Perth Stadium Pitch Earns Top Marks From Cricket's Governing Body
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has awarded a perfect 'very good' rating to the Perth Stadium pitch that hosted a frenetic first Ashes Test, a match that was dramatically wrapped up inside just two days of play. This top-tier rating comes despite the match being the third-fastest completed Ashes Test in history, concluding after a mere 847 deliveries.
A Rollercoaster of Wickets and One Stunning Century
The action was relentless from the start, with a record-breaking 19 wickets tumbling on the opening day. Both teams suffered significant batting collapses, managing only modest totals. England's Harry Brook, with a score of 52, was the sole batsman from either side to reach a half-century on that chaotic first day.
Australia's Mitchell Starc was virtually unplayable at times, finishing with impressive figures of 7-58. However, England's Ben Stokes, Jofra Archer, and Brydon Carse retaliated strongly, wreaking havoc on the Australian batting line-up when it was their turn to bowl.
Day two offered a brief respite from the carnage, with 380 runs scored, but another 13 wickets still fell. The momentum only truly shifted when Australia's Travis Head played a blistering innings, smashing 123 runs from just 83 balls, ably supported by Marnus Labuschagne who finished 51 not out.
ICC Rating Confirms a Fair Contest Despite Short Match
Under the ICC’s four-tier system, 'very good' is the highest ranking a pitch can receive. To achieve this, a pitch must demonstrate “good carry, limited seam movement, and consistent bounce early in the match, allowing for a balanced contest between batters and bowlers.”
Cricket Australia’s head of cricket, James Allsopp, stated that the rating justified their belief that the pitch prepared by Isaac McDonald provided a fair contest. “The match referee’s ‘very good’ rating justifies our belief Perth Stadium produced a pitch that provided a fair balance between bat and ball,” Allsopp said.
He acknowledged the disappointment for fans with tickets for days three and four but highlighted the “incredible moments” and “brilliant pace bowling from both sides” that captivated audiences. WA Cricket's high performance boss, Kade Harvey, had earlier defended the Optus Stadium deck, noting that data showed the wicket was 15% harder than the previous year, a deliberate shift to create a surface that gave something to all aspects of the game.
With the pitch exonerated, criticism for England’s heavy defeat has been directed squarely at their batting. The tourists suffered two dramatic collapses—5-12 in the first innings and 5-23 in the second. Legendary English batsman Geoffrey Boycott labelled the team's batting as “brainless,” a sentiment echoed by other Test greats who criticised their overly aggressive approach at the crease.
