Cricket Australia chief Todd Greenberg mentioned on Saturday that quick Exams have been dangerous for enterprise as a few of the greatest names within the recreation attacked the state of the Melbourne Cricket Floor pitch.
Twenty wickets tumbled on day one of many fourth Check between Australia and England on Friday, with the previous dismissed for 152 and the latter simply 110.
Six extra wickets fell on the second day’s morning session, with Australia 98 for six at lunch, that means 26 wickets had fallen in 98 overs and 4 classes.
It was essentially the most wickets to fall on the primary day of an Ashes Check since 1909, and got here on the again of 19 wickets being taken on day one of many series-opener in Perth.
The Perth Check led to two days, costing Cricket Australia hundreds of thousands of {dollars} in misplaced income, with Melbourne additionally shaping as a serious dent to the governing physique’s funds.
“I didn’t sleep properly final night time, put it that approach,” Greenberg mentioned on SEN radio after greater than 94,000 packed into the MCG for Friday’s first day.
“It was an incredible day of Check cricket, so for that document quantity of people that have been right here, boy, they’ve had an expertise.
“However our problem is to verify we will proceed these experiences day after day. That’s the problem for all of us.”
The Melbourne pitch was ready with 10 millimetres of grass on the wicket, making it closely beneficial for the bowlers with loads of motion and bounce underneath overcast skies.
Greenberg mentioned a development in direction of shorter Check matches was not in Cricket Australia’s curiosity.
“A easy phrase I’d use is brief Exams are dangerous for enterprise. I can’t be far more blunt than that,” he mentioned.
“So I want to see a barely broader steadiness between the bat and the ball.”
A number of former greats have been vital of the Melbourne pitch, with former England captain Michael Vaughan on Saturday calling it “a joke”.
“That is promoting the sport quick,” he added, whereas one other ex-England skipper, Alastair Prepare dinner, branded it “an unfair contest”.
Curators in Australia are historically impartial in terms of getting ready pitches, each from captains and Cricket Australia.
Greenberg recommended a extra interventionist strategy is perhaps wanted.
“It’s exhausting to not get extra concerned if you see the affect on the game, particularly commercially, he mentioned.
“I’m not suggesting I’ll go round speaking to floor employees, however we do must have a cautious eye on what our expectations are over the course of a summer season.”
Printed on Dec 27, 2025