The MCG’s seam-friendly pitch for the fourth Ashes Test has been rated “unsatisfactory” by the ICC after it ended inside two days.

Under the world governing body’s four-tier rating system “unsatisfactory” is the second lowest, characterising a pitch “favouring the bowlers too much”.

It broke the venue’s streak of “very good” ratings for  the past three Boxing Day Tests and earned it one demerit point.

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“The MCG pitch was too much in favour of the bowlers,” said match referee Jeff Crowe. “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.”

England beat Australia by four wickets in the final session of day two, with no batsman scoring more than 46 across the four innings.

The first Test in Perth also ended in two days, but that pitch was rated “very good” by the ICC.

MCG curator Matt Page and his team left 10mm of grass on the wicket, providing the seamers with movement and bounce and making batting treacherous.

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The carnage left Cricket Australia facing A$10 million (R112-million) in revenue shortfall, with tickets for day three and four needing to be refunded.

“We  were  disappointed  for the fans holding tickets for days three and four, and also the millions of fans excited to watch the action in Australia and around the world, that the pitch did not provide the MCG’s customary  balance  between bat and ball,” said Cricket Australia’s chief of cricket James Allsopp.

“We appreciate the  outstanding  work the MCG staff have done over recent years producing  excellent Test match pitches,” he added.

Australia lead the series 3-1 with the fifth and final Test in Sydney starting on Sunday.

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