Questions over MCG pitch after two-day Boxing Day Test

The Melbourne Cricket Ground pitch is under scrutiny after the Boxing Day Ashes Test between Australia and England finished inside two days. Captains from both sides commented on a surface that offered consistent seam movement and provided little opportunity for batting.

A total of 36 wickets fell in 142 overs, with fast bowlers dominating and no overs of spin bowled. The Test, which marked England's first win in Australia since the 2010-11 tour, lasted just 952 balls. This has raised significant questions about pitch balance at one of cricket's premier venues.

England captain Ben Stokes was direct in his assessment, implying the pitch would have been heavily criticized if prepared elsewhere. "If that pitch had been produced in other parts of the world, there would be some serious questions asked," Stokes said, adding that his feedback to match referee Jeff Crowe "would not be the best."

"When you go out there and you're faced with conditions, you've got to crack on and deal with it," Stokes stated. "But, being brutally honest, that's not really what you want. A Boxing Day Test match, you don't want a game finishing in less than two days."

Australia's stand-in skipper, Steve Smith, acknowledged the surface had "done a bit more than expected," but stopped short of outright criticism. "It's tough as a groundsman, I think he's always looking for the right balance," said Smith. "Last year's wicket was an outstanding one, it went to day five in the last session."

Smith suggested a minor adjustment might have helped: "Maybe if you took the grass covering from 10mm to 8mm, it would have been a nice, challenging wicket, make it a little bit more even, I suppose. But groundsmen are always learning."

Notably, the ICC rated last month's Perth Test—which also failed to reach a third day and saw only 41 more overs bowled than this MCG Test—as having a "very good" pitch, the highest possible rating. Cricket Australia now awaits the ICC's verdict on this pitch. An unsatisfactory rating could bring the MCG a demerit point; six demerit points within five years results in a 12-month ban from hosting international cricket.

Cricket Australia chief executive Todd Greenberg conceded that abbreviated Tests are "bad for business," revealing the two-day Perth Test had cost the board approximately AUD 5 million. Greenberg indicated CA might adopt a more active role in pitch preparation, moving away from its traditionally hands-off approach.

"Historically we have taken a hands-off approach… But it's hard not to get more involved when you see the impact on the sport, particularly commercially," Greenberg told SEN radio. "As mesmerising and fascinating and enjoyable as it was to watch as a fan, we want Test cricket clearly to go for longer. A simple phrase I'd use is short Tests are bad for business."

He added, "I would like to see a slightly broader balance between the bat and the ball. I thought Day 1 slightly favoured the ball. The batters have some ownership in some of that, it's not all around the pitch, but we've got some challenges."