The Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) has concluded in a mere two days, sparking heavy criticism of the pitch from former England captain Alastair Cook, who described it as "sub-standard" and "an absolute lottery". The match saw England secure a four-wicket victory over Australia, but the result has been overshadowed by concerns over the quality of the playing surface.
Cook wasn't alone in his assessment. Current England captain Ben Stokes, despite leading his team to their first Test win in Australia in 15 years, also expressed his disappointment with the pitch, stating it was "not ideal" for a Boxing Day Test match and that such a game "should be played over five days". Stokes confirmed that he would be giving the match referee some negative feedback regarding the pitch.
The rapid conclusion of the Test match is largely attributed to the excessive amount of grass left on the pitch, which heavily favored fast bowlers. 36 wickets fell in just six sessions. Australia were bowled out for 152, and England for 110, on the first day, with another 16 wickets falling on the second. No batter from either side managed to reach a half-century, the first time this has happened in a Test in Australia since 1932. Travis Head's 46 in the second innings was the highest score of the match.
Former England captain Michael Vaughan went further, calling the pitch "a joke" and suggesting that it was "selling the game short". Cook highlighted the struggles of star batters like Joe Root and Steve Smith, emphasizing how difficult it was to score runs convincingly on the surface. Root made a 15-ball duck in the first innings.
The condition of the MCG pitch has raised serious questions for Cricket Australia. With the series opener in Perth also ending in two days, the financial implications of these short matches are significant. Cricket Australia chief executive Todd Greenberg acknowledged the commercial damage caused by short Test matches and indicated that greater oversight of pitch preparation may be necessary. Millions of dollars in refunds will be issued to fans who purchased tickets for day three.
The criticism extends beyond just the financial impact. There are concerns that such pitches are not conducive to showcasing the best of Test cricket, with the balance between bat and ball skewed too heavily in favor of the bowlers. As Smith said, the pitch probably did "a little bit more than they wanted it to" and suggested dropping the grass to eight millimeters.
Despite the challenging batting conditions, some players managed to make an impact. England's Harry Brook impressed with his aggressive approach, scoring 41 in the first innings and 18 not out in the second. England paceman Josh Tongue was named man of the match for his seven-wicket haul.
The MCG curator, Matt Page, is expected to address the media to explain the decision to leave 10mm of grass on the pitch. The Australian players will be available at the MCG to sign autographs for fans.
