NEW DELHI: With the spinners have offered very less in the Ashes 2025–26, it has become a major point of discussion throughout the series. The contest has largely favoured fast bowlers, with spin playing almost no role across venues, raising questions about balance and variety in Test cricket.
Speaking about the overall trend and the Sydney surface in particular, Atherton felt the pitch did not justify loading up with seamers, nor did it promise any significant assistance for spin later in the game.
“It means the cricket we have seen in this series has been a bit one dimensional. Looking at the pitch on day one in Sydney, you wouldn’t say it offered enough for five seamers, but that is not to say it is going to turn on the last day either. We will have to wait and see,” Atherton said on Sky Sports’ Cricket Podcast.
Atherton then addressed Australia’s decision to go without a frontline spinner, suggesting it reflected both conditions and the absence of their first-choice option.
“Not picking a spinner may be a reflection on Murphy. If Lyon had been fit, I imagine he might have played. Murphy is not a bad bowler, but he is no Lyon,” he said.
The former opener expanded the discussion further by highlighting how pitch preparation has changed over the years.
“Pitches have become more uniform and less varied, partly because of the drop ins at the multi sport grounds like Brisbane and Adelaide,” Atherton added.
Focusing specifically on Sydney, Atherton expressed concern that even traditionally spin friendly venues are losing their uniqueness, which he believes hurts the overall quality of long Test series.
“Sydney used to be the outlier in terms of spin and if that has gone the way of the other grounds with more grass left on there is a lack of variety. What you want to see in a five Test series is the whole range of skills,” he said.
