Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) is preparing for a exciting summer of cricket. Following the conclusion of the Australian Football League (AFL) season, the groundsmen have begun preparing drop-in pitches for the upcoming cricketing events. Australia's future calendar is crammed, with India coming in for a white-ball series, then the Ashes against England, and the Big Bash League (BBL) afterwards. The enthusiasm is already palpable, with numerous games selling out weeks prior. On Thursday, October 9, the MCG's official X account posted a special behind-the-scenes timelapse revealing the way such drop-in pitches are being installed on the ground. The MCG is a world-famous stadium. It has hosted many large cricket events, including Boxing Day Tests, World Cup matches, and edge-of-the-seat BBL games. But before cricket dominates the field, the MCG is the home of Australian Rules Football (AFL) in winter. Watch the video here: Oh, you wanted another timelapse?You got it. pic.twitter.com/vGjTXr3qbt — Melbourne Cricket Ground (@MCG) October 9, 2025 Also Read | Shubman Gill Makes Huge Revelation on Kohli, Rohit’s 2027 WC Plans From AFL Fortress to Cricket Arena Between March to September, the Melbourne Cricket Ground becomes an hotspot for AFL, welcoming powerhouse teams such as Melbourne, Collingwood, Richmond, and Hawthorn. The oval-shaped ground is ideal venue for football, and crowds tend to arrive in a huge number, nearly around 90,000 during the high-profile matches. When the football season ends, the stadium is swiftly and carefully converted. The goalposts are taken out, and the outfield is resurfaced for cricket. A drop-in pitch, a mobile cricket wicket, is put down in the middle. This pitch is cultivated at a nursery located at Port Melbourne and then transported with utmost care to the MCG on sophisticated machines. Once installed, the ground is re-marked with cricket boundary lines, the sight screens are set-up, and the stands are tuned for the optimal cricket view. The ease with which the MCG changes from one sport to another indicates how world-class its facilities and personnel are. The stadium is not only the home for cricket and AFL over the years but has also hosted various other events like rugby, football, concerts, and even the Olympic and Commonwealth Games.