ICC rates MCG pitch ‘unsatisfactory’ after two-day Ashes Test

• ‘Too much in favour of bowlers,’ says match referee

• No batter made a half-century

The MCG pitch has been rated ‘unsatisfactory’ by the International Cricket Council after England beat Australia inside two days in the fourth Ashes Test. The head curator, Matthew Page, said he was in a “state of shock” at how the match unfolded on a surface that had 10mm grass left on, producing lavish movement for seam bowlers.

Despite their four-wicket win, the England captain, Ben Stokes, said there would be “hell on” if the Melbourne pitch was produced elsewhere in the world and the ICC has handed down its second-lowest rating.