'Don't worry England my pitch will suit you,' says MCG groundsman

The wicket in Melbourne has been the subject of frenzied speculation ever since it became clear that groundsman Cameron Hodgkins had decided to prepare a different drop-in pitch from the one he had originally planned to use for the Fourth Ashes Test.

One theory ran that Hodgkins, under orders from Cricket Australia, was trying to recreate the conditions that saw England defeated by 267 runs in last week's Third Test at the WACA.

With the series level at 1-1 and Australia needing to win one of the final two Tests and avoid defeat in the other to reclaim the urn, similar conditions would have favoured the home team.

The Perth Test was the first time on the tour that the home team had managed to dominate the English batsmen throughout a game, meaning they would have been delighted to see a similar pitch at the MCG.

But Hodgkins (working on the strip, right) put to bed once and for all the notion that he had been placed under pressure to produce a wicket that would improve Australia's chances of victory.

"A few people would like to think differently but the last time I spoke to anyone from Cricket Australia was in the middle of the Australian winter," Hodgkins said.

"I'm fairly cautious and I normally have a couple of options for pitches.Just prior to England's tour match against Victoria earlier this month, it became pretty evident that my first option would not be ideal for a Test match. I was then able to go with what I thought would be a better surface.

"It was an entirely personal thing and it was something I did two weeks ago, so it wasn't on the spur of anything that happened in the last week."

Hodgkins also calmed English fears that they would be hustled out on a quick pitch by saying he expected a slow surface that would reward a patient batsman.

"I would think that on the WACA's worst day, they would still be faster and bouncier than anything that we would normally turn out," added Hodgkins. "The MCG has never really been accused of being fast and bouncy. It is more a wicket that offers a little bit up front and is quite flat towards the end of the match.

"We're quite slow on the first day normally and it probably causes the most difficulty for batsmen who want to get on with it, so patience is normally a fairly key ingredient here.

"If you don't have that, then you can be four or five down early on and the game over. We are an improving surface and quite often our carry is best on day two or early day three.

"The most successful teams have had variety in their attack here. We're a wicket where you have to bowl at the stumps and quite often having some variation helps.

"The pitch is pretty much in line with what we've been turning out for Sheffield Shield matches here. Victoria [the home state team] bowl first here when they win the toss because the pitch is normally quite easy to bat on at the end of the game."

Australia captain Ricky Ponting remains confident he will be able to sample the pitch's qualities first-hand as he attempts to recover sufficiently from the fractured little finger that has put his participation here in Melbourne in doubt.

Young batsman Usman Khawaja has been called up as cover but speaking to supporters at an Ashes Christmas celebration on the banks of the River Yarra today, Ponting was highly optimistic that he would be able to lead out his team in the Fourth Test and his upbeat words were echoed by Brad Haddin.

"It's very important for the team that he plays," the Australia wicketkeeper said. "Ricky had a field today and pulled up well. At this stage, the finger is recovering well and, with a little bit of luck, he'll be there on Boxing Day. The signs are all good at the moment."

Ponting took part only in the team's fielding drills during today's practice session but he plans to bat both tomorrow and on Christmas Day.

After four days' break following Perth, England will begin their preparation for the Test tomorrow, with paceman Jimmy Anderson expected to bowl as normal despite suffering soreness in his side during the defeat at the WACA.

Team-mate Ian Bell said: "He sounded very positive. We'll find out more tomorrow but he seemed fit and ready to go."