Tag: MCG

The Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) has been rated ‘unsatisfactory’ by the International Cricket Council (ICC) following the conclusion of the fourth Ashes Test, with the iconic venue receiving one demerit point under the ICC Pitch and Outfield Monitoring Process.

The assessment was delivered by Emirates ICC Elite Panel match referee Jeff Crowe, who pointed to the extreme imbalance between bat and ball as the key factor behind the decision.

According to Crowe, the surface offered excessive assistance to bowlers throughout the match, resulting in a rapid collapse of innings on both sides.

“The MCG pitch was heavily in favour of the bowlers. With 20 wickets falling on the first day, 16 on the second, and no batter reaching a half-century, the pitch was deemed ‘Unsatisfactory’ under ICC guidelines,” Crowe explained.

The match statistics reflected those concerns. England, after winning the toss, opted to bowl first and made immediate inroads.

Josh Tongue spearheaded the attack with a superb spell of 5 for 45, as Australia were skittled for 152 in their first innings.

Batting proved just as treacherous for England, who were bundled out for 110 inside 30 overs, despite the modest total on offer.

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Australia were then forced to bat again on the opening day itself, but the struggles continued, with the hosts managing only 132 in their second innings. Travis Head’s 46 stood out as the highest individual score of the match.

England eventually chased down the target in 32.2 overs, losing six wickets in the process, with Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett and Jacob Bethell making valuable contributions in testing conditions.

The fourth Ashes Test concluded in just two days, with a staggering 36 wickets falling across 142 overs and no batter managing to register a half-century, a rare occurrence at one of cricket’s most celebrated venues.

Despite the defeat, Australia had already retained the Ashes, having taken an unassailable 3–0 lead by winning the opening three Tests.

For England, the victory marked their first Test win on Australian soil since 2011, providing a rare highlight in an otherwise difficult tour.

The series will wrap up with the fifth and final Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground, scheduled to begin on January 4.

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MELBOURNE: The curator of the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) Matt Page said he was left shocked and disappointed after the fourth Ashes Test ended inside two days.

With the series already done and dusted, the fourth Test — like the first Test also concluded within two days as England managed to register their win in Australia since 2011.

Following the result, former and current cricketers criticised the pitch behaviour and called for a better balance between bat and ball.

Page admitted that he was disappointed with the outcome of the Boxing Day Test, which drew a record crowd on the opening day, but failed to last beyond two days.

“I was in a state of shock after the first day, to see everything that happened, 20 wickets in a day,” he said. “I’ve never been involved in a Test match like it, and hopefully never involved in a Test match like it again.

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Reflecting on the pitch conditions in th recent years, Page reiterated the need to strike a balance between batters and bowlers.

“Every year is different and the margins are very small, but in the back of your mind, you’re always trying to provide that contest. We’re about trying to provide captivating Test cricket, that balance between bat and ball going four or five days,” he remarked.

“We’ve produced a Test that’s been captivating, but it hasn’t gone long enough, and we’ll take ownership of that. We’ll learn from it, we’ll grow, and we’ll make sure that we’ll get it right next year,” he added.

The curator also recalled the 2017 flat deck and stressed the importance of seam movement to avoid lifeless pitches.

“We don’t want to go back to where we were in 2017,” he said, referring to the Test in which former English skipper Alastair Cook scored an unbeaten 244.

“If we don’t have seam movement here at the MCG, we become very dull, very lifeless and very flat, which is no good for the players, no good for the spectators, and no good for the game,” Matt Page concluded.

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Pakistan’s Punjabi folk icon Arif Lohar, who is currently in Australia these days, visited the historic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).

Pakistani folk music legend soaking in the rich history and atmosphere of the venue. During his tour, he explored the dressing rooms and learned about the ground’s significance from the MCG tour guide.

The guide shared insights into Pakistan’s cricketing history at the MCG, including the 1992 World Cup final and the team’s last Test match played under Shan Masood’s leadership.

With the Pakistan team set to play a white-ball series match at the MCG in November, Arif Lohar’s visit marks an exciting moment for cricket and music fans alike.

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Currently on tour in Australia, Arif Lohar is spreading Pakistani culture and music across the globe, with his popular songs like “Jugni Ge” and “Aa Tenu Moaj” being loved by fans everywhere.

It’s worth noting that Cricket Australia (CA) has announced plans to set up dedicated Pakistan fan zones for the upcoming white-ball series.

The five venues in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, Hobart and Adelaide will feature fan zones designated for Pakistani fans.

CA will set up designated seating areas for Pakistan fans, where they can comfortably watch the high-intensity action while enjoying halal food, and desi cuisines. Pakistan fan zones will also have designated prayer areas for fans.

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Australia will host arch-rivals England in a one-off match at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in March 2027 to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Test cricket.

The birth of Test cricket took place at the same location in March 1877, with Australia and England facing off in an epic battle. The hosts emerged victorious by a 45-run margin.

A century later, in 1977, these two cricketing nations came together once again for the Centenary Test, commemorating 100 years of their historic rivalry.

Australia once again triumphed, mirroring their earlier feat by winning with a 45-run margin. These two matches remain iconic moments in the history of Test cricket.

“The 150th anniversary Test match at the MCG in March 2027 will be a wonderful celebration of the pinnacle format of the game at one of the world’s great sporting arenas and we can’t wait to host England on that occasion,” said CA CEO Nick Hockley.

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Meanwhile, Cricket Australia (CA) also announced the hosting rights for men’s international Tests, ODIs, T20Is, and other matches for the upcoming seven years, ranging from 2024-25 to 2030-31.

The iconic Boxing Day Test in Melbourne and the New Year’s Test in Sydney have been guaranteed until the 2030-31 season.

Additionally, Adelaide is set to host a pre-Christmas Test for the next seven years, a result of South Australia’s successful bid for the New Year’s Test.

“We are enormously grateful for the strong support of state and territory governments and venue operators who will help us to deliver brilliant experiences across the country and maximise economic impact from these major events,” Hockley stated.

“We are delighted to confirm long-term hosting rights which provide certainty around the locations of some fantastic cricket over the next seven years.

“We are confident this schedule ensures the best cricket will be played in the best venues at the right times across the country, including a fantastic mix of iconic Test matches, new blockbusters such as the West Test and Christmas Test and exciting day-night fixtures.”

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