The MCG Ashes 2025-26 Test ended in 2 days, giving England their first win in Australia after 14 years.
The Test match lasted only two days as Australia was dismissed for 152 and 132, and England made 110 and then successfully chased down a 175-run target with four wickets in hand. No batter was able to hit a half-century, while Josh Tongue took a fifer for England in the first innings of Australia, while Michael Neser took four wickets for Australia.
The pitch provided by the Melbourne Cricket Ground for the fourth Ashes 2025-26 Test has come under scrutiny after the contest finished in two days. The surface provided was a bowling heaven for pacers, with 10mm of grass remaining on it.
It concluded in 36 wickets falling in six sessions at the MCG, as England won the Test match by four wickets after a 14-year wait.
While the pitch is receiving a lot of criticism, famed India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has a different perspective. Ashwin said he would not criticise the pitch as both teams played in similar conditions.
"Let's take, for example, how the Test finished at Eden Gardens recently. We ourselves said it. Having played cricket for several years, we criticize ourselves justly for pitches. But the other countrymen are not doing the same. They are talking highly about themselves and lowly about us," Ashwin said in a video on his YouTube channel.
"Australia has produced Shane Warne and Nathan Lyon, but New Zealand and England haven't produced any great spinners yet. The beauty of Test cricket is to adapt to foreign conditions. I won't criticize the MCG pitch either because it's common for both teams. It was fun to watch. It was like watching a racing thriller film. But I feel double standards must be avoided," he added.
Australia had already sealed the series after winning the first three games. The fifth and final Test will begin on January 4 at the Sydney Cricket Ground.