Sir Alastair Cook said the bowler-friendly MCG pitch on the first day of the Boxing Day Ashes Test made it an “unfair game”, while Michael Vaughan called it “shocking”.
England rolled Australia for 152 in 42.5 overs after winning the toss, but were torpedoed for 110 in 30 overs in a counterattack as 20 wickets fell on a single day of Ashes Tests for the first time since 1950.
“This is not a great Test wicket,” former England captain Cook told TNT Sports, referring to the 10mm grass surface.
“Unless things flatten out on the second, third and fourth day, if we get there, it means there was too much going in the bowler’s favor.
“The bowlers didn’t have to struggle that much for wickets.
“Could both sides have batted a little better? Yes, but if you put the ball in the right area it’s going to get pinched either way. It was a bit of an unfair game.”
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Scott Boland posted figures of 3-30 from nine overs at home, dismissing Jamie Smith, Will Jacks and Harry Brook, and remained a threat throughout, while Michael Nether hit four and Mitchell Starc two.
Cook added: “I was watching that bowling and thought, ‘I don’t know how they’re facing that.’
Australia’s Scott Boland (left) celebrates the wicket of England’s Harry Brook on Melbourne’s wild Boyne Day
Stuart Broad was also critical of the MCG’s appearance.
“The pitch should be flat tomorrow (Saturday), but the groundsman said he didn’t think it would be.”
Cook’s fellow pundit and former England international Graham Swann told TNT Sport that the pitch was “a bit overdone. It’s not dangerous but it’s a bit unfair.”
Vaughan, another former England captain, described the deck as “shocking” during commentary on Fox.
England fast bowler Josh Tongue excelled in favorable conditions, scoring his third Test 5 for on the wicket of Steve Smith and bowling middle stumps to record a tasteful one.
In terms of tourist responses, only Brooke (41 out of 34) and Gus Atkinson (28 out of 35) scored over 20 points.
Tang told TNT Sports about the surface: “The amount of grass on it and the lateral movement helped a lot, especially with my type of bowling.
“We’re getting a little bit better with the new ball, but I think Brooke’s batting got it for the Australians. So did Gus at the end. It’s all about having a plan.”
Asked if the pitch was too seamer-friendly, Australia’s Nessel replied: “No because I’m a bowler. I can’t judge the wicket until the end of the match.”
Josh Tan took five wickets for England, including Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne.
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