Melbourne Ashes pitch rated 'unsatisfactory' by ICC

The pitch used for the recent two-day Ashes Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground has been rated 'unsatisfactory' by the International Cricket Council (ICC), resulting in one demerit point for the venue. This marks the first occasion since the ICC revised its evaluation system that a pitch in Australia has been deemed substandard, with thirty-six wickets falling during the match due to excessive seam movement favoring bowlers.