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Ashes Pitch 'A Joke': Vaughan Slams MCG After 26 Wickets Fall in 98 Overs

Former England captain Michael Vaughan has launched a scathing attack on the Melbourne Cricket Ground pitch. He called it a "joke" after a staggering 26 wickets fell in just 98 overs across the first two days of the fourth Ashes Test. Vaughan's criticism was echoed by Kevin Pietersen, who demanded Australia face the same scrutiny as India for producing bowler-friendly surfaces. On the field, England were chasing 175 after both teams' batting line-ups spectacularly collapsed.

Key Points: Michael Vaughan Criticises MCG Pitch After 26 Wickets in Ashes Test

  • 20 wickets fell on the opening day, a first in Australia in 74 years
  • England bowled Australia out for 152, then collapsed to 110 in reply
  • Australia were skittled for 132 in their second innings, setting a 175-run target
  • Kevin Pietersen called for equal scrutiny, comparing it to criticism of Indian pitches
2 min read

Ashes: Vaughan calls MCG pitch a 'joke' after 26 wickets fall inside 98 overs during fourth Test

Michael Vaughan calls the MCG pitch a "joke" after 26 wickets fell in 98 overs. Kevin Pietersen calls for equal scrutiny of Australian pitches.

"This pitch is a joke .. This is selling the game short .. The players / Broadcasters and more importantly the fans .. 26 wickets in 98 overs !!!!! - Michael Vaughan"

New Delhi, Dec 27

Former England captain Michael Vaughan took a dig at the Melbourne Cricket Ground surface after wickets fell like ninepins and bowlers dominated the opening stages of the fourth Ashes Test against Australia.

A staggering 20 wickets fell on the opening day after England chose to bowl first, with Australia dismissed for 152. The visitors fared little better, collapsing to 110 in reply and conceding a 42-run deficit. The frenetic pace of the match continued into day two, as England skittled Australia for 132 in their second innings, leaving themselves a target of 175 to claim their first victory of the series.

The sheer volume of dismissals marked a rare moment in Australian cricket, with day one witnessing 20 wickets falling for the first time in 74 years in a Test played in the country.

Vaughan voiced his frustration on social media, writing on X, "This pitch is a joke .. This is selling the game short .. The players / Broadcasters and more importantly the fans .. 26 wickets in 98 overs !!!!! #Ashes."

He is not alone in his criticism. Former England batter Kevin Pietersen had earlier highlighted what he sees as a double standard, noting that pitches that attract spin-friendly conditions are often questioned, while seam-dominated surfaces escape similar scrutiny.

"India always gets hammered when wickets fall like crazy on day 1 of a Test and so I hope that Australia gets the same scrutiny! Fair is fair!" Pietersen wrote on X on Friday.

On the field, England aggressively surged toward the target. By tea on day two, they had reached 77/2 from just 12 overs, losing Ben Duckett and Brydon Carse, with Zak Crawley on 22 and Jacob Bethell unbeaten on nine.

Earlier, Australia's second innings wrapped up shortly after lunch, with Travis Head's 46 the lone resistance as Carse finished with figures of 4 for 34.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priyanka N
Kevin Pietersen makes a very valid point! When India prepares a turning track, the whole world cries foul. But when Australia or England have a green seamer, it's called "good bowling conditions". The bias is so obvious. 🤔
A
Aman W
As a fan, I want to see a contest between bat and ball, not a lottery. This is terrible for Test cricket. Hope the ICC looks into pitch ratings seriously for all countries, not just the subcontinent.
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Sarah B
While the pitch seems extreme, let's not forget the thrilling cricket it's producing! England chasing 175 quickly... it's actually very exciting to watch. Maybe not pure Test cricket, but entertaining for sure! 🏏
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Vikram M
Respectfully, I think the criticism is a bit over the top. Bowlers have had a tough time on flat tracks for years. One pitch that favors them and everyone loses their mind. Batting skills should be tested too, na?
K
Karthik V
The real joke is the double standard. Remember the pitch for the Ind vs SA Test in Centurion? That was a green mamba too, but the criticism was nowhere near this level. The narrative is always set against Asian teams.

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