@ianRobinson it is mostly AFL (Australian Rules football) played in winter which also suffers because the centre wicket area is too hard.
Last year's Test there was a trench in the pitch caused by AFL centre bounce process.
There is a long enough gap because the MCG hosts the AFL grand final in last week Sep (or week 1 Oct) and is ready for Boxing Day.
But the SCG trust, something about "tradition" and some excuse or other about access to get the turf trucks in etc.
Perhaps, neither team selecting a specialist spinner for the first time in 100+ years might get them to pull their heads out of the famed Bulli soil and get with the times.
#Ashes #SCG