MCG Boxing Day Test pitch rating revealed
MCG Boxing Day Test pitch rating revealed: Melbourne’s hallowed cricket ground has received a formal reprimand after a chaotic. Record-breaking match that lasted less than half its scheduled time.
Official Verdict: ‘Unsatisfactory’
The Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), host of the fourth Ashes Test, has been handed one demerit point by the International Cricket Council. The ruling, delivered by match referee Jeff Crowe, branded the pitch ‘Unsatisfactory’ under global guidelines.
“The MCG pitch was too much in favour of the bowlers,” Crowe stated. “With 20 wickets falling on the first day, 16 on the second, and no batter reaching a half-century, it fell short of the required standard.”
A Match in Fast-Forward
The game unravelled at a breathtaking pace from the first ball. After England sent Australia in, seamer Josh Tongue (5/45) ripped through the hosts, skittling them for 152. England’s reply was even more fleeting, collapsing to 110 all out in under 30 overs.
Remarkably, a third innings began before the first day was done. Australia fared little better second time around, mustering 132 runs. Travis Head’s knock of 46 stood as the highest individual score of the entire match—a telling statistic.
Chasing 175 for victory, England crossed the line in 32.2 overs on day two. Securing a win but losing six wickets in the process.
By the Numbers: A Statistical Anomaly
The scorecard tells the story of an unbalanced contest:
- Duration: 2 days (of a possible 5).
- Total Wickets: 36.
- Total Overs Bowled: 142.
- No batter passed 50.
Victory in the Shadow of Defeat
While England celebrated their first Test win in Australia since 2011, the triumph was bittersweet. Australia had already retained the Ashes urn with an unassailable 3-0 lead from the first three Tests.
The series now moves to its final chapter in Sydney, where players and fans will hope for a surface that provides a more enduring contest.
