The head curator at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) will retain his position despite admitting his error was directly responsible for the Boxing Day Ashes Test concluding in a mere two days, a fiasco set to cost Cricket Australia a staggering financial loss.
A Costly Two-Day Spectacle
Cricket Australia is bracing for a heavy financial hit exceeding $10million after England secured victory in the fourth Test inside two days. This follows the series opener in Perth last month also finishing with three days to spare. It marks the first time in 129 years that the same Ashes series has witnessed multiple two-day Tests.
The abbreviated match triggered a wave of refunds for disgruntled fans. Patrons who had purchased tickets for the sold-out third day, which could have attracted a third consecutive crowd of over 90,000 spectators, will now receive their money back.
The Pitch Preparation Under Scrutiny
MCG curator Matt Page conceded he left 10mm of grass on the pitch, an increase from the 7mm used last year during Australia's famous fifth-day victory over India. Page explained his team was attempting to balance the contest between bat and ball across the full duration, accounting for forecast hot weather later in the match.
"We left it longer because we knew we were going to get hot weather at the back end," Page stated at a press conference. "You look back at it and you go, well, it's favoured the bowlers too much days one and two."
Despite Page's admission that the pitch preparation had short-changed fans, Melbourne Cricket Club CEO Stuart Fox offered his unequivocal support. "We brought Matt on eight years ago because he's considered one of the best in the country, if not the best. I still believe that," Fox asserted, adding that Page had "done a great job."
Widespread Criticism and Player Reaction
The treacherous batting conditions drew sharp criticism from across the cricket world, including from fast-bowling legends Stuart Broad, Glenn McGrath, and Brett Lee, who deemed it unfair to batters. Even victorious England captain Ben Stokes expressed his disappointment.
"Being brutally honest, that's not really what you want," Stokes said. "Boxing Day Test match, you don't want a game finishing in less than two days. Not ideal."
Australian batsman Travis Head, who top-scored in the match with just 46 runs, sympathised with Page's difficult position. "I feel for him, it's bloody tough," Head remarked. "You leave one or two millimetres on with high quality bowling, and you find yourself short."
Fox suggested that aggressive batting from both sides, as much as the pitch, contributed to the rapid fall of wickets. This sentiment was echoed by Steve Smith, who praised England's Harry Brook for his attacking approach. Brook scored 41 in the first innings and an unbeaten 18 in the run chase.
As a conciliatory gesture to fans, Australian players including Marnus Labuschagne returned to the MCG on Sunday to sign autographs. Both teams now have an unexpected three-day break before the fifth and final Test commences at the Sydney Cricket Ground on January 4.
