ICC flags Fourth Ashes Test pitch as "unsatisfactory", MCG receives demerit

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has rated the pitch used for the fourth Ashes Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) as unsatisfactory, handing the venue one demerit point after deeming it “too much in favour of the bowlers.”

According to match referee Jeff Crowe , the MCG pitch saw 20 wickets fall on the opening day alone, with a total of 36 wickets falling across just 142 overs. No batter managed to reach a half-century throughout the match, which England won by four wickets inside two days.

“The pitch at the Melbourne Cricket Ground was too bowler-friendly. With 20 wickets falling on the first day and 16 on the second, no batter even reached 50, making it unsatisfactory as per ICC guidelines,” Crowe explained. Under the ICC’s Pitch and Outfield Monitoring Process, accumulation of six demerit points can lead to a 12-month ban on the venue.

The pitch faced widespread criticism, with England captain Ben Stokes calling it unsuitable for competitive cricket, while Cricket Australia described the conditions as “bad for business.”

Despite the dramatic win, Australia had already retained the Ashes by winning the first three Tests, taking an unassailable 3-0 lead in the series. The final Test of the series is scheduled in Sydney , starting January 4.