Summary
England defeated Australia in a cricket match at Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) that ended in two days. The match finished early because the pitch had more grass than usual, leading to many wickets falling quickly. This unexpected result is costly for Cricket Australia in terms of revenue.
Key Facts
- The match ended in two days, with England beating Australia with four wickets remaining.
- Thirty-six wickets fell in just six sessions due to the pitch conditions.
- The early finish may result in a loss of about 10 million Australian dollars for Cricket Australia.
- MCG curator Matthew Page was surprised by how the pitch played out and aims to improve in future.
- Historically, this is the first Ashes series since 1896 with two matches finishing in two days.
- The Melbourne pitch in the 2017 Ashes was also criticized for being too easy for batters, resulting in few wickets.
- Cricket Australia considered alternative events for the planned third day to satisfy ticket-holders and broadcasters, but these did not proceed.
- Over 190,000 people attended the first two days, with day three also sold out.
