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Match-referee reports curator to the ICC
The MCG curator was reported to the International Cricket Council for repairing the pitch before the start of final day's play.
Australia's nine-wicket win against India in the third cricket Test on Tuesday was tinged with controversy after the Match Referee reported the curator to the International Cricket Council for repairing the pitch before the start of final day's play.
Before Australia achieved their victory target of 95 in less than 23 overs to level the series, the two umpires Billy Bowden and David Shepherd noticed that an area of the playing pitch had been tampered with by the groundstaff this morning.
Apparently, Tony Ware, the curator at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, repaired a piece of pitch which got unstuck in repair this morning.
Match-Referee Mike Procter, however, said he was satisfied with the explanation given by the ground staff.
"I found the explanation honest. The curator said while sweeping the pitch this morning, the piece had come off and he put a base and refixed it.
"I do not think there was any malintention to it. I conveyed it to (Indian skipper) Sourav Ganguly who obviously was concerned but he wanted to put the matter in my hands.
"I would prepare my report and submit it to ICC but I don't read too much into it," he said.
Ganguly refused to comment on the issue but Waugh put it down to an "honest mistake".
"I did not realise what was happening and came to know about it only when the match was over. It was an honest mistake — I don't think it changed the outcome of the game."
