come back into the XI after being rested for the second game of the campaign.

But selection decisions may be influenced by the guidance of MCG curator Matthew Page.

^{The 2017/18 Ashes pitch at the MCG was rated poor by the ICC}

"From four years ago we've come a long way, we've been looking to improve the quality of the pitches," Page told PA Sport, referring to the 2017/18 Ashes pitch at the ground, which staged a drab draw and ended up being rated as poor by the ICC.

"We're leaving a lot more grass on them. There's a lot more seam movement in the pitches as a result of the grass being left on.

"There will be seam movement up for the quick guys. We rely on that seam movement early, there will be a little bit of spin but it won't be massive I wouldn't have thought."

Page would not get drawn into giving selection advice, however. 

"Australia and England will play whoever they think is going to take 20 wickets," he said.

"England have to do something different because they are not scoring enough runs to put Australia under any sort of scoreboard pressure"

Geoffrey Boycott

"I'm not inside their camp so it's very hard for me to make a comment on who they should pick."

England have placed Saqib Mahmood on standby but he is unlikely to be called into the squad at this stage. Mahmood is currently playing for Sydney Thunder in the Big Bash.

James Anderson, Stuart Broad, Leach and Chris Woakes are effectively vying for two spots, with Mark Wood and Ollie Robinson expected to feature at the MCG. 

More of a concern than England's bowling, despite criticism from captain Joe Root that his team's lengths were not good enough in the first innings at Adelaide, is the batting lineup.

England have yet to make 300 in the series and have several batsmen woefully out of form.

^{Mark Wood is expected to come back into the England side}

Rory Burns, Haseeb Hameed and Ollie Pope are all vulnerable, though there are only modest options in reserve.

Geoffrey Boycott, the former England opener, has called for Chris Silverwood and Root to insert Dawid Malan at the top of the order in an effort to combat the meagre returns.

Malan's game is well suited to Australian conditions and he has made 80s in each of the two Tests to date.

"His technique of staying back, judging what to leave and playing straight is good. It is so important for team morale and to achieve big totals that you have successful opening bats," Boycott wrote in his Telegraph column, while calling for Root to move to No.3.

The skipper is notoriously reluctant to move from his favoured spot at No.4.

"He doesn’t like it and I agree it is not best asking your star batsman to move from his favourite No.4 spot. In the short-term. with this England batting line up it may be a case of needs must," Boycott wrote.

"England have to do something different because they are not scoring enough runs to put Australia under any sort of scoreboard pressure."

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