Stand-in Australia captain Steve Smith has pointed to a highly unusual turning point for his side's defeat in the fourth Ashes Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), suggesting a six smashed into an LED screen altered the course of the match.
The Controversial Turning Point
Smith believes a powerful shot from England opener Zak Crawley in the fourth over of the tourists' second innings was pivotal. The ball was hammered for six straight into the LED signage beyond the boundary rope. According to Smith, this impact significantly softened the seam of the ball, making it less responsive for Australia's bowlers and consequently easier for England's batters to handle during their chase of 175 runs.
"A couple of their heavy blows softened our seam quite a bit and probably didn't offer quite as much as it had for the rest of the game after that," Smith stated in the post-match analysis. He specifically highlighted Crawley's strike: "I think Zak hit one into the LED boards, and that definitely softened the seam, no doubt about it."
England's Chase and the Pitch Debate
Despite Smith's unique assessment, England's victory was hard-fought. Openers Crawley and Ben Duckett set a blistering platform with a stand of 51, adopting the aggressive 'Bazball' philosophy. Although they lost six wickets in the process, a decisive boundary from Harry Brook sealed a first win of the series for England, settling the contest in just two days.
England captain Ben Stokes credited the openers, saying, "That opening partnership between Zak and Ducky was a huge, huge reason as to why we chased that total down." He added that their intent to apply pressure from the first ball was the only viable approach.
Smith's focus on the ball has drawn attention away from widespread criticism of the MCG pitch itself. The wicket has been condemned for being excessively bowler-friendly, a factor blamed for the two-day finish which reportedly cost Cricket Australia around $10 million in lost revenue.
Series Conclusion Awaits in Sydney
With the result, Australia's lead in the five-match series stands at 3-1. Attention now shifts to the traditional New Year's Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), which begins on January 4. The final match offers England a chance to secure a second victory and conclude a hard-fought tour on a higher note, while Australia will aim to emphatically clinch the series 4-1.
