The Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) It was given an “unsatisfactory” pitch rating by the International Cricket Council (ICC) match referee. fourth Ashes Test The 2025-26 series ended with a staggering 36 wickets falling in two days. The verdict represents a rare black mark against one of cricket’s top-flight venues and has sparked internal backlash ahead of the next Test in Sydney.
The match statistics told the blunt story. Australia were dismissed for 152 and 132The bowlers dominated proceedings from the opening session to the final ball as England were bowled out for 110 in their first innings.
ICC pitch rating system: How are pitches rated?
In November 2023, the ICC revised its pitch evaluation framework, reducing the ratings to four categories (three for outfield):
- Very good: A balanced surface that offers consistent bounce and carry, limited early seam and natural late-match spin.
- Satisfactory: Acceptable for competitive cricket, with minor inconsistencies but no extreme bias against bat or ball.
- Unsatisfactory: Excessive seam movement, uneven bounce, one-sided assistance or rapid deterioration – results in one negative point.
- Not eligible: Dangerous or impossible conditions that compromise the safety of players – earn three minus points.
Breakeven points are tracked over a five-year period. A venue with five or more points is banned from hosting international matches for 12 months, while 10 points leads to a 24-month ban.
Why is the MCG surface rated ‘unsatisfactory’?
Match umpires evaluate pitches using a standard report that tracks bounce, seam movement, wear and overall balance throughout the match. In this case, the MCG failed the surface fairness test.
The pitch had about 10mm of grass, which created extreme seam movement throughout the race. Instead of softening as the match progressed, the conditions remained hostile to batting, leading to erratic bounce and exaggerated lateral movement that consistently favored the fast bowlers.
Despite both captains’ pre-match demands for balanced wicketkeeping, the surface proved a one-sided contest where survival rather than skill determined the batting. Officials concluded that the pitch, while not dangerous, did not provide a fair contest between bat and ball, warranting an “unsatisfactory” label.
Also READ: Ashes 2025-26: Ben Stokes and Steve Smith hit the MCG pitch after the 4th Test ends two days later
A rare drawback for an iconic venue
The first such rating for the MCG in years
The MCG has historically had a strong reputation for producing competitive Test wickets, making this assessment particularly noteworthy. This is the first unsatisfactory rating for the venue in several years and underlines the severity of the ICC’s findings.
While a single demerit point does not put the MCG at risk of sanctions, it serves as an official warning and further scrutiny of future preparations.
Also READ: Ashes 2025/26 – Sunil Gavaskar slips up ICC pitching rankings after Melbourne Test ends in two days
