Australia pacer Mitchell Starc believes the pitch at Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) for the Boxing Day Test against India could spring a surprise for both teams after it was rated as ‘poor’ by the ICC following the Ashes fixture last year.

England opener Alastair Cook struck a double ton as the corresponding Boxing Day fixture last year between Australia and England ended in a tame draw. With the curator at the MCG attempting to shake things up during this year’s Sheffield Shield cricket, Starc does not know what to expect from the drop-in pitch when the two teams meet.

“I don’t know what to expect. I didn’t play last year. I had to watch from the side and it didn’t do a thing for five days so hopefully they’ve sorted it out,” Starc was quoted as saying by the Sydney Morning Herald.

“It sounds like they’ve been trying a few things with the (Sheffield) Shield cricket there in the first few rounds. I think it may be a surprise, what they actually dish out next week,” the 28-year-old added.

While Starc remains in the dark on what to expect from the pitch, his team-mate and fellow pacer Peter Siddle is backing it to produce a result in the Boxing Day fixture.

“I played a couple matches ago when I got back from the UAE against South Australia and it was actually a good cricket wicket,” Siddle told sports radio station SEN.

“It’s going to be a good one and I think the boys should be excited and there’s definitely going to be a result wicket I think, going by what’s happened in the first couple of Shield games this season.”

The two teams are currently locked at 1-1 in the four-match series after India’s 31-run win in Adelaide was cancelled out by Australia’s 146-run triumph at Perth.