The Melbourne pitch for the farcical Boxing Day Test has been officially graded “unsatisfactory” by the match officials.
The two-day Boxing Day clash was won by England, but at a cost, with Gus Atkinson becoming the third member of their fast-bowling battery to be ruled out of the Ashes tour. He will play no part in the Sydney Test because of a hamstring injury, meaning Matthew Potts is likely to make his Ashes debut.
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There has also been a cost to the finances – to the tune of £12.5m – and pride of Australian cricket, with the Melbourne Cricket Ground pitch officially criticised by the International Cricket Council. The MCG groundsman, Matt Page, was hauled in front of the media on Sunday morning, with match referee Jeff Crowe’s rating of “unsatisfactory” arriving on Monday.
“The MCG pitch was too much in favour of the bowlers,” Crowe said in an ICC statement.
“With 20 wickets falling on the first day, 16 on the second day and no batter even reaching a half-century, the pitch was ‘Unsatisfactory’ as per the guidelines and the venue gets one demerit point.”
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Steve Smith takes evasive action during the fourth Ashes Test at the MCG – Getty Images/William West
The ICC’s pitch rating system has changed since the MCG received a “poor” grade for the 2017 Ashes Test in which Sir Alastair Cook carried his bat for a record 244 and just 24 wickets fell in five days. Now, “unsatisfactory” is the second-lowest grade, above only “unfit”. The Melbourne pitch has received the lowest rating since the change was made by the ICC.
The rating is in stark contrast to the “very good” grade handed to the Perth Stadium pitch that also provided a two-day finish, and that rating was followed by a proud statement from Cricket Australia. This time, CA was “disappointed for fans … that the pitch did not provide the MCG’s customary balance between bat and ball”.
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All eyes now turn to Sydney, where the fifth Test starts on January 4.
Atkinson injured with Potts his likely replacement
England will be without Atkinson, who suffered a hamstring injury on the second day of the Boxing Day Test. He underwent a scan on Sunday, and the end of his tour has now been confirmed.
This means Potts is likely to come into England’s attack in Sydney, with Surrey’s Matthew Fisher the only other possibility. They have opted not to call up another bowler, meaning their squad is now just 14 strong.
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Potts has been on tour throughout but is yet to play. He has played 10 Tests, but none in 2025, and should offer control with the new ball alongside Brydon Carse and Josh Tongue, who was man of the match in Melbourne.
Matthew Potts has not played an Ashes Test but averages 29.44 with 36 wickets from 10 Tests – PA/Robbie Stephenson
Atkinson joins Mark Wood, who was injured in Perth, and Jofra Archer, who succumbed to a side strain in Adelaide on the sidelines. It leaves England’s long-term plan to hit Australia with pace in tatters.
England managed well without Atkinson in Melbourne, with Carse, Tongue and Ben Stokes bowling beautifully to limit their fourth-innings target to just 175, which they chased six wickets down. Stokes appeared to be nursing a groin injury, but appears on course to play in Sydney.
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This is Atkinson’s second hamstring injury of the year. The first, suffered against Zimbabwe, was to his right hamstring, but this is his left. He picked up six wickets in three Tests in Australia, but often bowled better than his figures suggested.
England may consider bringing Shoaib Bashir in for Will Jacks, given the pitch for the final Test is likely to be flatter following the two-day debacle at the MCG, and Sydney’s history of helping spinners.
Despite long gaps between the first three Tests, Australia have also been ravaged by bowling injuries, with Josh Hazlewood out for the whole series, Pat Cummins playing just one match, and Nathan Lyon two.
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