The MCG pitch for the Australia-England Test was rated 'unsatisfactory' by match referee Jeff Crowe, who noted it favored bowlers excessively. The match concluded rapidly due to the pitch conditions, leading the ICC to award one demerit point. Curator Matthew Page expressed shock at the pitch's performance. Former cricketer Sunil Gavaskar commented that such a pitch elsewhere would have caused significant outcry, drawing parallels to past perceived biases in umpiring decisions.