Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), Melbourne News

Australia coach Andrew McDonald came to the defence of the Melbourne Cricket Ground's under-fire curator Monday and warned against authorities meddling in pitch preparation.

Cricket Australia chief Todd Greenberg said short Tests were bad for business with the carnage on Boxing Day the most wickets to fall on the first day of an Ashes Test since 1909.

Michael Neser was Australia's top-scorer with 35, while vice-captain Harry Brook steered England past the 100-run mark with a 34-ball 41.

Former England pacer Stuart Broad was not impressed with the condition of the MCG pitch on Day 1 of the Boxing Day Test, as the former England pacer said that "the amount of movement that this pitch has shown" has indicated that there is "something really wrong".

Security at Melbourne Cricket Ground will be ramped up after two men were charged over smuggling handguns and bullets into a crowd of over 82,000 Australian Rules fans.

Indian cricket team fans were targetted by a section of the Australian crowd during the 4th Test in Melbourne last month.

South Africa have already qualified for the WTC final after beating Pakistan in the first Test by two wickets on Sunday.

The number crossed the 60,000 mark post lunch on day five with India chasing a daunting 340-run target.

On his assessment of the MCG pitch, Rohit said that he had a look a day before and it had a "bit of grass covering".

Known for hitting hard lengths, Scott Boland practiced single-net spot bowling without any batters.