MCG curator says pitch 'not perfect' unless sun makes appearance before fourth Ashes Test

The Melbourne pitch used to be the great unknown of Boxing Day Test matches, but it's now the polar opposite, according to reports.

According to News.com.au, MCG curator Dave Sandurski and his seven full-time staff have a strip planned to the minute for Thursday's fourth Ashes Test.

And, despite some shoddy weather in the past three days, Sandurski is confident there'll be no surprises, the report said.

He added that the weather hasn't been too good and they haven't seen the sun for a few days, so it makes life a little tricky while preparing a wicket.

Sandurski, before his second Boxing Day Test strip, said he would provide a nice, hard wicket with a tinge of green through it.

He also paid tribute to his predecessor Cameron Hodgkins, whose work has improved dramatically the response of drop-in wickets, the report added.