The International Cricket Council (ICC) has delivered a damning verdict on the pitch used for the fourth Ashes Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, branding it 'unsatisfactory' after the match concluded inside just two days.
Match Referee Condemns Bowler-Friendly Surface
Match referee Jeff Crowe was unequivocal in his assessment, stating the surface offered far too much assistance to the bowlers. His report highlighted the dramatic fall of wickets, with 36 wickets tumbling across the two days of play. Crucially, not a single batter from either England or Australia managed to score a half-century, underlining the extreme difficulty of batting.
"The MCG pitch was too much in favour of the bowlers," Crowe said. "With 20 wickets falling on the first day, 16 on the second day and no batter even reaching a half-century, the pitch was 'unsatisfactory' as per the guidelines and the venue gets one demerit point."
Curator's Shock and Financial Fallout
The head curator at the MCG, Matthew Page, expressed his astonishment at how the match unfolded on a surface that had 10mm of grass left on it. He admitted to being in a "state of shock" as the Test, which England won by four wickets, raced to its premature conclusion.
The shortened match is set to have severe financial repercussions for Cricket Australia. With a sell-out crowd of over 90,000 spectators expected on what would have been the third day, the organisation now faces a wave of refunds and lost revenue from concessions and merchandise. Reports suggest the financial hit could reach around £5 million.
Stokes' Criticism and ICC Demerit System
Even in victory, England captain Ben Stokes was critical of the pitch, suggesting there would be "hell on" if a similar surface was prepared elsewhere in the world. The ICC's rating system has four levels: 'very good', 'satisfactory', 'unsatisfactory', and 'unfit'.
The 'unsatisfactory' rating results in one demerit point for the Melbourne venue. Under ICC rules, if a ground accumulates six demerit points within a rolling five-year period, it faces a suspension from hosting international matches for twelve months. This incident stands in stark contrast to the first Test in Perth, which also finished in two days but received the ICC's top rating of 'very good'.
England's consolation win leaves the series score at 3-1 to Australia, with one final Test to be played in Sydney.
