MCG Curator Matthew Fox Shocked by Two-Day Ashes Test

The recent Ashes Test held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) ended after just two days, leading to significant criticism of the pitch. MCG curator Matthew Fox expressed his shock at this outcome, as the match did not unfold as expected.

Previous Pitch Criticism

This is not the first time the MCG pitch has faced scrutiny. In the 2017 Ashes Test, only 24 wickets fell, with England’s Alastair Cook scoring an unbeaten 244 runs. Many deemed the conditions unhelpful for bowlers, resulting in a lackluster contest.

Pitches Under Review

Stuart Fox, CEO of the Melbourne Cricket Club, indicated that pitch reviews have taken place since 2017. He noted the grass height on several MCG pitches varied significantly. For example, last year’s pitch hosted a Test between Australia and India with 7mm of grass and extended into the fifth day.

• This year, the pitch featured 10mm of grass, selected due to a forecast of high temperatures.
• Temperatures were expected to soar to 32°C on Monday, the fourth day.

Attendance and Financial Implications

Over 190,000 fans attended the MCG during the opening two days, making day three a complete sell-out. Such attendance hinted at the potential for breaking the Ashes attendance record. However, Cricket Australia faced revenue challenges as they are not insured against financial losses linked to this Test.

The projected loss of A$10 million, while significant, represents a small fraction of the estimated A$600 million revenue forecast for the financial year.

Response from Cricket Authorities

Fox mentioned discussions about arranging an exhibition match involving players on day three to compensate ticket-holders and broadcasters. However, those discussions did not advance enough to be conveyed to the England team.

“We had alternatives discussed,” Fox noted. “There was talk of players coming out and having a hit, but that didn’t get up.”

Looking Ahead

Fox maintained his confidence in Matthew Page, the groundsman, stating he considers Page the best in Australia. “We didn’t plan for this and we didn’t want this to happen,” Fox said. He acknowledged the frustration among fans and Cricket Australia due to the match’s premature conclusion.

In a positive note, Fox confirmed that perishable food prepared for the Boxing Day Test would be donated to a local charity, benefiting the community amid the disappointment of the short Test.