The pitch used for the fourth Ashes Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground has come under intense scrutiny after the match finished inside two days. With nearly 10mm of grass left on the surface, conditions heavily favoured the fast bowlers, turning the contest into a relentless examination for batters from both sides.

A staggering 36 wickets fell across just six sessions, with seamers bowling all 142 overs of the match. No batter managed to reach a half-century, yet the result was historic—England secured a dramatic four-wicket victory to end a 14-year wait for a Test win on Australian soil. However, the early finish is expected to cost Cricket Australia millions in ticket refunds, along with significant losses in merchandise, food, and beverage sales.

Amid growing criticism, former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin offered a contrasting perspective. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ashwin refused to single out the pitch, pointing out that both teams competed under identical conditions.

“Let’s take the example of the recent Test at Eden Gardens. We ourselves criticised our pitches and rightly so after playing the game for so many years,” Ashwin said, as quoted by Sportskeeda. “But when it happens elsewhere, the tone changes. People speak highly of themselves and look down on us.”

Ashwin further highlighted the essence of Test cricket, stressing adaptability over complaint. “Australia have produced Shane Warne and Nathan Lyon, but countries like New Zealand and England haven’t produced many great spinners. The beauty of Test cricket is adapting to foreign conditions. I won’t criticise the MCG pitch because it was the same for both teams.”

Describing the contest as thrilling despite the controversy, Ashwin added, “It was fun to watch—almost like a racing thriller. But double standards should be avoided.”

Australia have already sealed the Ashes series after winning the first three Tests. The fifth and final match of the series is scheduled to begin on January 4 at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

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