Melbourne Cricket Floor pitch curator Matthew Web page says he’s in a “state of shock” after the Boxing Day Ashes Take a look at on the venue lasted simply two days and has vowed to “get it right next year”.
On a floor boasting 10mm of grass, 36 wickets fell throughout 142 overs with neither England or Australia passing 200 within the match and the best particular person rating throughout each side the 46 hit by residence opener Travis Head in his aspect’s second innings.
The early end is projected to value Cricket Australia within the area of £5millon with that organisation’s CEO Todd Greenberg saying after a 20-wicket opening day that quick Exams are “bad for business”.
Chatting with reporters on Sunday, Web page mentioned: “We’re obviously really disappointed that it’s gone for two days. I was in a state of shock after the first day.
“To see all the things that occurred and 20 wickets in a day, I’ve by no means been concerned in a Take a look at match prefer it and hopefully won’t ever be concerned in a Take a look at match prefer it once more.
“It was a rollercoaster experience for 2 days, to see all the things unfold. Lots of the noise is clearly exterior.
“I personally don’t read papers, I don’t watch the news – but we know that this hasn’t gone as we had planned.”
‘Take a look at was fascinating – however did not final lengthy sufficient’
Web page was employed within the aftermath of the bore draw within the 2017/18 Ashes Take a look at on the MCG when England opener Sir Alastair Cook dinner made 244 not out after batting for over 10 hours on a dull floor.
This 12 months’s MCG deck actually made for thrilling viewing however has been criticised by England captain Ben Stokes and Australia counterpart Steve Smith, in addition to Cook dinner and different ex-players.
Web page added: “Our issues here with deterioration in pitches and getting very flat has been well-documented and we are very conscious of that.
“We have produced a Take a look at that is been fascinating, but it surely hasn’t gone lengthy sufficient and we’ll take possession of that. We’ll be taught from it, we’ll develop, and we’ll ensure that we’ll get it proper subsequent 12 months.”
The Worldwide Cricket Council has but to launch its pitch report however beforehand rated the observe at Optus Stadium as ‘excellent’ after one other two-day end within the collection opener at Perth final month.
England’s four-wicket win in Melbourne lower their deficit within the collection to 3-1 forward of the ultimate Take a look at in Sydney from Sunday January 4.
‘Unhealthy for enterprise, farcical’ – What have folks mentioned about manic match at MCG?
Cricket Australia CEO Greenberg instructed SEN Radio earlier than day two: “A simple phrase I’d use is – short Tests are bad for business. I can’t be much more blunt than that.
“Traditionally we’ve taken a hands-off method in all of our wicket preparation…but it surely’s onerous to not get extra concerned while you see the impression on the game, significantly commercially.”
Travis Head’s second-innings 46 was the best rating of the MCG Take a look at
With no spin bowling seen in any respect within the sport, Sky Sports activities‘ Nasser Hussain mentioned: “I don’t think the great Shane Warne would have thought that was acceptable and I don’t think it’s acceptable not having spin at all and there being so much movement in the surface.
“It was farcical at occasions. That may be thrilling however there are traditionalists who just like the ebbs and flows and the sluggish construct. This was not sluggish, it was in fast-forward and we’ve sufficient of that whether or not by means of T10, T20, The Hundred.”
Hussain’s fellow Sky Sports pundit Michael Atherton said of the surface: “It wasn’t harmful and it was honest to each side within the sense that it did not change. It was a shoot-out on a troublesome pitch. However when it comes to the spectacle, it is unsatisfactory.
“You come to watch a broad variety of skills and the game develop over a period of time. You are going to get extreme conditions from time to time but we have had two [two-day Tests] now in this series and I don’t think we want to see this too frequently.”
Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant
England captain Ben Stokes gave his ideas on the ‘difficult’ pitch on the MCG after his staff’s two-day win
Stokes added: “Being brutally honest, that’s not what you want for a Boxing Day Test match. You don’t want a game finishing in less than two days.
Stokes went on to say, “I am fairly certain if that was some place else on this planet there’d be hell on,” although when asked by reporters if he was referring to Asian pitches that can spin prodigiously, he added: “These are your phrases, not mine.”
Australia captain Smith said: “I feel the pitch was an excessive amount of. If you see 30-odd wickets throughout two days it’s most likely an excessive amount of. Possibly we might drop the grass down from 10mm to 8mm.
“It would be good if it was a little bit longer and we were able to entertain the fans some more but it wasn’t to be.”
Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant
Steve Smith displays on Australia’s loss to England in Melbourne
Stuart Fox, the chief govt of Melbourne Cricket Membership (MCC), backed Web page, saying. “We brought Matt on eight years ago because he’s considered one of the best in the country – if not the best. I still believe that and I always will.
“Our accountability is to supply a pitch with good stability between bat and ball, and we simply weren’t ready to try this. I feel it demonstrates the high-quality margins and the problem [Page] faces each week, so I am right here to help him.”
Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant
Sky Sports activities’ Nasser Hussain and Michael Atherton replicate on how England prevented a possible Ashes whitewash after ending an 18-Take a look at and 15-year winless streak in Australia
Ashes collection in Australia 2025-26
Australia lead five-match collection 3-1
