Matt Page, chief curator of the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), was left in a "state of shock" after Australia and England's fourth Ashes 2025-26 Test at the venue finished in two days.  

On Day 1, twenty wickets fell, for a total of 36 wickets in the two-day match. Following England's victory, some veteran cricketers expressed their disappointment with the pace-friendly track, which produced no fifties for the hitters.

"I was in a state of shock after the first day to see everything that happened. Twenty wickets in a day-I have never been involved in a Test match like it, and hopefully never will be again.

It was a rollercoaster ride for two days to see everything unfold. But we will learn from it, we will grow from it, we will get better at it, just like we have over the past years. I have no doubt we will come back bigger, better, and stronger than we have done," Page told Kayo Sports.

Page outlined the rationale behind creating a bowler-friendly pitch, despite his disappointment that the Test finished in just two days.

"This year, we have produced a pitch that has favoured the bowlers more than the batters. We had a lot of hot weather leading into last year, which makes it easier for us to control our moisture leading in. We left more moisture on the top of the pitch last year to provide that contest early in the game.

We felt that we had the balance really good leading into that game. This year we went in with 10 millimetres as we knew we were going to get a lot of hot weather at the back end of the game," he added.

This MCG win ended England’s 15-year wait for an Ashes Test win in Australia, as they won the match by 4 wickets. The fifth and final Test will be played in Sydney from January 4 onwards.