MCG Pitch Receives Worst Ever Rating From ICC

'Extremely disappointing.'


Article heading image for MCG Pitch Receives Worst Ever Rating From ICC

Image: Getty

The MCG pitch is officially on notice after copping a poor rating from the International Cricket Council.

After the fourth Ashes Test crawled to a draw in which just 24 wickets fell over five days, the MCG copped what is now the worst-ever rating for an Australian fixture.

No other pitch in Australia has ever received such a rating from the ICC for an international fixture, while the last Test to see the same rating was for Australia's win over India last February, which ended in three days.

Because of this the MCG is likely to receive a warning rather than a financial sanction, according to Cricket Australia.

“We were disappointed that the traditional characteristics of the MCG Pitch did not come to the fore during the Boxing Day Test,” Cricket Australia CEO James Sutherland said.

 

“Such a rating is extremely disappointing for all involved.

“We’ll be taking on board advice from the ICC, players and relevant experts to work with the Melbourne Cricket Club to ensure this rating is not repeated.”

ICC match referee Ranjan Madugalle was concerned about how the pitch did not deteriorate.

"The bounce of the MCG pitch was medium, but slow in pace and got slower as the match progressed. The nature of the pitch did not change over the five days and there was no natural deterioration," he said.

"As such, the pitch did not allow an even contest between the bat and the ball as it neither favoured the batsmen too much nor it gave the bowlers sufficient opportunity to take wickets."

Had the Test been held just days later, the ICC's revised pitch rating system would have seen the MCG receive demerit points.

The new system, which takes effect this year, sees venues receive two demerit points for a pitch deemed below average, three demerit points for a pitch deemed poor - such as this one - and five for a pitch rated unfit.

Any venue that receives five demerit points over a five-year period is banned from hosting international fixtures for 12 months, while 10 demerit points equals a two-year ban.

Ethan Meldrum

2 January 2018

Article by:

Ethan Meldrum




Listen Live!

Up Next