Proteas bowler Nortje expecting a good wicket with ‘pace and bounce’ at the MCG

Proteas fast bowler Anrich Nortjé is expecting a good wicket with pace and bounce at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) for the much anticipated Boxing Day Test against Australia on Monday.

The Aussies took a 1-0 lead in the first of three matches which finished inside two days at the Gabba in Brisbane last week where the pitch was rated by the International Cricket Council (ICC) as “below average”.

As they stepped up their preparations in Melbourne, Nortje said they have put the Gabba, which was conducive for fast bowling, behind them and the focus now is on levelling the series.

“We will have to wait and see but it seems like a good wicket with decent pace and bounce. I don’t think there will that much side movement as we had at the Gabba. For our side we will just try to stick to the basics,” he said.

“I know it is simple to say but for us it is about using our bouncers and as a bowling unit we don’t think there are going to be massive demons on the wicket. I have never played at the MCG but we think it is going to be a good contest.”

“Luckily we had some facilities in Brisbane and guys have been active, we have not been sitting and chilling at home and doing nothing. In the last game probably even a half session the game could have been different, we could have been in a winning position.

“You can’t look at losing by six wickets and say it’s a big margin on that wicket, it might have been a small margin. We are not really focused on the last game, we are focused on what’s going to come up now and try to prepare again.

“Everyone is in a really good space mentally and physically wise. We are just looking forward to starting the game now.”

Nortje will be part of the Proteas fast bowling attack that includes Rabada, Lungi Ngidi and Marco Jansen who will be looking to exploit what is expected to be a good wicket at the MCG.

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