This year’s Boxing Day Test match between Australia and England at the Melbourne Cricket Ground ended in under two days. This gritty finish resulted in the first instance in 129 years of a single Test series being comprised of more than one two-day Test. The match’s swift conclusion has sparked significant debate regarding pitch conditions and player performance, leaving both teams and cricket officials reflecting on the implications.
England’s captain Ben Stokes expressed his discontent with the game’s rapid finish. He underscored the point that players and fans both enjoy games that last longer than two days. Stokes noted that the pitch has done too much for the bowlers in the first two days. This made for a dangerous double-whammy for batters.
“Being brutally honest, that’s not really what you want,” – Ben Stokes
The design of the MCG pitch is drawing fire already. Curator Matt Page took the controversial decision to keep 10mm of grass on the surface. Page was looking forward to some hot weather over the next few days and hoping that would help improve the state of the pitch. This decision led to an exciting day’s play that culminated in a rush of wickets at both ends.
Reactions from Players
Numerous high-profile former and current cricketers have condemned the state of the pitches. Australian bowlers Stuart Broad, Glenn McGrath and Brett Lee have all condemned the pitch as dangerous and unfair to batters. Their concerns doubled back on the feelings of either squad, as almost all the players considered it deadly to bat on.
Travis Head, an Australian batsman, expressed sympathy for Page, acknowledging the difficulties faced by curators in preparing pitches that balance both batting and bowling.
“I feel for him, it’s bloody tough,” – Travis Head
Head further described how even small changes in the height of the grass would have unmanageable results. He pointed out that top-class bowling can take advantage of even the smallest flaws in the pitch.
“You leave one or two millimetres [of grass] on with high-quality bowling, and you find yourself short, and you take two or three mills off with high-quality batting, and you go the other way,” – Travis Head
Alongside his excellent commentary on the pitch, Stokes provided an interesting reflection on how these same conditions made the game one of equal difficulty for both teams. He pointed out that no player wants their match to conclude so early. In doing so, he underscored the unique nature of these circumstances in the context of professional cricket.
Cricket Australia Faces Financial Fallout
An immediate and emphatic win for England that sent Cricket Australia reeling. With day three of the match still pending, the organization is looking ahead to a substantial financial loss as it faces ticket refunds. Get ready for millions of dollars to be returned to patrons. They could have bought their tickets in advance, anticipating a more extended competition. The organization’s new leadership will have to contend with the lingering effects of this shocking result.
In response, Stuart Fox, Cricket Australia’s own CEO, backed up Matt Page and his team, doubling down on their experience and skill at pitch preparation. He praised Page as one of the best curators in the country and expressed confidence in his ability to respond positively to criticism.
“We brought Matt on eight years ago because he’s considered one of the best in the country, if not the best,” – Stuart Fox
Fox also specifically pointed out how Page’s decisions made or broke the match’s fate. He was quick to highlight the part played by some downright brutal English batting in the rapid shedding of wickets. Brilliant bowling combined with aggressive batting produced a rare outcome. This unexpected outcome raised interesting questions on the shifting conditions at work.
“When you believe in your people, you get behind them and support them and I know he’ll respond,” – Stuart Fox
Preparing for the Final Test
Both sides were afforded an additional three days to prepare for the fifth and final Test. It’ll be held at the Sydney Cricket Ground, kicking off on January 4. This innovation of extended preparation time will give players an opportunity to recalculate their best strategies and adjust to surprising changes in conditions.
Further debates have continued, including around standards for the pitch, different replays of matches missed or affected by the protests. Players and officials are keen to make sure that subsequent matches provide a good balance between batters and bowlers. The eye now turns to ensuring the appropriate tweaks are made to ensure play conditions are best suited ahead of new tests.
