Michael Vaughan Makes Worrying Test Cricket Claim After England Beat Australia
Michael Vaughan has delivered a damning assessment in the wake of England's victory over Australia in the fourth Ashes Test.
England beat Australia by four wickets in two action-packed days as they wrapped up their first Test victory down under since 2011.
A staggering 20 wickets fell on a chaotic first day before the game was concluded on the second day when the tourists successfully chased down 175.
The two-day Test match has been subjected to plenty of criticism from fans and critics alike, including Ashes hero and ex-England captain Vaughan.
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Speaking after England's victory over Australia, Vaughan hit out at the pitch inside Melbourne's MCG.
He claimed the controversial wicket sold everyone short, including fans, players and broadcasters.
"It's selling everyone short, it's selling the players short," he said on BBC Sport.
"Fundamentally, they had to play on it, and it wasn't a great surface to play the game that they wanted to play."
Vaughan added: "It's selling the broadcasters short, hugely. And you're also selling the fans short and that's really important.
"And I'm pretty sure from here on in, if it was the curator/groundsman had that kind of freedom to produce whatever he wants, I would think in the future, that is never going to happen because the game needs cash; the game needs money.
"It's going to kill Test cricket if we have more like his."
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MCG pitch curator was in 'state of shock' after the first day
MCG curator Matthew Page was in a 'state of shock' after the first day of the fourth Test between Australia and England.
On Sunday, Page fielded questions from reporters to address the pitch on what should have been the third day of the Boxing Day Test.
"We're obviously really disappointed that it's gone for two days. I was in a state of shock after the first day," he said.
"To see everything that happened and 20 wickets in a day, I've never been involved in a Test match like it and hopefully will never be involved in a Test match like it again.
"It was a rollercoaster ride for two days, to see everything unfold. A lot of the noise is obviously outside.
"I personally don't read papers, I don't watch the news - but we know that this hasn't gone as we had planned."
Vaughan praised Page for fronting up about the MCG pitch.
"Full credit to Matt Paige for fronting up today about the Pitch," he wrote on X. "He made a mistake and has owned up to it so let’s move on now .. he has produced great pitches before I will do again in the future."
Topics: Cricket
Nasir Jabbar