ICC rates MCG pitch 'unsatisfactory' after two-day Test

THE Melbourne Cricket Ground's seam-friendly pitch for the fourth Ashes Test was rated "unsatisfactory" yesterday by the International Cricket Council after the match ended inside two days.

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Under the world governing body's four-tier rating system, "unsatisfactory" is the second-lowest grade, characterising a pitch "favouring the bowlers too much".

It broke the venue's streak of "very good" ratings for the past three Boxing Day Tests and earned it one demerit point. “The MCG pitch was too much in favour of the bowlers,” said match referee Jeff Crowe.

“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.”

England beat Australia by four wickets in the final session of day two, with no batsman scoring more than 46 across the four innings. The first Test in Perth also ended in two days, but that pitch was rated “very good” by the ICC.