Ashes 2025-26: Ben Stokes and Steve Smith target MCG pitch, fourth Test ends in two days. Read
England in the fourth Ashes Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) Australia The victory was quickly overshadowed by sharp criticism of the pitch after the match ended. A total of 36 wickets fell in two days, with neither team scoring 200, leading both captains to condemn the pitch used for the prestigious Boxing Day Test.
MCG pitch favorable for bowlers ruled the match
This match of the Ashes 2025-26 series was under the control of the fast bowlers since the first session. Australia, after being bowled out for 152 runs in the first innings, did not perform much better in the second innings and were bundled out for 132 runs. England, who themselves were struggling with the bat and were all out for 110, successfully chased down the modest target of 175 to win.
The unusually short Test immediately attracted attention, with fans and experts questioning how a major match at the MCG could end so quickly. It was England’s first Test win on Australian soil since 2011, but the milestone could not mask concerns over the playing conditions.
Ben Stokes strongly criticized the pitch
captain of england ben stokes made his opinion clear about the pitch, stating that his feedback was given to the match referee “Wasn’t very friendly.” After the game, Stokes said that the pitch failed to live up to expectations for the Boxing Day Test.
“To be honest, this isn’t really what you want,” Stokes said. “For a Boxing Day Test match, you don’t expect the game to be over in two days.”
Stokes further said that if such a pitch had been made in any other country, the reaction would have been much harsher. “If that pitch had been made anywhere else, there would have been an uproar,” he told the BBC, highlighting the imbalance of no innings passing 200 despite the fall of 36 wickets.
Steve Smith admitted to giving too much assistance to the bowlers
Australia’s permanent captain Steve Smith echoed Stokes’ sentiments, admitting that the pitch provided too much assistance to the bowlers. Smith cited the amount of grass left on the pitch as a major factor in the excessive seam movement during the match.
“When you see 36 wickets in two days, it is probably too many,” Smith said. “It was probably doing a little more than they expected. Maybe if we brought it down to eight millimeters, it would have been about right.”
Smith admitted that both teams found it difficult to adapt, with the batsmen often not getting a chance to settle as the ball continued to rotate.
Reflecting on Australia’s collapse in both innings, Smith felt that the lack of significant partnerships prevented the game from developing. “If we could have just built a few partnerships, maybe the ball would have become a little softer and the game would have become a little easier,” he explained.
With the bowlers receiving constant support, the batsmen were always in danger, turning what would normally have been a five-day showdown into a fast, sloppy contest in which the bowlers dominated.
Rare two-day finish at MCG sparks widespread debate
Two-day finals at the MCG are rare and are often remembered for exceptional circumstances. While some observers compared the match to the classic bowler-friendly Tests of the past, many felt that the encounter crossed the line, depriving fans of a long game at one of cricket’s most famous venues.
The freedom given to Australian curators also became a talking point, with Stokes hinting at double standards in evaluating pitches globally. He stressed that while conditions cannot be changed once a match has started, major fixtures require pitches that allow a fair contest between bat and ball.
Comments are closed.