The Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), the ground for the Boxing Day Ashes 2025-26 Test, received an unsatisfactory rating after the match ended in two days.

The surface at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, which hosted the fourth Ashes Test, has been declared 'unsatisfactory' by the ICC Surface and Outfield Monitoring Process, earning the venue one penalty point.

Jeff Crowe of the ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees presented the ruling, outlining the reasoning behind the pitch rating.

“The MCG pitch was too much in favor of the bowlers. 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,” Crowe explained his ruling as quoted by ICC.

England won the toss and put Australia in to bat and bowled them out for 152, with Josh Tongue taking a five-wicket haul. However, England itself failed to take advantage of it and was bowled out for 110 runs, with Michael Neser taking four wickets and Scott Boland taking three wickets.

Australia’s second innings began on day one itself, but thanks to Brydon Carse’s four and Ben Stokes’ three scalps, the hosts could only make 132 runs. Travis Head had top-scored with 46 runs.

Set 175 runs to win, Jacob Bethell made 40, while openers Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett made 37 and 34, respectively. Though they lost a wicket, England managed to win the game by 4 wickets.

The fourth Ashes Test ended in just two days of play, with spectators seeing 36 wickets fall in 142 overs. This was England's first Test victory in Australia since 2011, but Australia retained the Ashes after winning the first three tests.

The final test of the series will be played in Sydney on January 4.

(ICC inputs)