Ashes 2025-26: Ben Stokes and Steve Smith criticize MCG pitch after 4th Test ends in two days
England scored a stunning four-wicket victory against Australia in the fourth ashes test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), but the result was quickly overshadowed by heavy criticism of the ground after the match ended midway through the second day. A total of 36 wickets fell over two days with neither team making an innings score of 200, prompting both captains to condemn the surface used for the iconic Boxing Day Test.
Bowler-friendly MCG pitch dominates contest
The match, part of the 2025-26 Ashes series, saw the seam bowlers dominate from the opening session. Australia were dismissed for 152 in the first innings and fared little better in the second, folding for 132. England, despite struggling with the bat and being bowled out for 110, managed to reach a modest target of 175 to seal victory.
The unusually short Test immediately attracted attention, with fans and pundits wondering how a showpiece match at the MCG could end so quickly. It was England’s first Test victory on Australian soil since 2011, but even that milestone could not mask concerns over the playing conditions.
Ben Stokes expresses his strong disapproval of the surface
Captain of England Ben Stokes was frank in his assessment of the pitch, revealing that his comments to the match referee were “not very favorable.” Speaking after the match, Stokes said the surface had not lived up to the expectations associated with a Boxing Day Test.
“To be completely honest, that’s not really what you want,” Stokes said. “For a Boxing Day Test match, you don’t expect a match to be over in less than two days.”
Stokes went further, suggesting that the reaction would have been much harsher if such a speech had been produced outside Australia. “It would be hell if this pitch had been produced elsewhere” he told the BBC, highlighting the imbalance that saw 36 wickets fall without a single innings breaking 200.
Steve Smith admits pitch offered excessive help to bowlers
Australian stand-in skipper Steve Smith echoed Stokes’ sentiments, admitting the surface provided too much help to the bowlers. Smith pointed to the amount of grass left on the field as a key factor in excessive seam movement throughout the game.
“When you see 36 wickets over two days, it’s probably too many,” Smith said. “It probably did a little more than they wanted. Maybe if we cut it down to eight millimeters it would be about right.”
Smith acknowledged that both teams struggled to adjust, with hitters rarely getting a chance to settle in as the ball continued to pinch.
Reflecting on Australia’s two batting collapses, Smith felt the lack of meaningful partnerships was preventing the game from evolving. “If we could have built a few of those partnerships, maybe the ball would have softened a bit and the game would have been a bit easier,” he explained.
The incessant help to the seamers meant that the batters were under constant threat, turning what is usually a five-day spectacle into a frenetic, stop-start contest dominated by the bowlers.
Also READ: Ashes 2025/26 – Steve Smith opens up on Australia’s first home Test defeat to England since 2011
Rare end to two days at MCG sparks wider debate
Two-day arrivals at the MCG are rare and extraordinary circumstances are often remembered. While some observers compared the match to classic Tests of the past, many felt this competition had crossed the line, depriving fans of extended play at one of cricket’s most famous venues.
The independence enjoyed by Australian curators has also become a topic of discussion, with Stokes alluding to double standards in how presentations are judged globally. He stressed that while conditions cannot be changed once the match begins, renowned facilities deserve surfaces that allow for fair competition between bat and ball.
Also READ: From Mitchell Starc to Dale Steyn – Top 5 bowlers with best strike rates in a calendar year in Tests
