By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) pitch from the two-day Ashes Test has been rated as “unsatisfactory” by the International Cricket Council (ICC).
The pitch has been under heavy scrutiny following a two-day match in which 36 wickets fell across less than two full days of play.
“The MCG pitch was too much in favour of the bowlers,” match referee Jeff Crowe said in a statement issued by the governing International Cricket Council (ICC) on Monday.
“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.”
The MCG’s demerit point will stand for the next five years. A venue accruing six demerit points in a five-year period leads to a one-year ban on hosting an international cricket match.
Cricket Australia (CA) aren’t expected to appeal the verdict, with the corporation expected to lose north of $10 million due to no play on days three, four or five.
CA Chief of Cricket James Allsopp expressed his disappointment in the outcome but noted “the MCG’s customary balance between bat and ball” in recent years gone by, asserting his confidence that team can produce “first-rate surfaces” for the 2026 Boxing Day Test against New Zealand as well as the one-off 150th anniversary Test against England in March 2027.