ICC Rates Perth Pitch Highest Despite Two-Day Ashes Thriller

The ICC’s call landed early Thursday, and it caught plenty of people off guard. Perth Stadium’s surface, used for the first Ashes Test, received a “very good” rating, even though the match wrapped up inside two days. To be fair, not many expected the governing body to go that high.

Under its four-tier system, “very good” stands at the top. Officials pointed to a steady bounce, a decent pace, and a track that offered a fair contest. That one moment flipped everything when the ball started carrying just enough to keep batters guessing. Suddenly, the discussion around the fast bowling conditions shifted again.

England felt the heat first. They tumbled to 172 as Mitchell Starc ripped through with 7 for 58. Gasps echoed around the stadium more than once. Australia then dipped to 121 for 9 by stumps, and you could see the disappointment written on a few faces walking off.

Day Two Chaos And Quick Finish

The second day barely slowed. England were rolled for 164, and the noise lifted when Travis Head launched a wild 123 from 83 balls. That shot had the crowd on its feet. Honestly, you could feel the tension building with every swing. Few saw this coming, especially with the Ashes Test match analysis now pointing to balance rather than flaws in the pitch.

Cricket Australia’s head of cricket, James Allsopp, said the rating backed their belief in a fair surface. He admitted fans holding tickets for later days would feel let down, yet he insisted the clash produced gripping moments that pulled huge audiences.

Focus Shifts To Brisbane

Next up is Brisbane on December 4. The Gabba usually offers more pace, more bite, and more chatter. If Perth created this level of noise, Brisbane might create even more. Keep watching tapmad to watch Ashes live.