Legendary Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has launched a scathing attack on perceived double standards in cricket after the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) pitch was rated 'unsatisfactory' by the International Cricket Council (ICC). The controversial pitch hosted a shockingly short fourth Ashes Test between Australia and England, which concluded in just two days.
Gavaskar's Fiery Column on Pitch Bias
In his column for Mid-Day, Gavaskar did not mince words, drawing a sharp comparison with how a similar pitch in the subcontinent, particularly India, would have been received. "If there was a pitch like that anywhere else in the world (read India), then all hell would have broken loose," Gavaskar wrote. He likened the defence of the MCG curator to historical biases in umpiring, where mistakes by English or Australian officials were termed 'human error,' while those from sub-continent umpires were labelled 'cheating.'
Gavaskar extended his criticism to the modern era, stating that mistakes by umpires from non-traditional cricket powers are often highlighted with their name and nationality, implying incompetence. In contrast, he argued, similar errors by officials from developed cricket nations are frequently overlooked as insignificant to the match result.
The MCG Pitch That Shocked Everyone
The match itself, played on December 27-28, 2025, was a bowler's paradise that left batters helpless. A staggering 20 wickets fell on the first day, followed by 16 on the second. Notably, not a single batsman managed to score a half-century in the entire Test. Match referee Jeff Crowe officially deemed the surface "unsatisfactory" under the ICC's pitch and outfield monitoring process.
"The MCG pitch was too much in favour of the bowlers," Crowe stated. "With 20 wickets falling on the first day, 16 on the second day, and no batter even reaching a half-century, the pitch was 'unsatisfactory' as per the guidelines, and the venue gets one demerit point."
Curator's Shock and Future Implications
MCG curator, Director of Turf Matthew Page, expressed his shock at how the match unfolded. "I've never been involved in a Test match like it and hopefully I'm not involved in a Test match like it again," Page admitted. He acknowledged his team's disappointment that the game lasted only two days, despite producing a "captivating" contest.
"I was in a state of shock after the first day," Page revealed. "We're obviously disappointed that it's gone two days. We produced a Test that was captivating, but it hasn't gone long enough. We'll learn from that and make sure we get it right next year." The one demerit point awarded to the MCG will remain active for a five-year rolling period. Accumulation of multiple demerit points can lead to a venue suspension from hosting international cricket.
The incident has reignited the long-standing debate about pitch preparation and the inconsistent standards applied to cricket venues across the world, with Gavaskar's comments putting a spotlight on the subcontinent's often-criticised role in these discussions.
