Summary
The International Cricket Council (ICC) rated the pitch used in the Melbourne Ashes Test as "unsatisfactory," leading to the Melbourne Cricket Ground receiving a demerit point. This decision followed a two-day test where 36 wickets fell and no player scored a half-century.
Key Facts
- The ICC rated the Melbourne Ashes pitch as "unsatisfactory."
- The Melbourne Cricket Ground received one demerit point due to the pitch rating.
- If a cricket venue gets six demerit points in five years, it cannot host international cricket for one year.
- The Melbourne Test ended in two days with 36 wickets falling in just six sessions.
- The pitch was considered too favorable for bowlers, with excessive seam movement.
- No batter made a half-century during the match, and England won by four wickets.
- This is the first time an Australian pitch has been rated a failure under the current ICC system.
- Previously, in 2017, an MCG pitch was rated "poor" for lacking enough assistance for bowlers.
