The Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) has been officially sanctioned by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for producing a substandard pitch during the recent Ashes series. The governing body handed down an "unsatisfactory" rating for the surface used in the fourth Test, which concluded inside two days.
ICC Delivers Formal Verdict on Boxing Day Pitch
The ICC's match referee, Jeff Crowe, was unequivocal in his assessment, stating the pitch provided an unfair advantage to bowlers. The match saw a remarkable 20 wickets fall on the opening day, with a further 16 tumbling on day two. Notably, no batter managed to reach a half-century in the entire contest.
"The MCG pitch was too much in favour of the bowlers," Crowe said. "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."
This marks the first time an Australian Test venue has been punished under the ICC's revamped pitch monitoring process, which was introduced at the start of 2023. The "unsatisfactory" rating is the third-worst possible, sitting only above "unfit".
Curator Backed Despite Historic Sanction
MCG curator Matt Page accepted responsibility for the condition of the pitch, admitting he left too much grass on the surface. He addressed the issue publicly at a media conference alongside MCC chief executive Stuart Fox, who offered his full support.
Page was specifically recruited from the WACA in Perth after the MCG received widespread criticism for a notoriously flat pitch during the 2017 Ashes Test, which yielded only 24 wickets across five days and ended in a draw. Since his arrival, there has not been a single drawn Test at the ground.
No Threat of Ban, But a Wake-Up Call
While the demerit point is a significant black mark, it is highly unlikely to lead to the MCG losing its hosting rights. A ground must accumulate six demerit points within a five-year rolling period to trigger a potential 12-month suspension from hosting international cricket.
Australian coach Andrew McDonald strongly defended Page's overall record, describing his work as "outstanding" and crediting him with revitalising the MCG's pitches. McDonald also suggested the Australian batting lineup must share some blame for the match's rapid conclusion.
"Sometimes these things can happen, but we support him in what he’s done and [are] really proud of the evolution of the MCG," McDonald said. "We don’t want to scare him off and get back to where we were. He’s found a nice balance for a long period of time."
Australian batsman Travis Head, who top-scored in the match with 46 runs, echoed the sentiment of support for the curator. "I feel for him, it’s bloody tough," Head stated.
The ICC's decision ensures the spotlight will remain on pitch preparation for future marquee events at Australia's most iconic cricket ground.
