<img title="Joe Root " src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/2017/nov/Root-Bat.jpg" alt="Joe Root " width="670" height="657" /> Joe Root
Rival captains Steven Smith and Joe Root were critical of the lifeless Melbourne pitch after the fourth Ashes Test on Saturday, only the second draw in the showpiece Boxing Day Test in 20 years. The drop-in pitch at the Melbourne Cricket Ground was unforgiving for bowlers, with a total of 1,081 runs scored and only 24 wickets taken over five days.
Australia skipper Smith said something had to be done about the state of the MCG pitch. "It hasn't changed over five days and I'd say if we were playing for the next couple of days it probably wouldn't change at all either," Smith said. England's Root said the pitch wasn't suitable for the Boxing Day Test. "I think as a player you can only respond to what's there in front of you," he said.
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Rival captains Steven Smith and Joe Root were critical of the lifeless Melbourne pitch after the fourth Ashes Test on Saturday, only the second draw in the showpiece Boxing Day Test in 20 years

Ashes Test: Steven Smith and Joe Root blame Melbourne pitch for draw

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Rival captains Steven Smith and Joe Root were critical of the lifeless Melbourne pitch after the fourth Ashes Test on Saturday, only the second draw in the showpiece Boxing Day Test in 20 years

Ashes Test: Steven Smith and Joe Root blame Melbourne pitch for draw

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Ashes Test: Steven Smith and Joe Root blame Melbourne pitch for draw

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