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Vaughan Slams 2-Day Ashes Test: "No Fan Should Celebrate This"

Former England captain Michael Vaughan has criticized the two-day finish to the fourth Ashes Test at the MCG, stating that while England's victory should be celebrated, the nature of the match was not good for Test cricket. England secured a four-wicket win after bowling Australia out for 152 and 132 on a treacherous pitch that heavily favored bowlers. Vaughan's comments highlight a growing concern over pitches that produce excessively short matches, undermining the traditional five-day contest. Despite the win, Australia retains the Ashes with an unassailable 3-1 series lead.

Key Points: Vaughan: No Fan Should Celebrate 2-Day Ashes Test

  • England's first win of the series
  • Pitch deemed unplayable for batters
  • Vaughan's critique of the match's brevity
  • Australia retains Ashes 3-1
3 min read

"No Test cricket fans should be celebrating...": Michael Vaughan after fourth Ashes Test ended in two days

Michael Vaughan criticizes the 2-day Ashes Test at the MCG, saying while England's win is great, the pitch made a mockery of Test cricket.

"A win is a win, and England should celebrate ... but NO Test cricket fans should be celebrating what we have seen for 2 days. - Michael Vaughan"

Melbourne, December 27

Former England cricketer Michael Vaughan has said that no Test cricket fans should be celebrating after they saw the fourth Ashes Test at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground between Australia and England end in just two days.

The Ben Stokes-led England registered a memorable four-wicket win against Australia in the fourth Test on Saturday. The visitors registered their first victory on the tour as the five-match series now stands at 3-1, with Australia already having pocketed the Ashes.

Cricketer-turned-commentator Vaughan has expressed his thoughts regarding the fourth Test. The former cricketer praised England's win but added that cricket fans should not celebrate after seeing a Test match ending in two days.

"A win is a win, and England should celebrate ... but NO Test cricket fans should be celebrating what we have seen for 2 days," Vaughan wrote on X.

Coming to the match, England won the toss and opted to bowl first. Josh Tongue (5/45) took England's first-ever Boxing Day Test five-wicket haul at the MCG, as Australia were skittled out for 152 runs in 45.2 overs, with Michael Neser (35 in 49 balls, with seven fours) and Usman Khawaja (29 in 52 balls, with two fours) being the top scorers for Australia.

However, England were bundled out for 110 in 29.5 overs in their first innings, with Harry Brook (41 in 34 balls, with two fours and two sixes) and Gus Atkinson (28 in 35 balls, with three fours and a six).

A mix of England's 'Bazball' approach failing yet again and the pitch being absolutely unplayable for batters gave Neser (4/45) and hometown hero Scott Boland (3/30) easy wickets. England trailed by 42 runs.

In their second innings, Australia failed to make an impact, once again highlighting the pitch's venomous, treacherous nature. Only Travis Head (46 in 67 balls, with four boundaries) and Steve Smith (24* in 39 balls, with a four) crossed the 20-run mark as England bundled them out for just 132 runs in 34.3 overs.

Aussies led by 174 runs, setting an easy 175 to win for England. Brydon Carse (4/34) and skipper Ben Stokes (3/24) were the top bowlers for England.

In the run chase, England started well with a half-century stand between Zak Crawley (37 in 48 balls, with three fours and a six) and Ben Duckett (34 in 26 balls, with four boundaries and a six) and a 47-run stand for the third wicket between Crawley and Jacob Bethell (40 in 46 balls, with five fours).

Australia did fight back a bit, reducing England from 112/2 to 165/6, but the pair of Harry Brook (18*) and Jamie Smith (3*) guided their team to a memorable win.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

P
Priyanka N
As an Indian fan, I see both sides. England fought hard and won, which is great. But we've seen similar issues in India sometimes with rank turners. The balance is key. Test cricket's survival depends on good pitches.
D
David E
I disagree with Vaughan here. The drama was incredible! Low-scoring thrillers can be just as exciting as high-scoring draws. England showed great character to win on that pitch. Sometimes a short, sharp Test is fantastic entertainment.
A
Aman W
The real problem is scheduling. Fans pay good money, book hotels, travel to Melbourne for a 5-day spectacle, and it's over in 48 hours. That's not fair on the spectators. The MCG pitch curators need to answer for this.
S
Sarah B
It's a win for Bazball, I guess? But even Stokes' aggressive approach looked silly at times on that pitch. Maybe the celebration should be muted because the victory says more about the conditions than the team's skill. A bittersweet win.
K
Karthik V
Honestly, as a purist, this hurts. Test cricket is about technique, patience, and strategy over five days. A two-day finish feels like a T20 match with a white kit. The ICC should have pitch standards to protect the integrity of the game. 🏏

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