Ashes 2025 / England Clinches Historic Win, But Ben Stokes Slams MCG Pitch

The England cricket team secured a significant 4-wicket victory over Australia in the fourth Test match held in Melbourne. This win wasn't only a matter of pride for England in the ongoing Ashes. Series but also marked their first Test triumph on Australian soil in nearly 15 years. Ending a long wait of 5468 days, this achievement is a testament to the team's resilience. However, despite this memorable win, English captain Ben Stokes expressed his displeasure, and the reason for his unhappiness was the pitch at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).

The Disappointing End to a Boxing Day Test

For England, this victory was more than just a match win; it symbolized a return to form in Test cricket on Australian ground, while after a protracted wait of 5468 days, or roughly a decade and a half, England finally tasted success in a Test match in Australia. This highlights the immense challenge of securing a win on Australian pitches. Although Ben Stokes's England side had already lost the Ashes series, this win in Melbourne was crucial for team morale and allowed them to salvage some pride in the series. It must have brought significant relief to the players, especially after such a prolonged period without a victory there. As is tradition, the iconic 'Boxing Day Test' was played at the MCG this year, an event that typically draws massive crowds and is a highlight of the cricket calendar.

The match, which commenced on Friday, December 26, concluded remarkably quickly on Saturday, December 27, lasting only two days, while in total, merely 142 overs were bowled throughout the entire contest, during which 36 wickets fell. Neither team managed to score 200 runs, and no batsman registered a half-century, while the swift conclusion of the match proved to be deeply disappointing for cricket fans, particularly because the 'Boxing Day' Test usually attracts the highest attendance, with spectators anticipating five days of thrilling action.

Ben Stokes's Unhappiness and Sharp Criticism

Given the series' context and the historical record of the past decade and a half, this was a positive outcome for England. However, captain Ben Stokes remained unimpressed. Speaking to the media after the match, Stokes described such encounters as detrimental to the sport. He unequivocally stated, “Honestly, you don't want this at all, while you wouldn't want a Boxing Day Test to end in 2 days. It's not ideal, but once the match starts, you've to play with whatever situation is in front of you. ” Stokes didn't stop there; he subtly referenced the controversies surrounding pitches in other parts of the world, including India and South Asia, to critique the MCG pitch. He remarked, “I'm pretty sure if this happened anywhere else in the world, there would have been an uproar. It's not good for a match that should last 5 days. But we played in a way that got the job done. ” These comments raise serious questions about the pitch's quality.

Questions Over Pitch Quality and Fan Experience

Ben Stokes's remarks directly challenge the quality of the MCG pitch. A Test match concluding in just two days, with no team surpassing 200 runs and no batsman scoring a half-century, clearly indicates that the pitch failed to provide a balanced contest between bat and ball. Such pitches are generally not considered conducive to the spirit of the game or spectator enjoyment, while for a major event like the 'Boxing Day' Test, where thousands of fans are present in the stadium and millions watch on television, a short match not only disappoints fans but also negatively impacts the commercial aspects of cricket. It raises the fundamental question of whether such pitches meet the standards expected of Test cricket.

Second Such Instance in the Current Ashes Series

The Melbourne Test match concluded in just 852 balls, making it the fourth shortest Test in Ashes history, while what is particularly surprising and concerning for Australia is that two of these four shortest matches have occurred in the current Ashes series. The very first Test of this series, played in Perth, also ended quickly in just 847 balls, with Australia defeating England within two days. That match also generated considerable controversy regarding the pitch. While the ICC match referee rated the Perth Stadium pitch as good, all eyes are now on how the MCG pitch will be rated, while it will be interesting to see what decision the ICC makes regarding this pitch, especially in light of Captain Stokes's sharp criticisms.

"If that was somewhere else in the world, you know, there'd be hell on"

The captains share their opinions on the spicy MCG pitch 👀 #Ashes pic.twitter.com/XwhX3mexIB

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 27, 2025