A total of 20 wickets tumbled on Day 1 of the fourth Ashes Test between Australia and England at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground.
The hosts were bowled out for 152 after being invited to bat first on a green wicket offering substantial sideways movement for pace bowlers. In response, the Three Lions fared even worse and ended up conceding a handy first-innings lead of 42 runs.
Six more wickets fell on the second day’s morning session as Australia’s second innings eventually folded for 132, setting a target of 175 for the visitors.
The Melbourne pitch was prepared with 10 millimetres of grass on the wicket, making it heavily favourable for the bowlers. It is evident from the fact that no batter has managed to hit a half-century across the three innings so far.
Notably, Cricket Australia faced a huge financial setback after the Ashes opener at Perth ended inside two days. The Boxing Day Test is now heading towards the same direction and it might cost the governing body millions of dollars again.
Australia have already retained the urn after crushing eight-wicket victories in Perth and Brisbane and an 82-run win in Adelaide, with England desperate to salvage pride in Melbourne.
The Ben Stokes-led side was 154/4 at the time of writing, needing 21 more runs to win the fourth Ashes Test.
Meanwhile, members of the cricket fraternity minced no words in criticism of the MCG surface on social media.
Here are the reactions:
