'Unsatisfactory' pitch: Will MCG face ban after demerit point? What ICC rule says
"The pitch at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the venue for the fourth Ashes Test, has been deemed ‘Unsatisfactory’ with the venue handed one demerit point under the ICC Pitch and Outfield Monitoring Process," the ICC said in a statement. An unsatisfactory rating is the third level in the ICC’s four-tier system.
Australia's Steve Smith, center, watches a deliver from England's Brydon Carse, left, on Day 2 of their Ashes cricket test match in Melbourne, Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025. (AP Photo)
The ICC on Monday rated the pitch used for the fourth Ashes Test between Australia and England at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) as unsatisfactory and handed the venue one demerit point.
The decision followed match referee Jeff Crowe’s assessment that the pitch was "too much in favour of the bowlers".England won the Test by four wickets, with the match finishing inside two days. Twenty wickets fell on the opening day of the Test.
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"The pitch at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the venue for the fourth Ashes Test, has been deemed ‘Unsatisfactory’ with the venue handed one demerit point under the ICC Pitch and Outfield Monitoring Process," the ICC said in a statement.Crowe explained the reasoning behind the rating in his report."The MCG pitch was too much in favour of the bowlers. 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," he said.
What does it mean?
Under ICC rules, pitches are rated as very good, satisfactory, unsatisfactory or unfit. If a venue accumulates six demerit points within a rolling five-year period, it faces a 12-month ban from hosting international matches.
An unsatisfactory rating is the third level in the ICC’s four-tier system and applies to a pitch that "does not allow an even contest between bat and ball… by favouring the bowlers too much, with too many wicket-taking opportunities for either seam or spin". The MCG had received a "very good" rating for the previous three Boxing Day Tests.The first Test of the series in Perth, which also ended in two days, received a "very good" rating despite Australia winning that match.The Melbourne pitch drew criticism during the Test, with England captain Ben Stokes saying it was not good for the game. Cricket Australia said it was bad for business.Across the match, 36 wickets fell in 142 overs, with no batter reaching fifty. England’s win reduced the series deficit to 3-1 with one Test remaining.The early finish is expected to impact Cricket Australia financially. A sell-out crowd of more than 90,000 was expected on day three, and the lack of play is likely to lead to refunds and losses in merchandise, food and beverage sales.The final Test of the series will be played in Sydney, starting on January 4.