It was not a spin-heavy strip in Delhi or a low-bounce surface in Kanpur that drew the ICC’s ire this time. Instead, the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), one of Australia’s most iconic venues, has been rated “unsatisfactory” by the International Cricket Council (ICC) following the fourth Ashes Test between Australia and England.
The ICC handed the MCG one demerit point under its Pitch and Outfield Monitoring Process after concluding that the surface was excessively tilted in favour of the bowlers, resulting in a match that ended inside two days.
Wicket-fest triggers ICC action
The decision followed an extraordinary collapse of batting across both sides, with 36 wickets falling in just 142 overs. As many as 20 wickets tumbled on the opening day, while no batter from either team managed to reach a half-century during the Test.
Match referee Jeff Crowe, in his assessment report, said the pitch failed to provide a fair balance between bat and ball, a key requirement under ICC guidelines.
“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,” Crowe said, confirming the one demerit point handed to the venue.
Under ICC rules, a venue that accumulates six demerit points can face a 12-month ban from hosting international cricket.
India pitches escape scrutiny; players criticise MCG surface
While the MCG drew criticism, all Indian venues that hosted international matches this year received ratings ranging from “very good” to “satisfactory” in the ICC’s annual assessment report.
The Melbourne surface also came under fire from players and administrators. England captain Ben Stokes said the pitch was “not great for the game”, while Cricket Australia reportedly described the match as “bad for business”, given the lack of sustained play and early conclusion.
Despite England securing their first Test win on Australian soil since 2011, Australia have already retained the Ashes after racing to a 3-0 lead in the five-match series. The final Test will be played in Sydney, beginning January 4.