The Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) has been handed an ‘unsatisfactory’ pitch rating by the International Cricket Council (ICC) match referee following the fourth Ashes Test of the 2025-26 series, a game that ended inside two days with a staggering 36 wickets falling. The verdict represents a rare black mark against one of cricket’s most storied venues and has triggered internal reviews ahead of the next Test in Sydney.
The match statistics told a blunt story. Australia were dismissed for 152 and 132, while England collapsed for 110 in their first innings, as bowlers dominated proceedings from the opening session to the final ball.
ICC pitch rating system: How surfaces are judged?
In November 2023, the ICC streamlined its pitch assessment framework, reducing ratings to four categories (with three for outfields):
- Very good: A balanced surface offering consistent bounce and carry, limited early seam, and natural spin later in the match.
- Satisfactory: Acceptable for competitive cricket, with minor inconsistencies but no excessive bias towards bat or ball.
- Unsatisfactory: Excessive seam movement, uneven bounce, one-sided assistance, or rapid deterioration – resulting in one demerit point.
- Unfit: Dangerous or unplayable conditions that compromise player safety – earning three demerit points.
Demerit points are tracked over a five-year rolling period. A venue accumulating five or more points faces suspension from hosting international matches for 12 months, while 10 points triggers a 24-month ban.
Why the MCG surface was rated ‘unsatisfactory’?
Match referees assess pitches using a standardised report that tracks bounce, seam movement, wear and overall balance across the match. In this case, the MCG surface was deemed to have failed the fairness test.
The pitch featured around 10mm of grass, producing extreme seam movement throughout the contest. Rather than easing as the match progressed, conditions remained hostile for batters, leading to erratic bounce and exaggerated lateral movement that consistently favoured fast bowlers.
Despite pre-match requests from both captains for a balanced wicket, the surface delivered a one-sided contest where survival, rather than skill, defined batting. Officials concluded that while the pitch was not dangerous, it did not provide a fair contest between bat and ball, warranting the ‘unsatisfactory’ label.
A rare demerit for an iconic venue
First such rating in years for the MCG
The MCG has historically enjoyed a strong reputation for producing competitive Test wickets, making this assessment particularly notable. This is the first unsatisfactory rating for the venue in several years, underlining the seriousness of the ICC’s findings.
While a single demerit point does not place the MCG in immediate danger of sanctions, it serves as a formal warning and puts future preparations under closer scrutiny.
