England won a stunning four-wicket win over Australia in the year fourth Ashes Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), but after the match ended midway through Day 2, the result was quickly overshadowed by fierce criticism of the pitch. A total of 36 goals were scored over the two days, with neither side managing the 200-run score, prompting both captains to condemn the surface used for the Boxing Day icon.
The bowler-friendly MCG pitch dominates the competition
Part of the Ashes 2025–26 series, the match saw the seam bowlers dominate from the opening session. Australia were bowled out for 152 in the first innings and did little better as they folded for 132 in the second innings. Despite struggling with the bat and being bowled out for 110, England successfully chased down a modest target of 175 to seal victory.
The unusually short Test immediately attracted attention, with fans and pundits questioning how a marquee fixture at the MCG could end so quickly. It was England’s first Test win on Australian soil since 2011, but even that milestone could not mask concerns about the playing conditions.
Ben Stokes dismisses the surface sharply
England captain Ben Stokes While evaluating the field, he revealed that his opinion about the referee of the game is clear “not very convenient.” Speaking after the game, Stokes said the surface did not live up to expectations for a Boxing Day Test.
“Honestly, it’s not really what you want.” Stokes said. “For a Boxing Day Test match, you don’t expect the game to be over in less than two days.”
Stokes went further and suggested that if such a pitch had been produced outside Australia, the reaction would have been harsher. “If this pitch was produced anywhere else, it would be hell” he spoke to the BBC, highlighting the imbalance that saw 36 wickets fall without an innings before crossing 200.
Steve Smith admits the pitch offers immense help to the bowlers
Australia’s stand-in captain Steve Smith echoed Stokes’ sentiments, admitting that the surface helped the bowlers a lot. Smith pointed to the amount of grass left on the pitch as a major factor in the excessive movement of the seams throughout the match.
“When you see 36 goals in two days, that’s probably going to be a lot.” Smith said. “It probably did a little more than they wanted. Maybe if we cut it down to eight millimeters, that would be about right.”
Smith admitted that both teams struggled to match, with the batsmen rarely given a chance to settle as the ball bounced around.
Reflecting on Australia’s twin batting, Smith felt that the lack of a meaningful partnership was hindering the development of the game. “If we could have made a few of those partnerships, maybe the ball would have bounced a little bit and the game would have been a little bit easier to play.” he explained.
For the Mariners, relentless relief meant the batsmen were in constant danger, turning the usually five-day spectacle into a frenzied, stop-start contest dominated by the bowlers.
Also READ: Ashes 2025/26 – Steve Smith concedes Australia’s first home Test loss to England since 2011
A rare two-day finish at the MCG prompts a wider debate
Two-day finishes at the MCG are rare and often marked by extraordinary circumstances. While some observers likened the match to the classic bowler-friendly Tests of yesteryear, many felt the contest crossed the line, depriving fans of a long-lasting game at one of cricket’s most iconic venues.
The independence exercised by Australian curators has also become a subject of debate, with Stokes pointing to a double standard in how pitches are judged globally. He emphasized that while the conditions cannot be changed once the match starts, the marquee fixtures deserve surfaces that allow fair competition between bat and ball.
