ICC rates MCG pitch 'unsatisfactory' after two-day Test
The Melbourne Cricket Ground's seam-friendly pitch for the fourth Ashes Test was rated "unsatisfactory" Monday by the International Cricket Council after it ended inside two days.
The Melbourne Cricket Ground's seam-friendly pitch for the fourth Ashes Test was rated "unsatisfactory" Monday by the International Cricket Council after it ended inside two days.
Melbourne Cricket Ground head curator Matt Page said Sunday he was in a "state of shock" watching the carnage unfold during the two-day fourth Ashes Test which has left Cricket Australia facing millions of dollars in revenue shortfall.
Captain Steve Smith said Saturday that Australia had left themselves 60 runs short and could have taken a more aggressive batting approach, after they lost the fourth Test against England for a first home Ashes defeat in 15 years.
A fighting England won their first Test on Australian soil in 15 years Saturday, restoring their battered pride with a gutsy four-wicket victory to clinch a chaotic fourth Ashes clash that was all over inside two days.
An astounding 20 wickets fell on a frantic day one of the fourth Ashes Test on Friday with Australia all out for 152 before storming back to dismiss England for 110 and leave the clash on a knife-edge.
Australia will take an all-pace attack into the fourth Ashes Test, skipper Steve Smith said Thursday, while Josh Inglis was dropped with selectors preferring Usman Khawaja.
England pace spearhead Jofra Archer was ruled out of the rest of the Ashes series Wednesday with a side strain while batsman Ollie Pope was axed for the fourth Test against Australia.
England managing director Rob Key pledged Tuesday to investigate whether players' drinking on a mid-Ashes beach break went too far, after reports said it had been like a "stag-do."
Australia skipper Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon were on Tuesday ruled out of the final two Ashes Tests against England with the veteran spinner facing surgery and an extended period on the sidelines.
Former England cricket chief Andrew Strauss has warned that removing coach Brendon McCullum and captain Ben Stokes will not be enough to change a "depressingly one-sided story" in Australia following another painful Ashes defeat.
Australia captain Pat Cummins said it felt "pretty awesome" Sunday after his dominant team won the third Test in Adelaide to wrap up the Ashes in just 11 days of play after some dogged resistance from England's tail briefly threatened a great escape.
Danger man Travis Head crunched his fourth century in as many Tests at Adelaide Oval Friday as Australia built a 356-run lead over England to stand on the brink of retaining the Ashes.