Ashes MCG: Curator Shocked by Two-Day Test Result

The Melbourne Cricket Ground’s (MCG) pitch has drawn criticism after the recent Ashes Test match concluded in just two days, favoring bowlers and impacting potential revenue for Cricket Australia (CA). Despite a sell-out crowd for the first three days, officials discussed potential exhibition matches to satisfy ticket holders after the rapid conclusion of play.

MCG Pitch Criticism

This is not the first time the Melbourne pitch has faced scrutiny. The 2017 drawn match against England was criticized for not providing enough assistance for bowlers, resulting in a slow-paced contest where Alastair Cook scored an unbeaten 244.

Recent reviews of the pitch have been conducted, with groundskeeper Matt Page opting for 10mm of grass length this year due to forecasts of hot weather, with temperatures of 32C predicted for Monday, the fourth scheduled day of play. Last year’s Australia-India match featured a pitch with 7mm of grass that lasted the full five days.

Financial Impact and Attendance

Approximately 190,000 spectators attended the first two days of the Test, with a third consecutive sell-out on day three, raising the possibility of breaking the all-time Ashes attendance record. However, CA is not insured against revenue loss from the shortened match, with an estimated impact of A$10 million against a projected A$600 million annual revenue.

Melbourne Cricket Club chief executive Stuart Fox revealed discussions about having players participate in an exhibition match to address concerns from fans and broadcasters, but these conversations did not progress significantly.

Support for Groundskeeping Team

Fox expressed his “full faith” in Page, stating he believes Page is the best groundsman in Australia. He acknowledged the disappointment of the Test ending quickly and highlighted the challenges faced by the groundskeeping team in preparing the pitch.

“This pitch has clearly favoured the bowlers and hasn’t given the batters a good opportunity to get set,” Fox said. He also confirmed that perishable food intended for use during the Boxing Day Test would be donated to a local charity.