Former England captain Alastair Cook criticized the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) pitch used in the recent Ashes Test, deeming it 'sub-standard' and an 'absolute lottery' for batters. He noted that even top players like Joe Root and Steve Smith struggled significantly on the surface. Cook contrasted this with the 2017 Test where he scored 244, suggesting the pitch was altered to be more bowler-friendly. He also praised Ben Stokes for his leadership in the team's comeback win.