Alastair Cook Slams Melbourne Surface After 20 Wickets Fell on Day One of the Fourth Ashes Test

The fourth Ashes test is currently underway at the MCG, however, its playing conditions have received plenty of criticism from various ex-cricketers. After 20 wickets fell on the first day of the MCG test, many Ashes greats voiced their concerns over the preparation of the pitch.

One of the most highly reputed names in England cricket, Alastair Cook slammed the MCG pitch by saying that it made batting extremely difficult for both teams. While talking to the media, he said the MCG pitch is not a great test wicket where you can expect a lot of runs.

“This is not a great Test wicket. Unless this flattens out on days two, three and four, if we get there, then that was too heavily weighted in the bowlers' favor. The bowlers didn't have to work that hard for wickets.” said former England test captain, Alastair Cook.

"Could both sides have batted slightly better? Yes, but if you put the ball in the right area, it was going to nip either way. It was a bit of an unfair contest." said Alastair Cook while talking to the media.

The veteran batter himself admitted that he had no idea how to play on such a wicket. He said the pitch is unlikely to flatten out the next day, as the groundsman told him it would continue to offer threatening movement.

"I was watching some of that bowling and I was thinking, 'I don't know how you face that'. The pitch should flatten out tomorrow [Saturday] but the groundsman was telling me he doesn't think it will do." said Alastair Cook.

Michael Atherton Says MCG Wicket Tough, But Not a ‘Snake Pit’ for Batters

Meanwhile, former England cricketer Michael Atherton believes that the pitch is certainly challenging, but not a ‘snake pit’ where batters cannot play their shots. He acknowledged that players like Joe Root and Steve Smith also struggled there, but said it is completely wrong to label the pitch as unplayable.

"It did a fair bit and when you have someone like Joe Root struggling to get away, Steve Smith getting bowled, you have to say the conditions are very much in the bowlers’ favour. But it wasn’t a minefield or a snake pit.” said former England cricketer Michael Atherton.

“Partly because batters don’t trust their defence as much and partly because it is the way of things, whenever the ball does a bit the default reaction is to have a go.” added Michael Atherton.

England fast bowler Josh Tongue thoroughly enjoyed bowling on the MCG pitch on the first day. He said the surface supported his bowling style, as it offered him plenty of lateral movement throughout the day.

"The amount of grass that was on it, that lateral movement helped me massively, especially with my type of bowling.” said Josh Tongue.

Considering the type of movement the pitch offered to the bowlers on the first day, we can expect more seam and bounce on the second day as well. It would be therefore interesting to see how the batters will adjust their game, as the match is still wide open.