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ICC rates MCC test pitch as 'unsatisfactory' after Boxing Day Ashes Test

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Pitch rating for Boxing Day Test at MCG revealed

The pitch at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the venue for the fourth Ashes Test, has been deemed 'Unsatisfactory' with the venue handed one demerit point under the ICC Pitch and Outfield Monitoring Process.

Mr. Jeff Crowe of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees delivered the verdict, explaining the decision behind the assessment of the pitch. He stated, “The MCG pitch was too much in favour of the bowlers. 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.”

England won the toss and put Australia in to bat, immediately putting pressure with a fierce pace attack. Josh Tongue spearheaded the effort, claiming 5/45 as Australia were bowled out for 152.

England looked to capitalise on the modest target but struggled to adapt to the challenging conditions themselves, being dismissed for 110 inside 30 overs.

Australia began their third innings on the opening day itself, which saw a total of 20 wickets fall. The trend continued in the second innings, with Australia managing to post 132, as England bowled relentlessly, helped by Travis Head’s 46, the highest score of the Test match.

England chased down the target in 32.2 overs, losing six wickets along the way, with valuable contributions from Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett and Jacob Bethell.

The fourth Ashes Test concluded after just two days of play, with spectators witnessing a total of 36 wickets fall across only 142 overs and no batter managing to reach the 50-run mark.

Despite England securing their first Test victory on Australian soil since 2011, Australia have already retained the Ashes by winning the first three Tests to take an unassailable 3–0 lead. The final Test of the series will be played in Sydney, beginning on January 4.

 
Pitch rating for Boxing Day Test at MCG revealed

The pitch at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the venue for the fourth Ashes Test, has been deemed 'Unsatisfactory' with the venue handed one demerit point under the ICC Pitch and Outfield Monitoring Process.

Mr. Jeff Crowe of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees delivered the verdict, explaining the decision behind the assessment of the pitch. He stated, “The MCG pitch was too much in favour of the bowlers. 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.”

England won the toss and put Australia in to bat, immediately putting pressure with a fierce pace attack. Josh Tongue spearheaded the effort, claiming 5/45 as Australia were bowled out for 152.

England looked to capitalise on the modest target but struggled to adapt to the challenging conditions themselves, being dismissed for 110 inside 30 overs.

Australia began their third innings on the opening day itself, which saw a total of 20 wickets fall. The trend continued in the second innings, with Australia managing to post 132, as England bowled relentlessly, helped by Travis Head’s 46, the highest score of the Test match.

England chased down the target in 32.2 overs, losing six wickets along the way, with valuable contributions from Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett and Jacob Bethell.

The fourth Ashes Test concluded after just two days of play, with spectators witnessing a total of 36 wickets fall across only 142 overs and no batter managing to reach the 50-run mark.

Despite England securing their first Test victory on Australian soil since 2011, Australia have already retained the Ashes by winning the first three Tests to take an unassailable 3–0 lead. The final Test of the series will be played in Sydney, beginning on January 4.

ICC Releases Boxing Day Test Pitch Rating, Cricket Australia Issues Statement

The ICC Match Referee has rated the pitch for the fourth NRMA Insurance Ashes Test at the MCG as “unsatisfactory”.

Under the ICC’s four tier pitch rating system, “unsatisfactory” is the third ranking and characterises a pitch that “does not allow an even contest between bat and ball…by favouring the bowlers too much, with too many wicket-taking opportunities for either seam or spin”.

The MCG pitch had received the highest “very good” rating for the past three Boxing Day Tests.

England beat Australia by four wickets in two days. Australia now leads the series 3-1.

James Allsopp, CA Chief of Cricket said:

“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.

“We appreciate the outstanding work the MCC staff have done over recent years producing excellent Test match pitches.

“We’re confident they will deliver first-rate surfaces for next year’s NRMA Insurance Boxing Day Test against New Zealand and the hugely anticipated 150th Anniversary Test against England in March 2027.”
 
It is also worth noting that most of the batters from both sides dont seem to have the technique or patience to play test cricket the way it should be played.
 
It is also worth noting that most of the batters from both sides dont seem to have the technique or patience to play test cricket the way it should be played.
Same could be said about recent Tests in India. What you are saying is applicable to England, but after seeing Australia batting in both innings, I have reached to a conclusion that it was surely pitch that troubled the batters.
 
It is also worth noting that most of the batters from both sides dont seem to have the technique or patience to play test cricket the way it should be played.
Did you watch the match? This was not the type of pitch where you rely on technique or patience - you either score or get a ball with your name on it. That's why guys like Head and Brook found some modicum of success... because they went out there with the intent to score, not survive. Any batsman in the world would have struggled on this pitch.
 
Same could be said about recent Tests in India. What you are saying is applicable to England, but after seeing Australia batting in both innings, I have reached to a conclusion that it was surely pitch that troubled the batters.

Did you watch the match? This was not the type of pitch where you rely on technique or patience - you either score or get a ball with your name on it. That's why guys like Head and Brook found some modicum of success... because they went out there with the intent to score, not survive. Any batsman in the world would have struggled on this pitch.
Yeah to be honest I only watch a bit of the highlights. In general both teams play test cricket in T20 fashion. The pitch for the 4th test was unsatisfactory but what about the previous 3 test matches?
 
It is also worth noting that most of the batters from both sides dont seem to have the technique or patience to play test cricket the way it should be played.
Whilst there is some truth in what you say, two of the great players of the last decade, Smith and Root, both also struggled on this surface.
Techniques, in general, are undoubtedly worse than they were twenty years ago but that pitch was too much in favour of the bowlers.
 
It didn't even last full 2 days. Outrageous pitch.

Anyway, the match itself was entertaining. It became entertaining due to the incompetencies of the batters.
 
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