Former England captain Michael Vaughan has criticised the pitch used for the Boxing Day Ashes Test match against Australia at Melbourne, stating that it favoured the bowlers a bit too much. The 51-year-old said that the strip used for the match was “unfair” for the batters.
20 wickets fell on Day 1 of the Boxing Day Test match, with Australia ending proceedings 4/0 and a lead of 46 runs.
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“We’re always looking for a fair balance between bat and ball. I thought that was unfair for the batters. The pitch has done plenty. There’s been plenty of movement out there. It’s not been easy for both sides, but I don’t like seeing a pitch do so much,” Vaughan told the BBC.
20 wickets fall in a day in #TheAshes for the first time in 75 years since the Gabba Test of 1950.
11 of 38 Test instances of 20 or more wkts falling in a day are shared by England and Australia.
The 2005 Ashes-winning captain said that Australia were the favourites to win the fourth Test, but warned everyone against ruling England out completely, as they had a good record, chasing down scores in the final innings.
“They are a good chasing side. We have had three heavy rollers already, and there will be another one tomorrow morning. This England team can chase. Australia are favourites, but don’t rule England out,” Vaughan said.
Former Australian pacer Glenn McGrath concurred with Vaughan about the pitch being too helpful for bowlers, adding that England may get to bat when the wicket was best suited for the batters in the fourth innings.
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“That pitch has too much life in it for Test cricket. It was 10mm of grass when I think 7mm would have been better, but I think he [the groundsman] was more concerned with what was happening on days three, four and five.”
“The weather is getting warmer, which will have an impact on the top of the rollers. So, it could get to the stage where England are batting in the fourth innings in the best batting conditions of the match,” McGrath said.
Australia were bowled out for 152 in their first innings with Josh Tongue claiming figures of 5/45. England were then dismissed for 110 in their first innings, with Michael Neser taking 4/45 and Scott Boland taking 3/30 to hand Australia a lead of 42 runs.
England's Jamie Smith is bowled by Australia's Scott Boland during the fourth Ashes Test in Melbourne. (PHOTO: AP) 
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