The International Cricket Council (ICC) has rated the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) pitch used for the fourth Ashes Test as 'unsatisfactory'. The pitch favored bowlers excessively, leading to 20 wickets falling on the first day and no batter reaching a half-century. Consequently, the MCG received one demerit point, with six demerit points resulting in a one-year ban for the venue. England captain Ben Stokes had also criticized the pitch following his team's victory.