The International Cricket Council assessed the seam-friendly pitch at the Melbourne Cricket Ground for the fourth Ashes Test as “unsatisfactory” on Monday after it concluded in less than two days.
The second-lowest rating in the world governing body’s four-tier classification is “unsatisfactory,” which describes a surface that “favors the bowlers too much.”
It cost the venue one demerit point and ended its run of “very good” ratings for the previous three Boxing Day Tests.
“The MCG pitch was too much in favour of the bowlers,” said match referee Jeff Crowe.
“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.”
No batsman scored more than 46 runs in the four innings as England defeated Australia by four wickets in the second-day final session.
Although the first Test in Perth also concluded in two days, that pitch was deemed “very good” by the ICC.
Ten millimeters (0.4 inches) of grass were left on the wicket by MCG curator Matt Page and his team, giving the seamers movement and bounce and making batting dangerous.
Cricket Australia lost Aus$10 million (US$6.7 million) in revenue as a result of the devastation, and tickets for days three and four had to be reimbursed.
“We were disappointed for the fans holding tickets for days three and four, and also the millions of fans excited to watch the action in Australia and around the world, that the pitch did not provide the MCG’s customary balance between bat and ball,” said Cricket Australia’s chief of cricket James Allsopp.
“We appreciate the outstanding work the MCG staff have done over recent years producing excellent Test match pitches,” he added.
Australia’s coach Andrew McDonald defended Page and cautioned against officials interfering with pitch preparation prior to the ICC ruling.
Page had done a “outstanding” job throughout the years, according to McDonald, and the batters should also take some of the blame for the low run total.
“The perspective that I always use is we have bad Test matches as well — this Test we weren’t at our best and sometimes these things can happen.
“We support him in what he’s done and are really proud of the evolution of the MCG. He’s found a nice balance for a long period of time.”
The management of Test wickets will be subject to an end-of-season review by Cricket Australia. Todd Greenberg, the CEO, has stated that shorter Tests are “bad for business” and that a more interventionist approach may be required.
However, McDonald stated that he opposed any intervention because Australian curators have historically prepared pitches independently of captains and Cricket Australia.
“I don’t want to get to a situation … where we are asking for specific surfaces and tailor-made. I don’t think Australia will ever go there, and I don’t think they’ve ever been there, to my knowledge,” McDonald said.
The fifth and final Test will take place in Sydney on Sunday, with Australia leading the series 3-1.
