‘I was in shock’: MCG curator breaks silence after two-day Boxing Day Test farce – Ashes 2025-26

Chief Curator, MCG Matt Page admitted to being “in a state of shock” after the dramatic finale Boxing Day Testhe saw England secure a four-wicket win over Australia in just two days.

Traditionally the crowning glory of the Australian summer, the match has turned into a chaotic ‘bowler’s paradise’. Cricket Australia (CA) faces a revenue shortfall of around AUD 10 million and the venue’s reputation is under heavy fire.

MCG Pitch curator expresses disappointment after quick end to 4th Test

Speaking to reporters on Sunday morning – on a sold-out crowd of 90,000 – a visibly disappointed Page expressed disbelief at how quickly the surface had deteriorated.

“I was in a state of shock when I saw everything that happened after the first day – 20 wickets in one day” Page said.

Notably, an astonishing 36 wickets fell in just 142 overs, making it the third shortest Test match in Australia’s history. It was the first time since 1932 that no player from either side had scored a half-century in a Test on Australian soil.

“I’ve never been in a test match like this and I hope I never will be in a test match like this again. It was a roller coaster for two days to see how it all played out.” he added.

The controversy centers on Paige’s decision to leave 10mm of grass on the pitch – 3mm more than the 7mm left for last year’s five-day classic against India. Page explained that the decision is a precautionary measure against the high heat forecast for days 3 and 4, and is aimed at preventing the pitch from cracking and becoming a ‘road’ like the infamous 2017 Ashes draw.

Also READ: Ashes 2025-26: Ben Stokes and Steve Smith hit the MCG pitch after the 4th Test ends two days later

Travis Head supports the MCG Pitch Curator

Head of TravisA second-innings knock of 46 turned out to be the highest score of the match, with the MCG curator backing Page to admit that the margin for error in pitch preparation was incredibly small. Acknowledging how demanding the job is for ground staff, Head said it was “bloody tough”, especially when elite players were involved. He compared the surface to high-profile Tests in recent days, including last year’s match at the MCG – where India collapsed late on the final day – and the third Ashes Test in Adelaide, where both teams struggled despite having one of the better batting pitches.

“You look at last year’s Test match and India batted poorly on the last day… It’s probably a draw and then there are question marks: are we going too far? I feel for him (Page). It’s very difficult. You’re 1-2mm away with high-quality bowling and you find yourself short and you find yourself 2-3mm out.” Head said, according to ESPNcricinfo.

Also READ: Winless streak snapped: Fans react as Brydon Carse and Josh Tongue lead England to Ashes Test success in Australia.