Unsatisfactory: MCG under fire as ICC issues demerit point after Ashes thriller

The ICC said the iconic venue has been handed one demerit point under the ICC Pitch and Outfield Monitoring Process.

The pitch was assessed by Jeff Crowe, a member of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees.

Explaining the decision, Crowe said the surface was excessively favourable to bowlers.

“The MCG pitch was too much in favour of the bowlers. With 20 wickets falling on the first day, 16 on the second, and no batter even reaching a half-century, the pitch was deemed ‘unsatisfactory’ as per the guidelines. As a result, the venue receives one demerit point,” Crowe said.

Notably, this is the first time in two years—since the ICC overhauled its pitch-rating system—that a pitch in Australia has been classified as substandard.

The Test match itself lasted just two days, with England defeating Australia by four wickets.

According to a BBC report, MCG head curator Matt Page had left 10mm of grass on the pitch to counter hot conditions forecast later in the match. However, this decision has been cited as a key factor behind the unusually lively playing conditions.